Eleanor Norton

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3418) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide capitalization grants to States to establish revolving funds to provide hazard mitigation assistance to reduce risks from disasters and natural hazards, and other related environmental harm.

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3418, the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act, or STORM Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill introduced in the Senate by Senators Gary Peters and Ron Johnson, and in the House by Representatives Angie Craig, Rodney Davis, and Rick Crawford, would amend the Stafford Act to provide another opening for local governments to fund mitigation and resilience projects. Modeled after the highly successful Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds managed by the Environmental Protection Agency, this bill would allow States and Tribal governments to apply for capitalization grants to establish revolving funds that would then be used to fund a variety of infrastructure projects. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure under both Democratic and Republican majorities has examined the rising cost of disasters and reforms necessary to address them. Time and again, we have arrived at the similar conclusion: Investments in mitigation have a quantifiable and significant return on investment in reducing disaster response and recovery costs. The current sources of Federal funding available for pre-disaster mitigation are highly competitive and extremely limited due to the backlog of worthwhile projects identified across the Nation. The State revolving loan funds will be established by this litigation and would allow States to offer low-interest loans to cities and counties for projects to mitigate a wide variety of hazards. Since 2000, there have only been 3 years during which we have seen fewer than 100 Presidentially declared events under the Stafford Act, and there is no indication that the frequency or severity of these disasters is on the decline. The record-setting year we just endured points to the contrary. Madam Speaker, while future disasters will inevitably cause large- scale damage and require costly recoveries, by providing new opportunities for investments in pre-disaster mitigation, this bill encourages resilience at the community level and will contribute to a considerable reduction in the cost of future recoveries. Madam Speaker, I support S. 3418, and urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), my friend.

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, first of all, I appreciate the words of my colleague on the other side of the aisle with respect to Ms. Plaskett's notion. I don't know why the notion of pennywise and pound foolish--if that is the reason why this bipartisan bill that was sent to the Senate was sent back to us absent some Americans. I understand they will be working to try to fix this, but we don't fix it when we allow disasters to move forward in the part of our country where disasters are more likely to affect. They are not most likely to take effect in places like the District of Columbia where we just had a snowstorm and hardly a little bit of snow. They are far more likely to take effect in Ms. Plaskett's district in the Virgin Islands. Madam Speaker, I pledge with my good friend on the other side, with whom I have worked closely in the past, to do everything I can to make sure that all of us, including all of our territories, not only Puerto Rico, are included in this bill, as the House intended. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, notwithstanding the issues that both sides here in the House have with it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 979.

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 979, the Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill introduced in the Senate by Senators Rubio, Peters, Johnson, and Tillis, and in the House by Representatives Bennie Thompson, Donald Payne, Jr., Mike Rogers, and Peter King addresses the findings of the Government Accountability Office's report titled ``2017 Disaster Contracting: Actions Needed to Better Ensure More Effective Use and Management of Advance Contracts.'' In its report, GAO found several issues with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's handling of advance contracts, including limitations in the agency's use of some advance contracts, Congressional committees being provided with incomplete information in FEMA reports, and coordination with States and localities on the use of advance contracts. GAO made final recommendations, including that FEMA update its strategy and guidance to clarify the use of advance contracts, improve the timeliness of its acquisition planning activities, revise its methodology for reporting disaster contracting actions to congressional committees, and provide more consistent guidance and information to contracting officers to coordinate with and encourage States and localities to establish advance contracts. FEMA concurred with all of GAO's recommendations. Following Hurricane Katrina, Congress required FEMA to establish advance contracts for goods and services to enable the Federal Government to quickly mobilize resources to affected areas in the aftermath of a disaster. This bill allows FEMA to ensure more effective use and management of its advance contracts process by incorporating GAO's recommendations to ensure that Federal preparedness actions are coordinated to prevent gaps in recovery efforts from occurring. The bill also requires FEMA to regularly update the appropriate committees of Congress on the progress of the agency's implementation of these recommendations. Given this year's unprecedented level of disaster activity, it is critical that Congress enact these reforms ahead of the start of the next disaster season in order to ensure that both FEMA and our States, Tribes, territories, and localities are well-prepared and equipped for future disasters. Madam Speaker, I support S. 979, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, the gentleman has yielded, and I certainly concur with him. I am very pleased that this bill comes out now, in the season of climate change, where we have seen increased disasters in our country. