Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Utah for letting me weigh in on this important subject. Mr. Speaker, the hunters and anglers, farmers and ranchers, and hikers and recreationists of central Washington are passionate advocates for access to public lands. I strongly stand behind my constituents in supporting the restoration of our national parks, our public lands, and Federal infrastructure. That is why I am proud to cosponsor the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act to address our country's deferred maintenance backlog in those areas. If that bill were brought to the floor before us today, I would be a resounding ``yes.'' Unfortunately, that is not the bill that we are debating here this afternoon. So while I agree with many provisions within the Great American Outdoors Act, I fear that the sweeping nature of this legislation will have unintended consequences for rural communities like mine in Washington's Fourth District. Mr. Speaker, just 2 weeks ago, I was honored to welcome Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt to the north-central region of my district in central Washington. These were the two main takeaways from the conversations that we had with citizens in that region: one, a lack of trust with the Federal Government; and, two, the need for hope in the face of many challenges facing rural communities. While I believe the intentions behind this legislation are grounded in the desire to improve our public lands, too many of my constituents think the approach within this bill is indicative of the same tired notion that we have all heard before: I am from the government, and I am here to help. We have already determined the Federal Government's culpability in creating a $20 billion maintenance backlog problem on our public lands. So the response is to permanently spend $900 million a year, most of which will be spent on what? Get this, Mr. Speaker: purchasing more Federal land. The farmers, ranchers, and hardworking men and women of my district support local management and control of our lands. We have seen firsthand the delinquency of the Federal Government, and I think we should work to continue to support our national parks but vote this bill down.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing the American Farms, Food Banks, and Families Act, which authorizes a new position within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tasked with ensuring the nation's food supply chain remains a national priority. This legislation authorizes the establishment of an ``Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator,'' either designated or appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture within the USDA. The Administrator is charged with developing efficiencies and addressing key challenges within the domestic agriculture food supply chain. Key points to address by the Administrator include: identifying barriers, either regulatory or statutory, which prevent or inhibit domestic growers from offering their product to the domestic market through food distribution entities; promoting the domestic supply chain; and connecting growers with surplus products with appropriate food distribution organizations. The Administrator is also tasked with convening a Federal Advisory Committee with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), other appropriate federal agencies, and industry stakeholders to collaborate and advise the Administrator on addressing inefficiencies. Finally, the American Farms, Food Banks, and Families Act will establish--in coordination with AMS and industry stakeholders--a national database to record and report excess agricultural products and food distribution organizations in need of the available products

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement going into effect today and to recognize the important role this critical trade agreement play for my district in central Washington. In 2019, Washington State exports to Canada and Mexico totaled $11.1 billion. Now, due to the challenges of the pandemic on our economy, the USMCA is more vital than ever to provide freer markets, fairer trade, and more economic opportunity in Washington. This modernized trade agreement will promote the potential for small businesses to aid in the growth and recovery of our State's economy, and it will provide for expansion of equitable trade opportunities for many of central Washington's farmers and ranchers. The implementation of the USMCA comes at a crucial time for the American economy. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have supported this trade agreement on behalf of people in central Washington, particularly knowing that my constituents will benefit at a time when they need it most.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Rick Beck, a teacher who has shaped the future of foreign language learning in the Yakima Valley. Drawing from German culture and his own high school experience, Rick developed a nationally-recognized German language program in the West Valley School District. Through years of hard work and curriculum development, Mr. Beck created bonds with his students, teaching them about language, leading exchange trips to help them better understand German culture, and inspiring several to pursue higher education in German linguistics and international relations. In November 2019, West Valley High School and German teacher Rick Beck were recognized by the American Association of Teachers of German as a German Center of Excellence, a crowning achievement of Rick's career. Now, as Rick enters into retirement, his legacy and the language program he developed will continue to inspire students at West Valley High School and beyond. I thank Rick for his service and commitment to students across the globe. I wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today, the Tri-Cities community celebrates and honors the career of Pam Brown Larsen. For the past 25 years, Pam has served as Executive Director of Hanford Communities, an intergovernmental cooperative organization embraced by four cities, two counties, and a port district. Pam began this journey in 1994 when she became the first and only person to fill the position created by the City of Richland. Throughout her career, Pam has been a steadfast advocate for the cleanup of the Hanford Site and for the people and communities surrounding it. Her leadership has been crucial to the progress seen at the 586 square mile site. Pam has played a pivotal role in