Kristi Noem

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, last weekend, a record blizzard hit my State of South Dakota. Some places in the Black Hills saw almost 4 feet of snow in just 2 days. Thousands were without power. Thousands are still without power. Emergency vehicles were stranded along with the people that they were trying to rescue. The damage from the downed trees, the downed power lines covered with heavy, wet snow is monumental. On top of that, with warm weather expected this week, we expect to see massive flooding that could bring even more damage. On the plains in western South Dakota, ranchers are still trying to recover from losing cattle in the drought last summer, which was the worst drought that we had seen since the Great Depression. We've heard now that they've lost tens of thousands of cattle in this fall blizzard. We've heard that tens of thousands of cattle have been lost in the snow. They're being found frozen, smothered by the high drifts and injured from wandering in zero visibility in 70-mile-per- hour winds. We talked with one rancher near White River, South Dakota, who found over 50 cattle who had died in one spot near a dam. Another rancher north of New Underwood was finally able to locate his entire herd of 63 cows who'd taken refuge in a shed for protection, but none of them survived. Another story is from a rancher near Union Center who said, ``It's bad. It's really bad. I'm the eternal optimist, but this is really bad. The livestock loss is catastrophic. It's pretty unbelievable.'' He said cattle were soaked by 12 hours of rain early in the storm, so many were unable to survive an additional 48 hours of snow and winds up to 60 miles per hour. See, this blizzard came so early, cattle hadn't even had time to grow their winter coats. ``It's the worst early season snowstorm I've seen in my lifetime,'' he said, and he's 60 years old. Another rancher said, ``This is absolutely, totally devastating.'' He's 52 years old. He's from Caputa, South Dakota. ``This is horrendous. I mean the death loss of these cows in this country is unbelievable.'' This man said he estimated he had lost half of his herd, but it could be far more. He was still struggling to find snow-buried cattle and those that had been pushed miles by winds that gusted over 70 miles per hour on Friday night. An emergency management director in Butte County said that the trail of carcasses is a gruesome sight across the region. They're in the fence line. They're laying along the roads. It's really sickening. And none of the ranchers that I have talked to can remember anything like it. Not only will this be devastating for this year's business, but also it will take years to rebuild what has been lost. Yet another rancher, near Scenic, couldn't find his cattle over the weekend, and said he nearly killed a horse trying to get through the snow while searching for his cattle. He turned back, and yesterday, with the help of a pilot friend, flew over land south of the Badlands. He found what he called the ``trail of death.'' About 200 of his 600 cows were dead, leading up to and throughout a draw. The calves that were still alive were standing by their mothers. The rest of his cows and calves are alive, but he can't get to them. Those are just many of the tragic stories that we've heard. Our lack of a comprehensive farm bill leaves these ranchers without the protection of a livestock disaster program that would come in in these situations and blunt just a small portion of the loss. I fought hard to include livestock disaster programs in the farm bill, which would cover these producers retroactively. It's time we finish our work on the farm bill. It's time we go to conference, have a negotiation on the most reform-minded farm bill that has been put together for decades. Getting the farm bill done could give those in western South Dakota more certainty during this very, very difficult time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the courageous actions of Kelly German and Hazel Thompson of Watertown, South Dakota. On the night of August 6, 2013, Kelly and Hazel helped save the lives of over 40 elderly men and women at a retirement home in Watertown. A fire started in one of the apartments late in the evening; and one of the residents, Hazel, heard yelling down the hall and immediately informed Kelly German, the night manager, that the building was on fire. Kelly promptly called 911 and immediately began knocking on tenants' doors, many of whom were sleeping. Knowing that many of the doors were locked and that many of the residents were hard of hearing and slightly immobile, Kelly ran back to her apartment to get the master key. She then resumed knocking on and opening every door to awaken the residents and rush them out of the building. Without the quick action of Hazel, the heroics of Kelly, and the local firefighters in Watertown, many would have lost their lives that night. This story is of special significance to me because Kelly is also a member of my staff and lost everything she owns in that fire. Residents of the home, the community of Watertown, and I will be forever grateful for her selfless act.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a hero of our country and the State of South Dakota, Specialist Michael John Fitzmaurice, of the United States Army. Specialist Fitzmaurice, serving in the 3rd Platoon, Troop D, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on March 23, 1971, in Vietnam. When three enemy explosive charges landed in their bunker, Specialist Fitzmaurice quickly removed two and smothered the other charge with his body and flak vest. Despite his injuries, he charged the enemy, engaging at times in hand-to-hand combat. Fitzmaurice refused medical evacuation and continued fighting. It is because of his extraordinary bravery and devotion to duty that I am proud to honor the actions of Specialist Michael John Fitzmaurice today.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly outstanding individual and his lifelong commitment to public service, Mr. Tom Miller. Tom has two passions: first and foremost, his two daughters; and second, advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities. His lifelong service on behalf of this population has not only earned him recognition within the disability community throughout South Dakota, but also high honors within our great state as the recipient of the 2011 Governor's Award for an Outstanding Citizen with a Disability. Tom has also had great impact on a national level, working within the AbilityOne Program through his service on the SourceAmericaTM Board for the past 15 years. His dedication and commitment to the employment of people who have disabilities has opened the doors of opportunity to tens of thousands of deserving Americans, making their own dreams of becoming productive citizens become a reality. Tom has personally educated hundreds of his peers on self-advocacy, helping these individuals visit Capitol Hill and ensure we know what is important to them. Words like fearless, straight talking, devoted, mentor, father and advocate begin to capture the essence of Tom. He is a true leader. As an AbilityOne Congressional Champion, I am honored to recognize Tom for his lifetime commitment to service. South Dakota is a better state, and America a better nation thanks to people like Tom Miller.