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2730, the Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act, introduced by Senator Peters of Michigan. The number of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, in the United States airspace has grown exponentially in recent years. The growth is expected to continue, as drones are deployed for more and more uses each year. Drones have become important tools to assist with everything from infrastructure inspection and lifesaving missions to delivering medical supplies and prescriptions. As the Federal Aviation Administration continues its efforts to safely integrate drones into the National Airspace System, the work of the Drone Advisory Committee, an FAA advisory committee that provides the agency with advice and recommendations on key drone integration issues, will continue to play an important role in such efforts. The Drone Advisory Committee is currently comprised of executives from a cross-section of interested stakeholders, including academia, drone manufacturers and operators, aviation labor, and local governments, among others. While drones are increasingly being used in the agriculture, forestry, and rangeland sectors and by county and Tribal governments, these stakeholders are not represented adequately in the current committee makeup. S. 2730 would, therefore, require the FAA to take appropriate steps to encourage the direct representation of county and Tribal governments, as well as agriculture, forestry, rangeland sectors, and other rural interests, on the Drone Advisory Committee. The bill will also require the FAA to include public participation in the process of nominating individuals for advisory committee membership going forward. The efforts outlined in S. 2730 will not only include transparency and openness in how the Drone Advisory Committee's membership is constructed, but they will also help ensure the insights of stakeholders, with vast experience operating drones and perspectives regarding their integration, are reflected in the advisory committee's important work, ultimately informing future FAA decisionmaking. Madam Speaker, I support this legislation, I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to introduce the Pittman- Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act District of Columbia Equality Act, which would amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to make the District of Columbia eligible for the same federal funding as states under these Acts. The District is treated as a state under federal programs, with a few exceptions, most of them simply oversights or failures to update post-home rule. The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act provides funding, derived from excise taxes on sporting equipment, for five distinct purposes: program administration, wildlife restoration, basic hunter education and safety, enhanced hunger education and safety grants and multistate conservation grants. The District does not receive any funding under this Act. The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act provides funding for sport fish restoration, aquatic education, wetlands restoration and boat-related activities. Under this Act, states receive a minimum of one percent of the total amount apportioned, while the District is capped at one-third of one percent. This omission and lack of parity under these Acts have serious consequences for the District. The District has roughly 7,800 acres of parkland covering nearly a quarter of the city, which means it has more parkland per capita than any other city in the United States. This bill would define ``State'' in these Acts to include the District, providing the District with equitable access to valuable financial resources for wildlife conservation in our nation's capital. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to introduce the Federal Gift Shop Tax Act, which would allow state and local governments to impose a sales tax on purchases at gift shops on federal property. These governments would be able to generate millions of dollars in new revenue at a time when they are struggling to meet their budgets because of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. When the federal government engages in activity that is not inherently governmental, such as operating a gift shop, there is no reason to exempt customer purchases from a sales tax. The items sold at federal gift shops, such as jewelry, apparel, accessories, games, books and decor, would be subject to sales tax if sold on private property. Customers are often unaware of this sales tax exemption when shopping at gift shops on federal property, so the introduction of a sales tax is unlikely to have a significant impact on gift shop sales. It would, however, create a valuable revenue stream for struggling governments. In addition, state and local governments often provide uncompensated services to federal property, such as fire service, and allowing them to impose a sales tax on gift shops would allow them to recoup some of those costs. This bill is of particular importance to the District of Columbia, as it is home to a number of gift shops on federal property, such as at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. State and local governments have taken the lead in combating the pandemic, meeting the moment with expanded services and support even as they lose significant revenue. This bill would give these governments an opportunity to make up a portion of their budget shortfalls by creating this new revenue stream. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Cathy Hughes on her 40 years as the leader of Urban One, now America's largest Black broadcast network. Cathy Hughes, the founder and chairperson of Urban One, has dedicated her career to amplifying the voices of Black people and their perspectives through the airwaves. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, and known to have hosted ``radio shows'' in her bathroom as a child, Hughes had her sights on success from day one. Throughout her career, her piercing optimism and resilience cut through obstacles of discrimination and discouragement, clearing a path to where she now stands as one of our country's wealthiest self-made African-American women. Hughes, who became a mother at the age of 16, has recalled taking her son to classes and, later on in her career, having him sleep in a sleeping bag in her office when she had to work late. Growing up among a family of entrepreneurs, as Hughes did, she was no stranger to hard work, business jargon and long hours. Her father was the first African- American to earn an accounting degree from Creighton University. Her mother played trombone. In 1971, Hughes came to the District of Columbia to work at Howard University's School of Communications, and she went on to become a General Sales Manager for the University's radio station, WHUR-FM. On her arrival in the District, Hughes wrote to her mother, ``My eyes were tired at the end of the day, staring at the greatness of Black people doing so many things.'' In the late 1970s, Hughes started her own radio station, once known as Radio One, now Urban One. During her career she endured racism and sexism, but these were no match for her electric optimism. After seven years, the radio station became profitable and continued to grow. In 1999, at the recommendation of her son, who had received his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Cathy Hughes became the first African-American woman to chair a publicly held corporation, following the sale of more than seven million shares of common stock to the public. She has received numerous awards, including being selected for the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2019, the Woman of the Year Award by 100 Black Men of America in 2018, the Ida B. Wells Living Legacy Award in 2011 and the Essence Women Shaping the World Award in 2008. She was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University was named for her in 2016. I relish this opportunity to recognize and honor the work of Cathy Hughes. Her resilience, optimism and determination are true guiding lights through these difficult times. She has mentored countless women and her entrepreneurial energy has touched many, both in D.C. and across the nation. I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Cathy Hughes on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Urban One.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Act. This bill would give the District of Columbia the authority to make parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code offenders beginning on November 1, 2022. Currently, the U.S. Parole Commission makes these determinations for D.C. Code offenders. This bill would give D.C. the same authority over parole and supervised release determinations for D.C. Code offenders that the Commission has today. The District has asked to have this authority for its own local offenders. D.C. would have the same authority the states possess over their own local offenders on these matters, including the authority to devise an adjudication system as it sees fit. The National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 transferred the functions of the D.C. Parole Board to the Commission. By transferring the costs associated with the Commission's work on D.C. Code offenders to the District, the federal government would save money with passage of this bill. I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in remembering the life and legacy of Walter K. Robinson, Sr., a District of Columbia resident for over 50 years and a Documented Original Tuskegee Airman. Mr. Robinson died on November 23, 2020, his 100th birthday. Mr. Robinson will be remembered by his family, friends and the East Coast Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, of which he was an active member. In 1941, while attending Howard University, Mr. Robinson volunteered for the Army Air Corps. He was sent to Camp Lee in Virginia, Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi and finally to Tuskegee Army Air Base in Tuskegee, Alabama. He began training at Tuskegee Institute for Basic Ground School and, after three months, continued in Pre-Flight, Primary, Basic and Advanced Flight. During Primary Training, he had an accident, severing his Achilles tendon, and was hospitalized for almost a year, enduring six operations and extensive physical therapy. Yet, Mr. Robinson completed Primary, Lower, and Upper Basic Training, and while he was in Lower Advanced, World War II ended. After his honorable discharge from the military, Mr. Robinson and his wife, Edmonia, moved to D.C. in 1959. He soon joined the Postal Service and rose through the ranks to become the second Black Manager of Delivery and Collection for the District. I had the immense honor of hosting Mr. Robinson at my office in 2017, where I presented him with a bronze replica of the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Robinson is emblematic of the many D.C. residents who have heroically sacrificed so much for their country, even without their full citizenship rights. I am proud to have been able to honor his service. Tuskegee Airmen like Mr. Robinson did more than protect America from foreign enemies during World War II; they saved America from itself, defying the gross misconception that African Americans were not capable of flying and fighting as equal servicemembers. The accomplishments of these brave servicemembers helped pave the way for President Harry Truman's decision to integrate the military in 1948. Their service to this country and as history-shapers was recognized in 2007 when 300 members of the Tuskegee Airmen, including Mr. Robinson, received the Congressional Gold Medal. I ask the House of Representatives to join me in remembering the life and legacy of Walter K. Miller, Sr.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4611, as amended.