increasing the public's access to information about Hanford, and her efforts advocating for a cost-effective, safe, and prompt cleanup will continue to shape the mission at the site in the years to come. Pam has not only been an expert on nuclear cleanup issues at the local level; she has also shared her collaborative leadership model at the national and international levels as well. The Tri-Cities was the only Department of Energy community with a government advocacy association at the time of its creation. Since then, communities like those in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Oak Ridge, Tennessee have followed the example of Hanford Communities in creating their own associations. Pam has gone on to share her model of waste cleanup community advocacy with agency leaders in Fukushima, Japan. Her leadership has made, and will continue to make, a sustaining mark on the cleanup efforts of the future. Pam, it is an honor to know you, both as a constituent, and as a friend. I know I am not alone in thanking you for your years of service and in wishing you the very best in retirement. Congratulations.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Article I, section 5 of the United States Constitution states that only a majority can constitute a quorum in order to do the business of the people's House. As a former member of the House Rules Committee, I have a deep appreciation and a commitment to the precedence and procedures of this hallowed body. But under this democratic proxy voting scheme before us today, only 22 House Democrats would need to be present in this Chamber to pass any and every single bill moving forward. This is a forced consolidation of power to a select few insiders, and it simply does not reflect the values of our constitution, our history, and our Nation. The constituents of my Washington's Fourth Congressional District did not vote for their Representative to simply defer to a proxy and shirk the duties of serving as a U.S. Representative. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve more, and I urge a ``no'' vote on this terribly ill-advised and unconstitutional resolution.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, Emily Harris-Escamilla was a shining light throughout her community of Selah, Washington. Her smile would illuminate rooms, and she was a bright and graceful soul who nobody could forget. To the people of Selah, Emily was a loving mother, daughter, friend, and coach. Tragically, she was taken from her family and loved ones as a victim of domestic violence. However, her community has chosen not to let this tragedy overshadow and darken their memories of Emily. Shortly following the news of her death, over 100 members of the community gathered at a local park to hold a candle light vigil to honor her and provide comfort and support to those affected by her death. Perry Technical Institute, a local college, established a scholarship in her name, which will continue Emily's legacy and passion for helping others. In lieu of flowers, her family requested that donations be made to the YWCA to assist those fleeing domestic violence. Emily's love and appreciation for her friends and family and her desire to help others continues to live on, with people urging each other to ``live like Emily''. I urge my colleagues to send their prayers to the Harris family and may we all seek to ``live like Emily''.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this unprecedented economic relief package in response to these unprecedented times. It is clear this pandemic is having a profound impact on the American people. It is our job to make sure that this impact is not a lasting one. Especially clear is just how devastating this crisis is hitting rural communities like those in central Washington. This bill provides desperately needed relief to rural hospitals, many of which are the only healthcare provider for a great number of my constituents. It will support the agricultural industry to ensure hardworking farmers and ranchers can continue to provide food security for our Nation. It will provide stability for workers and small business owners who are the backbone of our local economies. Mr. Speaker, this is a 9/11 moment, a time to put partisan differences aside, policy goals aside, and work together as Americans for the people of our Nation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, Captain Moises Navas and Gunnery Sergeant Diego Pongo, both Marine Raiders, lost their lives on March 8 while on a mission to eliminate ISIS terrorists in Iraq. I met Captain Navas last year when he spoke at a ceremony to rename a local post office in honor of his fallen comrade, Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman, a central Washington native. With great poise and humility, the captain said at the time: ``We can all sleep well and find comfort in knowing that it is Americans who raise their hands; this Nation's defense is in the hands of guys such as Dietrich Schmieman.'' Madam Speaker, it is imperative that we not lose sight of the fact that, as we speak, the brave men and women of our Armed Forces are standing guard to keep our Nation safe. Today, I rise to echo those powerful words from a brave young captain, pictured here alongside Sergeant Schmieman's parents at the post office dedication, to say that we can indeed sleep soundly because of heroes like Moises, Diego, and Dietrich.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, Mr. Davis, for yielding and thank him also for all of his hard work bringing this resolution to the floor. I also want to thank him for being here in person himself to help us argue the good points of this resolution and its bipartisan nature. Mr. Speaker, for over a year, the bipartisan Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress has worked together to discuss how Congress, as an institution, conducts business on behalf of the American people. From broad subjects, like government transparency and congressional office payroll, to narrower topics, like formatting legislative documents, our goal is to bring Congress into the same century as the constituents whom we serve. This resolution is a great first step in accomplishing that goal. It requires our technology offices to streamline the approval process for new and innovative technologies. It takes steps towards Housewide bulk purchasing of technology products and services and will save every Member money out of their MRAs. Additionally, the resolution examines expanding or eliminating the cap on the number of employees for Member offices. Many Members, particularly in rural areas like my district in central Washington, have multiple district offices, and Members should be able to staff their offices as they see fit. Empowering Members to adequately staff both district and D.C. offices can improve retention, but, more importantly, it can improve communication with our constituents. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to again thank Chairman Kilmer and Ranking Member Graves for their leadership and their work in bringing this resolution to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues, all Members, to support the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. We are all saddened, and deeply frustrated, to see the iconic Puget Sound continue to devolve into a dumping ground of human waste and sewage. It is no wonder, the species in our Nation's largest estuary are facing increasing odds of extinction. We must do more to address this environmental crisis. An aquatic toxicologist working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found that growth rates for salmon species in Puget Sound are stunned, metabolisms are distorted to the point of starvation, and physiological functions are disrupted when exposed to high levels of Prozac, caffeine, cholesterol medication, ibuprofen, bug spray, cocaine, birth control pills, and dozens of other drugs and personal care products present in Puget Sound. Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to see my friends from the west side of the State, Mr. Heck, who has spent a great deal of his illustrious career working on this issue, as well as Mr. Kilmer, who has also spent an inordinate amount of time working on this very, very important issue, working to address the debilitating impact the environmental degradation in Puget Sound is having on shellfish, on the endangered salmon, and on steelhead. And, as was mentioned, on our iconic Southern Resident killer whales, which are truly on the verge of extinction. As my colleague Cathy McMorris Rodgers and I have been saying for years, we must focus on solutions that the science tells us will directly aid fish species now and not waste our precious resources and time on political motivations like the efforts to tear down our dams. This is a deadly distraction from the actual science-based solutions to support salmon recovery. I want to continue to work with my colleagues to address problems facing endangered fish species throughout our region in a comprehensive manner. The challenges are many: We must continue to tackle the pinniped issue, the avian predation issue, but we also must ensure that a robust hatchery program is in place; We must continue to prioritize the world-class fish passage in our hydroelectric infrastructure; We must continue to take a serious and thoughtful look at fishing and other human-caused impacts; and We must build upon the habitat improvements and greater ecological conservation measures. Mr. Speaker, we must focus on the science, not the politics. We must focus on the facts, not ideology or emotions. While I support the passage of this legislation--and I do--that we are voting on today, I believe it can and should only move forward as part of a much more comprehensive discussion and effort in the Pacific Northwest to address the needs of our iconic species; the protection of our environment; the reliability of our clean, renewable energy infrastructure; and, certainly, the future of our region's economy and livelihood.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life and service of retired Yakima County Sheriff Brian Winter. Sheriff Winter spent his life dedicated to serving his community and his country. After graduating from Central Washington University, he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served honorably in Operations Desert Shield and Iraqi Freedom. As Brian returned to central Washington and worked his way up in the police force, he became known for prioritizing safety and security in schools throughout the county, his ability to build lasting community relationships, and creating meaningful connections with the Yakama Nation. Soon after being elected as sheriff, he was diagnosed with ALS. Despite his condition, he was determined to serve his full 4-year term, which he did. Up until the day he passed away on January 25, 2020, Sheriff Winter prioritized others before himself. I urge my colleagues to join me in keeping his wife and children in our prayers. His legacy throughout the Yakima Valley will not be forgotten.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to provide for a motion to recommit on the Senate amendment to H.R. 550 so that minority voices can be heard on the critical issue of war.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, before I begin, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the topic of my Special Order.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon to lead a Special Order alongside my colleagues from the Congressional Western Caucus to discuss important efforts to modernize one of our Nation's bedrock conservation laws that has sorely grown outdated and ineffective. The Endangered Species Act was signed into law 47 years ago to protect and revitalize species of endangered or threatened animals and wildlife, truly, a worthy goal. Unfortunately, the ESA has earned a recovery rate of only about 3 percent, a staggering failure to protect the very species that it was intended to aid. And while it has failed to safeguard those species, the law has been used as a political spearhead for frivolous litigation that threatens private property rights, public land use decisions, local communities, and American jobs. Fortunately, there are ongoing efforts in the people's House here and within the White House to update and modernize the Endangered Species Act to better protect species, all while treating States, property owners, and local stakeholders as partners rather than obstacles to species conservation. The Western Caucus recently unveiled a package of 18 bills introduced by members across the rural West and beyond to strengthen the ESA. These bills reflect our intention to bring this arcane law into the 21st century, aiming to create a more comprehensive and streamlined approach to support species recovery while ensuring our communities are not burdened by overregulation and misleading data. This package includes my legislation, the Weigh Habitats Offsetting Locational Effects Act, to ensure all