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. NOEM. Madam Chair, this amendment is quite simple. It would block the Corps of Engineers from issuing rules or regulations that would charge a fee for surplus water on the Missouri River. I offer this amendment to stop an overreach by the Corps of Engineers in its attempt to charge constituents in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana for what is legally theirs--water from the Missouri River. The States of South and North Dakota sacrificed hundreds of thousands of acres of prime farmland during the creation of the dams on the Missouri; but in doing so, they did not give up the right to their own water from the river. The Flood Control Act that created the dams and reservoirs specifically said: It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to recognize the interests and rights of States in determining the development of watersheds within their borders and likewise their interests and rights in water utilization and control. Madam Chair, I don't believe congressional intent could be any clearer in this instance. Rural water systems, businesses and tribes up and down the Missouri River rely on it for water and have been pulling water from the river for nearly 60 years without a fee. Let us not forget that 2 years ago at this time residents up and down the Missouri were suffering one of the greatest floods that the river has ever seen. Many are still working to get back to the way things were, to the extent that it's even ever going to be possible. Now the Corps has brought forth this proposal that violates long-held historical and legal precedents to charge us for water that belongs to us. I want to thank the chairman for being a leader on this bill that we have on the floor today and for the opportunity to talk about this amendment that is so important to the people in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. I urge my colleagues to stop the Corps from overreaching and ask them to support my amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chair, my amendment would ensure that we're placing a higher priority on completing some ongoing rural water projects in the Great Plains region and in the West. My amendment takes $15 million from the Department of Energy's administration budget and $15 million from the solar energy programs. $25 million of this would go into the Bureau of Reclamation's Rural Water Projects; the remaining $5 million would be left for deficit reduction. Mr. Chair, I recognize that we have limited funds to go around. This is why we need to work so hard to make sure that our priorities are addressed. It's why we make sure that we can agree that water should be a priority, that drinking water for people that live in this country should be a priority. There are places in this country, especially in the rural areas, that people are still waiting for a stable water supply. There are towns that would like to grow, but they don't have enough water or basic infrastructure to find new businesses and bring new families in. They're waiting for the Federal Government to complete projects that have already been authorized, that have already been started, and that those communities have already invested in. As we go through the appropriations process, I think supplying our rural areas with water should be a top priority. I think it is shocking; it's shocking that some of these authorized projects have been waiting years to see the promised Federal dollars to complete the projects. Many of these local communities have already funded their share of the projects. Some of the administration's funding proposals for these projects don't even keep up with inflation. So as representatives, we absolutely need to be responsible with taxpayer dollars. When the Federal Government makes a promise to provide basic infrastructure, they need to follow through. This amendment is just a small step in getting where we need to be. It is common sense to make sure that something as basic as water supply is available in all areas, urban and rural. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the amendment to ensure that these very essential projects are on their way to completion. I would like to thank the chairman and the committee for their hard work on this bill. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to speak on this amendment, and I would urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment. With that, Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for their hard work and leadership on this issue, and I am very proud to stand up in support of this legislation. The number is staggering--26,000. That's how many military members were sexually assaulted last year alone, and thousands more were unwilling to come forward. Research has shown that victims only report, roughly, 14 percent of all sexual assaults to law enforcement. Many who choose not to come forward may not have the confidence that they will actually receive justice. They may fear that reporting a fellow servicemember will result in threats or could negatively impact their careers. A recent DOD report showed that 62 percent of victims who reported sexual assaults faced some kind of retaliation. That's terrible. This legislation is going to provide safeguards and additional protections for victims. By requiring an inspector general investigation into any allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken against victims, we are clearly stating that this behavior is unacceptable, that it is inexcusable and will no longer be tolerated. This legislation is part of a broader effort to do as much as we can to address the problem. For too long, lawmakers, military officials, and civilians have discussed the need to bring an end to sexual assault. This bill is another opportunity to put words into action and to take meaningful steps to address this growing problem. We have a responsibility to ensure adequate protections are in place, and we also have to provide physical and mental support for those victims as well as to insist on swift punishment for those who are responsible. I am proud that Members on both sides of the aisle have worked on this bill as well as on other measures that we have previously passed as part of the Defense Authorization Act. It is only the start of a process that will change the culture in the military. It will establish a safe environment for all individuals--for service men and women--but we have to continue to do all that we can to solve this problem.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 265, I inadvertently voted ``yea'' when I intended to oppose the amendment.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in opposition to the amendment.