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4611. The legislation introduced by Representative Scott Peters clarifies that the city of San Diego, California, can utilize the standard Clean Water and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit process to continue operation of the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant with alternative standards. The legislation provides regulatory accountability and consistency to the city and has the support of surrounding localities, local public work departments, and water districts, as well as nongovernmental and environmental organizations. I am unaware of any opposition to this legislation currently. The Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant applies for and receives a waiver under the Clean Water Act to discharge wastewater with less than full secondary treatment--the baseline requirement of the Clean Water Act. The facility qualifies for the waiver by meeting certain criteria and renews its application every 5 years. As part of a long-term effort, the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant is working to reduce its discharge into coastal waters. This effort involves water recycling and will direct a portion of the facility's discharge. However, the facility's discharges into coastal waters will never be eliminated. To be clear, this legislation is not a waiver of all the requirements of the Clean Water Act, and the facility will need to comply with the other requirements of the act. I thank Representative Peters and the city of San Diego for continuing to work with us on this legislation. I support this legislation and ask my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, November 12, 2020. Hon. Peter A. DeFazio, Chair, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chair Defazio: In recognition of the goal of expediting consideration of H.R. 4611 the ``Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II,'' the Committee on Natural Resources agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources. The Committee on Natural Resources takes this action with the mutual understanding that, in doing so, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation. Thank you for agreeing to include our exchange of letters in the Congressional Record. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Raul M. Grijalva, Chair, House Natural Resources Committee.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on H.R. 8326.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8326, the Child Care is Economic Development Act, or the CED Act. Access to childcare is essential to economic development but it is often ignored in planning. This legislation changes that by making sure that local Economic Development Districts consider the availability and accessibility of affordable, quality childcare when creating their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Job creation is an important part of economic development. But doing so without considering childcare leaves an enormous blind spot. For many communities large and small, access to affordable childcare remains one of the largest barriers to job recruitment. If people cannot find quality and affordable childcare, they may not relocate to a region for a new job no matter how good the job may be. A report from the Center for American Progress found that more than half of American households live in a childcare desert. This is especially problematic in smaller and rural communities where the rate of families with childcare deserts grows to three in five households without adequate childcare. If our economic development plans don't consider childcare, we are limiting the type of workforce that is available to compete for jobs and limiting our economic development and competitiveness. Jobs that don't work for working families don't work for our communities. The childcare crisis in our country has been further exacerbated by COVID-19. As many as 4.5 million childcare slots may be permanently lost due to COVID-19, further reducing the limited supply of affordable childcare nationwide. With declining childcare options, many families are forced to reduce working hours or leave the workforce altogether, oftentimes leaving women with the greatest share household duties. Limited childcare availability has for years reduced women's participation in the workforce, and the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed that even further. In September alone, four times as many women as men left the labor force--over 865,000 women in one month alone. And women and children who have remained in the workforce report reducing their working hours by 20 to 50 percent to provide childcare services to their families. Left unchecked, the childcare crisis, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, will reverse decades of progress for women's equity and opportunity in the workforce, including reducing pay equity and opportunity gaps. While there is a lot we need to do to address the childcare crisis in our country, the CED Act provides us a first step forward by recognizing the intrinsic connection between economic development and access to childcare. It allows communities to identify their needs and strategies and forces an integration of early childhood needs into broader economic plans. I am proud to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, November 13, 2020. Hon. Peter A Defazio, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R.8326, the ``Child Care is Economic Development Act of 2020.'' In order to permit H.R. 8326 to proceed expeditiously to the House Floor, I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action to forego formal consideration of H.R. 8326 with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing formal consideration of H.R. 8326, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves forward with regard to any matters in the Committee's jurisdiction. I appreciate your commitment to work with the Committee to address any outstanding issues as the bill is considered in the Senate. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation that involves the Committee's jurisdiction and request your support for any such request. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration of H.R. 8326. Sincerely, Maxine Waters, Chairwoman.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5919) to amend title 40, United States Code, to require the Administrator of General Services to enter into a cooperative agreement with the National Children's Museum to provide the National Children's Museum rental space without charge in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer), who is my good friend from our region.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, 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. 1869) to require the disclosure of ownership of high-security space leased to accommodate a Federal agency, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1869, as amended.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5953) to amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to waive certain debts owed to the United States related to covered assistance provided to an individual or household, and for other purposes, as amended.