Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Bacon very much for his participation tonight and helping shed light on this very important issue in our Tribal communities around the country. I told you earlier, Mr. Speaker, that I held a public meeting in Yakima earlier this year. The reporter that I had mentioned asked me a very pointed question. This issue had been brought to light in the early 1990s by one of my predecessors who held this seat. That person vowed to do something about this, and here we are, 20-some years later, almost 30 years later, and nothing has been done. She asked me: What is different today? I think the right answer to that, Mr. Speaker, is that the difference, from what I have seen, personally, is that the men and women in our Tribal communities are standing up. They are saying: We are tired of this, and we are just not going to take it anymore. They are making their voices heard loud and clear and demanding action, and this is something that we need to deliver in order to help our Native American communities around the country. It truly is a pleasure for me to yield to the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson), who has been a true leader on this issue, helping bring focus to this issue so that we can find solutions.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank and appreciate the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson). I thank him for his leadership in making sure that people understand the gravity of the situation that we face, so I thank him very much. Mr. Speaker, we have talked a lot about both these bills, probably more, though, about Savanna's Act. Let me talk a little bit about the BADGES for Native Communities Act. It is a bill that strengthens Tribal communities' ability to investigate crimes related to missing and murdered indigenous women and better enforce pubic safety. BADGES stands for Bridging Agency Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native communities. It gives Tribes and Tribal law enforcement agencies access to Federal resources and databases so that they can more effectively investigate open cases. It will always provide resources for Tribes to recruit and retain qualified law enforcement personnel, which addresses an issue facing Native communities across the country. Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Representative Tom Cole, the two lead sponsors of the BADGES for Native Communities Act and co- chairs of the House Native American Caucus, could not be here with us this evening, but I know their advocacy has inspired many Members of Congress, myself included, to work to bridge those gaps on behalf of Native communities across the country. This legislation, like Savanna's Act, has strong bipartisan support, and tonight, I call upon the Committee on the Judiciary to give this legislation a hearing. Mr. Speaker, another strong advocate in the people's House who fights day in and day out on the behalf of American Indian and Alaska Native communities is the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), dean of the House and my friend. Mr. Speaker, the good dean couldn't be with us here this evening, but he will include a statement in the Congressional Record. In his statement, Representative Young speaks of the extreme isolation and lack of law enforcement in remote Native communities and the concerning fact that Native communities lack full access to criminal databases, undermining Tribal law enforcement in court systems. I thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), my friend, for his years of leadership and for his original cosponsorship for both Savanna's Act and the BADGES for Native Communities Act. Also, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, I have requested a field hearing in central Washington on Yakama Nation Reservation. I also mentioned that several local Tribes have echoed my request to both the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Natural Resources. I include the following letters in the Record from the Yakama Nation, also from The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, from the YWCA, from the Samish Indian Nation, from the Puyallup Tribe, from the Missing and Murdered Native Americans, from the Washington State Women's Commission, and also from the Muckleshoot Tribal Council. Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Toppenish, WA, June 20, 2019. Hon, Jerrold Nadler, Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC. Hon. Raul Grijalva, Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington,

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, these letters outline the importance to both our Native communities in Washington State and the futures of indigenous people around the country. To quote from the Yakama Nation, Chairman Goudy's letter: ``As the Yakama Nation testified in Olympia, there needs to be a genuine response to the reports of missing and murdered Native women and girls across Tribal lands.'' Chairman Goudy continues: ``Also, all new legislation needs to be guided by a clear strategic framework and principles to move beyond the current conditions endangering the lives and future generations of Native women and girls.'' The unique perspective of Native communities like that of the Yakama Nation are invaluable, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to debate the best policies moving forward that will actually provide solutions to this crisis. So I respectfully repeat my invitation to the House Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Natural Resources to come to my congressional district in central Washington, and I can promise all those members and chairmen the insight they will gain will help them realize how this crisis truly affects our friends and neighbors on and off Tribal lands. Mr. Speaker, you have heard tonight how this devastating crisis affects Tribes, States, and congressional districts across the country. It is easy to focus on these heartbreaking statistics, but these women are more than just numbers. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, neighbors, and friends. There are those who are missing, like: 18-year-old Rosalita Longee, who was last seen in Wapato in 2015; 37-year-old Roberta Jean Raines, last seen in Toppenish in 2001; 29-year-old Daisy Mae Tallman, who went missing in October of 1987; Daisy's backpack and keys were found northwest of White Swan; 29-year-old Karen Louise Johnley, who was last seen by a friend at the Lazy R Tavern in Harrah, Washington in 1987; 16-year-old Janice Hannigan, who, in 1971, went missing after she was discharged by the hospital on Christmas Eve. She never arrived home and has never been heard from again. Then there are also the unsolved murders, including: 31-year-old Rosenda Strong, who was last seen alive in Wapato on October 2 of last year. Her body was found in July outside of Toppenish, and no arrests have been made; 23-year-old Destiny Louise Lloyd, who went missing on Christmas Day 2017. She was found days later south of Harrah; 31-year-old Minnie Andy. Minnie was assaulted in Wapato in July 2017. She died from her injuries; 39-year-old Linda Dave, whose remains were found in Toppenish in February of 2017 under a bridge; 33-year-old mother of eight, Naoma George. She was beaten to death in an alley in Wapato in the fall of 2013; 44-year-old Barbara Celestine. Barbara died of blunt trauma to the head in 2005; 30-year-old Shari Dee Sampson Elwell of Wapato. Shari was found dead in White Swan in 1992; 44-year-old JoAnne Betty John. The mother of 11 had been missing for 2\1/2\ years before her remains were found in 1992. She was identified by her dental records; 13-year-old Rozelia Sohappy, who was last seen New Year's Eve in 1988. Her remains were found outside of Brownstone; 20-year-old Jenece Wilson of Toppenish. She died of a severe blow to the head in the summer of 1987; 26-year old Babette Crystall Green, a member of the Warm Springs Tribe in Oregon. Her remains were found in 1987 near Wapato; 25-year-old Clydell Alice Sampson, who, after being missing for 2 years, was found in 1986 by hunters outside of Granger. She died of a shotgun blast to the head; 33-year-old Mavis Josephine McKay. Mavis' remains were found in 1957 in Satus. Mavis was a citizen of the Umatilla Tribe. These are just some of the women with open cases from on or near the Yakama Nation reservation in central Washington, and this does not even begin to cover the number of open cases in other parts of the country. This is not an issue we can ignore, Mr. Speaker. The Native communities we represent deserve action. Congress must, as to provide answers to their friends, families, and loved ones, act to deliver justice to missing and murdered indigenous women across the country. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as National Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, to celebrate the Central Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is celebrating 10 years of service to central Washington communities. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was formed to support Yakima Valley's growing Latino business community. They work to develop a professional network that fosters a thriving business environment, encourages job development, and promotes business growth. Their diverse membership is a testament to the range of positive contributions Hispanic Americans and Latinos have on our central Washington communities. Last month, the chamber hosted ``Taco Fest,'' a celebration to mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month with our friends and neighbors throughout the Yakima Valley. They also, annually, hold the Estrella Awards, which honor exemplary local Hispanic leaders and professionals. I am proud to represent the Central Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and its members, whose work strengthens and improves our local communities in the Yakima Valley. I urge all of my colleagues to help me celebrate their 10-year anniversary, and I thank all who join me in celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Americans and Latinos during National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Water Supply Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Act. This legislation will help address the need for the new storage, conveyance, and recycling projects necessary to increase our drought resilience and provide the water security required to meet the needs of our agricultural economy and our local communities. As a farmer, former state Director of Agriculture, and now a Congressman representing one of the most flourishing agricultural regions in America, I fully understand how important it is that we reinvest in the water infrastructure our farms and communities were built upon--much of which is over a century old at this point. I have made it a priority to address these important issues for Central Washington, and for rural communities across the West, that have Bureau of Reclamation projects in their regions. That is why I am introducing this legislation--to help local water managers access the funds they need to repair and rebuild aging facilities and ensure our existing surface storage facilities are operating as efficiently as possible. The Water Supply Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Utilization Act addresses the Bureau of