Mrs. NOEM. Essentially what this amendment does, Mr. Chairman, is it eliminates an extremely effective program. Biodiesel is a clean-burning product that's produced by a mix of feedstocks, including soybean oil, wasted grease, and recycled animal fats. The byproducts of biodiesel is protein meal that is often made from soy and is used as livestock feed. It's a protein-rich livestock feed, as well. The more animal fat as biodiesel feedstock demand increases, livestock value increases, and this program is a grant education that's used to educate engine manufacturers, fleet operators, and the public on the benefits of biodiesel. The program plays a vital role in making sure it helps expand marketplace acceptance and the use of biodiesel as a low-carbon, renewable diesel replacement fuel. Mr. Chairman, what this amendment does is it doesn't save any money; what it does is it eliminates a program that is out there telling the story of what an all-of-the-above energy supply means that prioritizes American energy. We absolutely need to make sure that we are prioritizing the types of energy that we can produce in this country right here from renewable sources as well as petroleum products. I'm a farmer and a rancher. I utilize petroleum products every single day in our operation. But I also recognize the value in being able to have a program that promotes the use of renewable sources that we can regenerate and prioritize over other sources that come from other countries. So with that, Mr. Chairman, I will yield 1 minute to Mr. King from Iowa if he would like to speak, as well.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, that is one of the things that we don't talk about enough is the fact that this research brings us benefits and cost savings in many other industries that we see reflected every day such as lower costs in energy areas, also lower costs in livestock feeds. With that, Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 1 minute to Mr. Peterson from Minnesota if he would like to speak in opposition to the amendment, as well.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Chairman, I certainly appreciate the gentleman's concerns and all that he has brought to this House today. I will just reiterate that this is an extremely effective program. What it does is it lets the consumers know that they do have a choice. It lets them know about the benefits of the fuel, lets them know that it actually can have an impact on their efficiency levels that they are able to enjoy with their engines, that it gives them another market that they can go to to lower their energy costs. It lowers our livestock feed costs. What this program essentially does is it goes out there and it tells the consumer that there are options that are renewable right here in the United States that we can grow, that we can produce, and that we can put out there in the marketplace that will actually be something that is sustainable without the volatility of relying on the Middle East for our energy needs. I will reiterate that this program does not have a cost score as it relates to the underlying bill. Even though that was mentioned in some of the comments, there will be no money saved in the underlying bill if this amendment is adopted, and that is why I oppose it because of the effectiveness of the program and ask that we would oppose this amendment when it comes to a vote.

Mrs. NOEM. Absolutely.