conservation measures are considered when Federal decisions that impact ESA-listed species are being made. By establishing a process that considers the totality of conservation efforts, we can incentivize private investment in species recovery, streamline Federal decisionmaking, and promote the comprehensive efforts of States, local communities, and Tribes. We should not tie our hands when it comes to species recovery. Using the best available science, considering all ongoing conservation measures, streamlining the process for listing decisions, and empowering State and local efforts creates a comprehensive approach to advance species recovery and fulfills the true intent of the Endangered Species Act. Madam Speaker, with this package of bills, you will hear more from many of my colleagues in the Western Caucus. We are taking a very important step toward truly strengthening the ESA. The Trump administration has also unveiled improvements to the implementation of ESA regulations developed to increase transparency and effectiveness of the law. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has rightly focused on updating the administration of ESA to target the areas where resources will do the most good, which, of course, are the direct, on-the-ground conservation measures. Much like legislation in the Western Caucus package that I and my colleagues have championed, the updates direct listing decisions to be based solely on the best science available as well as commercial information. Only when sound science, not politics, determine conservation measures can we truly begin to turn the tide to achieve successes under the ESA. The revisions also establish greater certainty for timely decisionmaking by Federal agencies and applicants, therefore providing streamlined actions and coordination for conservation efforts. With partners like President Trump, Interior Secretary Bernhardt, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director, Aurelia Skipwith, I believe we truly can reverse the abysmal track record currently set under the Endangered Species Act. Unfortunately, we are seeing efforts right here in the people's House to completely undermine and halt these important steps being taken by the administration. Our conversation this afternoon is quite timely, I believe, because tomorrow the lead Democrat in the House Natural Resources Committee is marking up legislation to thwart the administration's rule to bring more transparency and modernization into the ESA. Why anyone would be proud of the status quo in which only 3 percent of the species that have been listed under this law have recovered truly does baffle me. That 3 percent is quite the meager report card, so it is disappointing to see so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle advocate for the status quo. I would hope they join me and my colleagues who are working to strengthen this law in order to provide real results, not simply evoking political talking points aimed at appeasing litigious environmental groups. Madam Speaker, like far too many regulations that come from our Nation's Capitol, relying on top-down decisions from bureaucrats only serves to limit economic prosperity. These decisions have not only negatively impacted local communities, they have done close to nothing to recover and protect threatened animals and wildlife. I am looking forward to partnering with many of my colleagues from the Western Caucus this afternoon to describe our efforts here in the people's House to finally modernize the Endangered Species Act, something that is far overdue for our wildlife, for our environment, and for all of our communities. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Gianforte), my colleague and good friend, who is a true leader for conservation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Gianforte; his legislation, the LIST Act, is exactly the kind of update we need. It is a straightforward, science-based tool that equips Fish and Wildlife with exactly the kind of ability to make decisions based on facts regarding listing decisions. I thank the gentleman for his leadership. He is a great spokesman for the State of Montana, and I appreciate his help here this evening. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith), my good friend.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Smith, and I appreciate him for sharing some really personal impacts of a law that--can anyone think of another law that has been in place for 47 years without any kind of improvements or changes? It doesn't happen very often. When we see impacts like that, that impact people's lives--they truly do--not only species that we are trying to protect but the people who are trying to live in concert with those species, it is something that really speaks, I think, to a lot of us. So I thank the gentleman very much for his bill. The EMPOWER Act, I think, will give a lot of much-needed change and improvement to this process so that States and local communities can have a say. We should have more positive results from the ESA and move forward from that abysmal 3 percent success rate that we should not be proud of. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), my good friend.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Tipton for his comments. I have to say that he just hit the nail right on the head. The ESA should encourage and incentivize voluntary conservation efforts. Species recovery, habitat recovery agreements, along with private property conservation grants and habitat conservation loan programs for State and local governments, will save money and resources while boosting conservation. The more we can do this locally, the more we can direct these measures, the more impact they will have on accomplishing what we want from this conserving of species. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for this commonsense approach, this collaborative approach that he has taken, and for showing leadership on all of these crucial issues that are important to us in the West and all over the country, to the whole Nation. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar), the leader of the Congressional Western Caucus, someone who has shown a true sense of commitment to make the ESA something that it should be, something that is successful that we can all be proud of.