Reclamation's (BOR) maintenance backlog at water supply infrastructure projects. Since 1902, BOR has constructed dams, hydropower plants, canals, and irrigation conveyances to provide for our water needs. Far too much of this infrastructure is in serious need of maintenance and repair. My legislation creates a streamlined process, so local water operators can initiate maintenance projects with extended repayment through a much more clearly-defined application and review process. Local users need this flexibility to access these resources--this bill will help them do just that. Earlier this year, Central Washington crossed one of the most significant hurdles for water needs in our region when President Trump signed my legislation into law authorizing the next phase of the Yakima Project. It was a momentous occasion and a testament to the many collaborative efforts and stakeholders in the Yakima Valley. But as many of us know, authorization is only the key first step. Next comes--what some would say is--the even more difficult part: securing the resources and the funding to actually implement those projects authorized. I have been working on the Yakima Project for much of my career, and this bill will create an easier, more-streamlined process to access the funds for this desperately needed infrastructure in Central Washington. This legislation also strengthens the ``Safety of Dams'' program to improve structural integrity of dams across the U.S. In Central Washington, we are no stranger to the benefits dams provide for irrigation districts and the agricultural industry. Like much of our nation's infrastructure, dams are aging and require regular maintenance and upkeep. The ``Safety of Dams'' program is important for ensuring all BOR dams across the country continue to operate safely and efficiently--from the Grand Coulee Dam down to the Sunnyside, Prosser, and Roza Diversion dams. The Yakima Project alone has five storage dam and reservoirs, including Bumping Lake, Clear Creek, Tieton, Cle Elum, Kachess, and Keechelus. Washington's 4th District truly is at the epicenter of need for ensuring the stability of BOR dam infrastructure, and this program is responsible for funding any updates or maintenance to these dams. However, BOR expects to reach their current statutory cap on the program in the next two years. My bill will increase the authorization of this program to meet BOR's projected funding needs for the future workload to ensure water users in regions like Central Washington can continue to enjoy the benefits of dams, large and small, that all make our way of life possible. Finally, the legislation creates a pilot program to give more flexibility to reservoir operators. Communities across the West know the impacts of droughts all too well. This bill allows local operators to temporarily store water in dedicated flood control space during certain low-risk times of the year. By addressing the maintenance backlog at our water supply projects, strengthening the structural integrity of our water infrastructure, and providing flexibility for water storage to best equip our communities in times of drought, we can secure the resources required to address the current and future water needs for the Yakima Valley and for water needs across the West. I encourage all of my colleagues to support the Water Supply Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Act. I look forward to pushing for its passage here in the House and for its companion legislation, led by Senator Martha McSally, in the United States Senate.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month and the contributions of Hispanic Americans in my congressional district in central Washington State. Growing up in Sunnyside, Washington, I have witnessed firsthand how Hispanic Americans contribute to our communities through entrepreneurship, military service, and cultural diversity. They are our friends, our family, our neighbors, and our coworkers. They are small businessowners, doctors, police officers, and soldiers. While we may take 1 month out of the year to recognize the historical and cultural contributions of our Hispanic American friends, we should do more to support and highlight our appreciation. That is why I am an original cosponsor of the National Museum of the American Latino Act, to finally create a Smithsonian museum to recognize and celebrate Hispanic American and Latino history in our country. As Americans, we share a common heritage as a Nation of immigrants, and the people of central Washington cherish our diverse culture and history. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important anniversary in our Nation's nuclear and military history. At the start of the atomic age, thousands of men and women, our Cold War patriots, moved to central Washington State to work on a top-secret government project, building the world's first full-scale nuclear reactor. During World War II, Hanford, Washington, was selected as one of the three sites for the Manhattan Project, and September 26 marks the 75th year since the B Reactor went critical at the Hanford site. Since then, the Tri-Cities has grown as a hub for innovation, with an appreciation of the past and an excitement for the future, transforming into the fastest growing economy in Washington State. The B Reactor has been converted into the centerpiece of the Manhattan National Historical Park, where all are welcome to experience its history. But the work at the Hanford site must continue as the Federal Government has a moral and legal obligation to clean up the country's largest nuclear waste site. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in thanking the Cold War patriots at Hanford for their important contributions to our country.