Mrs. NOEM. There we go. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their leadership on this issue. Madam Chairman, today I rise, I stand, and at this point I'd even leap for joy, for a farm bill that's good for agriculture in this country. This bill that we have today isn't a perfect bill, but it is a good bill. It is bipartisan, it saves nearly $40 billion, it reforms the food stamp program and farm programs, it eliminates direct payments, it consolidates conservation programs, it saves money, it gives us a safety net, and it is still accountable to taxpayers. As we debate this bill, though, I don't want to lose sight of a big policy discussion. We decided decades ago that it was important for us to have a farm bill because it was important for us to grow our own food in this country. We didn't want to rely on another country to feed us because we recognized that the instant we did that, we would allow that country to control us. That's why good farm policy is important to our national security. That's why when we go to the grocery store, we can count on buying safe food. We can know that there will be affordable food there at affordable prices. A farm bill is the reason that we all enjoy these benefits. We can't take our food supply for granted. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill this week.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Madam Speaker, a few moments ago we heard the minority leader here on the floor say that we needed to be about doing serious work, that we needed to deal with bills that dealt with jobs and the economy that the American people cared about. Well, Americans support ending late-term abortions. Just look at the graphic that we have up here that says 64 percent of Americans believe abortion should not be permitted in the second 3 months of pregnancy; 80 percent of Americans believe abortion should not be permitted in the last 3 months of pregnancy. Americans recognize that H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, needs to be passed, and it needs to be done because it is the right thing to do. I've always been pro-life. I believe as a lawmaker I have a duty to protect those that are the most vulnerable. Recently, we've seen atrocities committed in this country against unborn babies, babies that were born alive, atrocities against these babies and their mothers. The details of that trial only highlight the need for us to protect women and to protect these babies from people like Gosnell and prevent crimes like this from ever happening again. This bill stops abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, right after the 6th month. Scientific evidence shows that babies can feel pain at this point of the pregnancy. We're talking about babies that if they were born and simply given a chance, that they could survive outside of the womb. They just need a chance. The topic of abortion is very personal for many around the country. It stirs emotions on both sides. If we disagree on this issue, I hope we can do it respectfully. Unfortunately, I don't find a lot of the rhetoric that I've heard today very respectful. They've said there's a war on women. Madam Speaker, I am not waging a war on anyone. I'm not waging a war on my two daughters or any other woman in this country. Regardless of your personal belief, I would hope that stopping atrocities against little babies is something that we can all agree to put an end to. This legislation would do exactly that. I encourage my colleagues to support its passage. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Madam Speaker, the Democrats who run Washington, D.C., continue to lead this country down an irresponsible path: a ceaseless march of regulations out of Washington threatens to choke off American innovation; government spending continues at unsustainable levels; and the specter of ObamaCare, it looms large over every sector of our economy. Is it any wonder that we continue to see stagnant job numbers like those released last week? Nearly 12 million Americans are out of work, 4.4 million of them with no job for 6 months or more. Simply put, it's not fair. It's not fair to any American, which is why House Republicans are committed to securing the future for all Americans. We have a plan to create jobs and expand opportunity, and we'll do it by growing the economy, not by growing the government.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Today, during this debate, you may hear that some of the reforms that are in H.R. 1960 do not go far enough, that commanders absolutely have to be taken out of the decision process in sex-related offenses. Well, I disagree, Mr. Speaker, and let me tell you why. Holding commanders responsible and accountable for their actions and decisions is the most effective way to change the military culture, especially with regard to sex-related events. Proposals to take the commander out of the military justice decision process, they believe that it will improve those prosecutions. I disagree. They believe it will improve convictions and overall confidence of victims in the military justice system. There is no evidence to support these assertions. In fact, in 2005, the HASC heard similar assertions about the need to conform the UCMJ section on rape and sexual assault to the Federal law on those offenses. Congress made that revolutionary change and found that it did not make things better. In fact, the change made things worse. Cases were thrown out, the court of military appeals declared parts of the changes were unconstitutional, and justice for victims was delayed and ignored completely in some instances. Congress had to rewrite the UCMJ to fix the harm done. The lesson from that is to slow down when you're making major changes to UCMJ to make sure that you're doing the right thing. H.R. 1960 does exactly that. It asks both the Secretary of Defense and the independent panel established by fiscal year '13 NDAA to closely examine the role of the commanders under the UCMJ and make recommendations for change as appropriate. It's time that we focus on what's best for our victims of sexual assault in the military and how to bring those perpetrators to justice. Let me talk a little bit about some of the reforms that are included in the bill because there are so many of them on a bipartisan basis that were added to the bill that are going to help reduce the incidences of sexual assault in our military. One of them is that it would strip the commanders of their authority to dismiss a finding by a court-martial. It would limit commanders' ability to reduce, suspend, or dismiss a sentence. It would also establish minimum sentencing guidelines--dismissal or dishonorable discharge for sex-related offenses. Currently, such guidelines only exist in the military for the crimes of murder and espionage. Now it would include those that have to do with sexual assault in the military. There are whistleblower protections that were put in here, advocated by Members of both parties--Republicans and Democrats--that would add rape, sexual assault, or other sexual misconduct to the protected communications of servicemembers with a Member of Congress or an Inspector General. I want to talk about some provisions that I championed that were included in this bill. One of them, that it would review the practices by military criminal investigative organizations in sex-related crimes. It will put forward standardized training procedures that every branch of the military would have to adhere to. It would make our commanders much more accountable throughout that process. The last one that I will mention today, Mr. Speaker, is development of uniform criteria for selection of sexual assault response coordinators.

Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, in the past, yes, absolutely justice has been delayed and we have not seen the answers for our victims that they need that have been victims of sexual assault in our military. I wasn't here to work on the other NDAA bills. I wasn't here to have the debate during those conversations that were had in the past. A lot of the things that were done and discussed were empty words and broken promises. Today, I'm here to say that these reforms that are included in H.R. 1960 will help our victims and will stop sexual assault in the military today.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Last weekend, I was speaking with a group of individuals, and I talked about the need for a healthy economy and an energy plan where we prioritize American energy. A woman who was in that meeting stood up, and she shared her story. She started to talk about her husband, who had his hours reduced at work because of regulations that came out of the ObamaCare bill. She talked about her kids, two of them teenagers, who are unable to find summer work and how, if they want to go to church during the week, if they want to play baseball games, if they want to do daily activities that normal, everyday families do, they will put hundreds of miles on their car and spend hundreds of dollars on gasoline in trying to make it happen. That's why our team and I are so committed to dealing with bills that directly address the problems that these Americans face. It's why we prioritize a healthy economy, a healthy economy that can give certainty to these struggling American families. It's important that we pass a 5- year farm bill; it's important that we make sure that food is affordable and safe in this country; it's also important that we focus on American energy and on using the natural resources we have at home; and it's important that we talk about the Keystone pipeline. We are going to continue to work to ensure that our students get educations, that they can pay off their loans when they're done, and that they can continue to pursue the American Dream--just like we got to do decades ago.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. I thank the chairman for leading and for all of his hard work on this very important bill that we have on the floor today. Mr. Chairman, the number is staggering: 26,000. That's how many military members were sexually assaulted last year alone; and thousands more were unwilling to come forward. Since 2010, there has been a 35 percent increase in military sexual assault. This is a disturbing trend that needs to be stopped, and I would like to thank the chairman for working with me and for many other members on the committee to do just exactly that. There's no doubt that our military is the strongest and most capable force in the world. The men and women who voluntarily step up to serve and to defend this country know full well that they will be called, potentially, to serve in times of danger. But they should never, under any circumstances, feel threatened in one another's presence. For many, the military is an extension of family, and nothing hurts more than being hurt or let down by one of your own. Last week, the House Armed Services Committee passed the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act by an overwhelming vote of 59-2. I was proud to support the bill in committee. It takes important steps to address the rise of sexual assault in our military, including several provisions that I authored. These provisions will improve military sexual assault investigations. They will also standardize sexual assault prevention training programs, and require the Pentagon to increase scrutiny of those selected that will fill sexual assault prevention positions in the military, necessary reforms that need to get done. For years, lawmakers, military officials, and civilians, alike, have discussed the need to bring an end to sexual assault. I see a real opportunity with this bill to put those words into action, to take meaningful steps to address this growing problem. It's time to say, once and for all, that sexual assault ends now. In order to do that, we need to ensure that there are adequate protections in place that encourage the reporting of sexual assaults without fear of reprisal or further abuse from peers. We must provide support for victims and insist on swift punishment for those responsible.

Mrs. NOEM

Mrs. NOEM. Today, I rise in support of passing a 5-year farm bill for rural and urban America. The House Agriculture Committee acted last week to pass a bipartisan farm bill by a vote of 36-10. It saves nearly $40 billion and makes substantial reforms to the food stamp program and farm programs. The bill eliminates direct payments and consolidates many of the conservation programs. Through this, it also saves money but promotes a strong safety net in a way that is accountable to taxpayers. We recognize that the agriculture community will take some cuts, given our Nation's fiscal situation, but we need to continue to support good policies that support our ability to grow our own food in this country. The farm bill we passed out of the committee represents the first reforms to the food stamp program since 1996. We've put a lot of work into this reform and making sure the money goes exactly where it's needed. It closes loopholes in order to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse. The reforms we make ensure that we can keep integrity in the program. It ensures assistance goes to those who need it most. I believe we need to hold the Federal Government accountable to the taxpayers, and this bill is a step in the right direction. Our number one industry in South Dakota is agriculture. I'm proud of the families in my State that have dedicated their lives to growing our food.