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Gosar for being here tonight. He truly has been a leader in this effort to modernize the ESA. I thank him for his commitment to that. Legislation like he is proposing is going to be a huge step in improving the situation that we have in this country. So, I thank the gentleman for being here, again, very much. If I could just say, I think it will improve the predictability for endangered species listings and critical habitat designations, but it will also level the playing field by applying the same standards for listing as we do for delisting a species. If a species is recovered, we should celebrate that. It should be a happy day, something that is a good thing. That is our goal. Then we can remove it from the endangered list so that resources can then be directed toward species that still need to be protected and brought back. It just makes sense. I think the best example that comes to mind is the gray wolf. We should be celebrating that. They are back, and they are back strong. The science is clear about that. They are recovered, and it should be removed from the list so that we can better come to the aid of other endangered species. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for being here tonight.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), my good friend and fellow farmer.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. LaMalfa and have to say that he has been a true leader in the Congressional Western Caucus and in the House of Representatives. It is awesome to be able to have someone contribute as much as the gentleman does that has the experience and the knowledge of how these laws impact real people. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson), my friend who actually serves on the important, powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. I did have the privilege of visiting the gentleman's district and seeing firsthand the Parish Generating Station, a state-of-the-art carbon capture and sequestration facility. It was amazing and truly helped me understand the potential of the technology that we now have at our disposal. It is that kind of thing that will allow our Nation to truly lead in the American energy renaissance. Unfortunately, all too often, some of the complications from the bureaucracy get in the way, and things like the ESA can prevent us from reaching our full potential. I thank the gentleman for his leadership and ensuring that the economic effects are something too that we need to take into account. I appreciate the gentleman's contributions here this evening. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Fifth Congressional District of the great State of Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman helping us here this evening as we get down to the final few minutes of our hour. While the thought behind foreign land acquisition in the ESA may have been well-intentioned, we need accountability, and we need to be able to determine whether results are being achieved. The point the gentleman made about investing in our efforts domestically makes a lot of sense where we can focus on a results- driven approach using science and not emotion. So I thank my friend very much for that thought. In trying to accommodate schedules, if I may, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) for a few thoughts that he has on this. He is a member of the Western Caucus. We are happy to adopt South Carolina as a Western State.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Norman's thoughts. We should be doing everything in our power to incentivize landowners to be active participants in conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species. Without oversight over whether current restrictions set by the Federal Government would actually help these species, and with very little recourse available for the property owner, this legislation takes a very important step forward to ensure there is a collaborative approach. Madam Speaker, I yield to the good gentleman from the First Congressional District of the great State of Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Gohmert. The gentleman knows full well from his time serving on the House Natural Resources Committee just how ineffective the current ESA is performing. I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for spearheading the SAVES Act, as he described, to enhance our conservation measures for endangered species. Madam Speaker, you just heard from a variety of members from the Congressional Western Caucus who represent not only rural districts in the West but also communities across the Nation, from Montana to Missouri, from South Carolina to California. Their message was clear: We must modernize the ESA. Doing so will be good for the species. It will be good for communities. It will be good for taxpayers. And it will be good for our economy. A few Members were unable to join us tonight. I want to list some of the bills that they are sponsoring: Congresswoman Cheney's Increasing Access and Multiple Use Act, Congressman Westerman's PETITION Act, Congressman Mike Johnson's Critical Habitat Improvement Act, Congressman Young's LAMP Act, Congressman Stewart's Critical Infrastructure Act, Congressman Calvert's FISH Act, Congressman McClintock's Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act, and Congressman Buck's Threatened Species Protection Improvement Act. All of these bills are critical for a comprehensive update to ensure the ESA accomplishes what it was designed to do: recover threatened and endangered animals and wildlife. This package is supported by dozens of organizations, including the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Counties, the Family Farm Alliance, the National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition, the American General Contractors Association, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the National Association of Home Builders, the Western Energy Alliance, the United Snowmobile Association, the National Mining Association, American Agri-Women, and the National Cotton Council, amongst many, many, many others. As we continue to push for reforms to the ESA in the people's House and work with the administration and the White House to support the Department of the Interior's updated implementation regulations, I hope that my colleagues will join us in recognizing that we can do so much better to recover our Nation's magnificent flora and fauna. The Western Caucus will remain at the forefront of this effort. A 3 percent success rate is failing our wildlife across this beautiful country. We must do better. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.