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, it has been 5 years since the largest single wildfire in Washington State history. The Carlton Complex fire raged through north-central Washington, burning more than a quarter of a million acres and leaving more than 500 homes and structures destroyed in its path. Still today, the communities, small businesses, and families in Okanogan County continue to rebuild and work to address the long-term consequences of this disaster. While the devastation was heartbreaking, what we saw on the ground was a testament to the resilience and spirit of Washingtonians, as well as the generosity and bravery of those from across the region and the Nation who came to north-central Washington's aid. At the height of the fire, in those frightening days of late July 2014, more than 2,800 firefighters from across the country poured in to assist the firefight. Today, I rise to recognize and remember the heroic efforts of those thousands of firefighters, first responders, and volunteers who worked tirelessly and at great personal risk.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Nathaniel ``Nat'' Washington, Sr. and his son, Nat Jr. Their public service transformed the Columbia Basin, Washington state, and the entire Pacific Northwest by securing hydropower as the foundation of the region's power system. The Grand Coulee Dam is the largest power station in the nation. With a 6,809-megawatt generating capacity, the Dam supplies an average of 21 billion kilowatt hours of clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to 11 States and Canada each year. Reservoirs from the Dam are the backbone of the Columbia Basin Project, which supplies irrigation to 10,000 farms on 671,000 acres of farmland in the Columbia Basin. While residents throughout the Pacific Northwest reap these benefits, many are unaware of how the Dam came to be or how the work of a father and son changed Central Washington, our state, and the region forever. In 1908, Nat Washington, Sr., a decedent of President George Washington's family, left his home in Virginia and established a homestead along the Columbia River, not far from where the Grand Coulee Dam sits today. Shortly after arriving in Washington, Nat Sr. was elected as Grant County Prosecutor and the first president of the Columbia River Dam, Irrigation, and Power District. In this role, Nat Sr. played a key role in the conception, approval, and construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. Nat Jr. shared his father's passion for public service. After earning his law degree from the University of Washington, Nat Washington, Jr. also served as Grant County Prosecutor and later in the Washington State Legislature for 30 years. During this time, Nat Jr. was instrumental in the development of several hydropower projects across the region, including the Columbia Basin Project, which is the largest water reclamation project in the United States, providing nearly $2 billion in economic benefits to the region each year. With these immeasurable contributions to Central Washington in mind, I rise to introduce legislation to rename the Third Power Plant at the Grand Coulee Dam as the Nathaniel ``Nat'' Washington'' Power Plant in honor of Nat Jr. and Sr. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the contributions of these pioneers of Northwest hydropower.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Clyde Owen of Moses Lake, Washington, an individual who dedicated his life to serving the country and improving his community before passing on July 1, at the age of 100. Clyde was a pilot during World War II and the only member of his air crew to escape enemy fire during the landing at Anzio in 1943. Surviving these adversities, he continued to serve in the Air Force, traveling the world before settling in Moses Lake in 1961. There, he served as the last commander of the Larson Air Force Base, overseeing crucial tanker and bomber fleets before its closure in 1966. Far from ready to retire, he went on to work as the first executive director for the Port of Moses Lake, working to foster economic development and create opportunity for the people of central Washington. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Clyde's long life of service and his commitment to the United States and to the people of Moses Lake.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, sadly, I rise again today to speak about the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women. After 300 days of searching, the body of Rosenda Strong was finally found on the Yakima Nation reservation in central Washington. The life of this young mother of four was not lost, but taken, as are the lives of many other Native American women across the Nation. Rosenda is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, and her case is one of 71 unsolved cases involving missing and murdered indigenous women in Washington State. Since she went missing last October, her loved ones have rallied to bring national attention to the alarming high number of murder and violence rate facing Native American women across the country. Children are left without mothers, parents are left without daughters, and communities are left questioning their safety and their future. This crisis can no longer be ignored. Congress must act to deliver justice to victims like Rosenda and so many others like her.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Colorado for yielding. Mr. Speaker, fixing our broken immigration system has been a top priority of mine while I have been in Congress. Today, we in the House have an opportunity to address one small piece of our broken system, but a very important one. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Fairness for High- Skilled Immigrants Act. This bipartisan legislation takes an important step toward ensuring the United States can continue to recruit and maintain the highest caliber of educated professionals in the world. Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, under current law, the quota of employment-based immigrants for a country like Iceland with a population of 338,000 people is the same as the quota for India, which has a population of more than 1.3 billion people. Eliminating arbitrary per-country caps and addressing the employment- based green card backlog from highly populated countries will allow high-skilled professionals, many of whom are already living and working in the United States on a temporary visa, to continue contributing more fully to our local communities and economies. It will also provide certainty to the employers and communities that rely upon these highly skilled workers. Mr. Speaker, in my district, many of these high-skilled professionals are world-class medical scientists, including oncologists and cardiologists. I have heard from and met with many of these professionals, just like Mr. Buck from Colorado has, throughout my State in central Washington. Dr. Obulareddy and her husband, Dr. Chithiri, came to the United States in 2006 to study medicine. Dr. Obulareddy is now a specialist in oncology serving my constituents in Yakima and surrounding communities. She states, ``We always wanted to give something back to this great country, and hence, we decided to move to rural America, which is experiencing an acute shortage of physicians for a long time now. This shortage is more severe for specialist physicians like me.'' She and her husband, and many like them, also dream of opening businesses to create more American jobs, but their temporary status does not allow them to do so. Dr. Obulareddy and Dr. Chithiri are from India and have been told the backlogged wait time for them to obtain their green cards is--now, get this, Mr. Speaker--between 70 and 150 years. This demonstrates just how seriously flawed the current program is and why we need this legislative fix. We should continue to recruit and retain these highly educated, highly trained individuals in order to meet the demands of our local communities and economies. The need for rural healthcare specialists is a problem across my district and across rural America, which is why I am grateful for these professionals who are helping address these problems facing our local communities. Mr. Speaker, as I continue to work toward addressing other components of our broken immigration system, I am proud that this bill takes a step in the right direction, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for yielding. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on a crisis that affects communities across our Nation. That crisis is that of missing and murdered indigenous women. Native American and Alaska Native women throughout the country face a murder rate 10 times that of the national average, with 84 percent experiencing some kind of violence in their lifetime. In my home State of Washington, Native Americans make up about 2 percent of the population, but a recent report by the Washington State Patrol shows that indigenous women account for 7 percent of the State's reported missing women. My congressional district in Central Washington sits at the epicenter of this crisis. In the past 5 years alone, seven women have been murdered or have gone missing on or near the Yakama Nation reservation. These women are not just statistics in a database. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, neighbors, and friends. There are those who are missing, like 25-year-old Alillia Minthorn, or Lala as her friends called her, who was last seen in Toppenish and has been missing since May 5; 31-year-old Rosenda Strong, who was last seen in Wapato on October 2 of last year; 34-year-old Freda Gun, who went missing in Kennewick in 2016; and 18- year-old Rosalita Longee, who was last seen in Wapato in 2015. Then there are the unsolved murders, including 23-year-old Linda Dave, whose remains were found in Toppenish in February of 2017; 31- year-old Minnie Andy, who was assaulted by an unknown assailant in Wapato, and later died of her injuries in July of 2017; and 23-year-old Destiny Lloyd, who was reported missing on Christmas Day 2017, only to be found days later, murdered, on the side of the road. To reiterate, Madam Speaker, these are just seven cases from the last 5 years. There are currently 71 open cases like this in Washington State; 31 of them occurring on or near the Yakama Nation reservation. The local community has been working to tackle this crisis. Tribal and community leaders have held multiple rallies and community forums to raise awareness and demand action. The diligent reporting of the Yakima Herald-Republic has highlighted the community response and activism on the ground, creating an online hub to list open cases involving missing and murdered Yakama Nation women and providing resources for the community to report disappearances. Recently passed State laws, spearheaded by State Representative Gina Mosbrucker in Olympia, have enhanced data collection and improved communication between Tribal leaders and various State agencies. I absolutely applaud these efforts, and I am inspired by the progress being made at the local and State level; however, this is a national problem that requires a national response. That is why I, along with my colleagues, Representatives Torres and Haaland, introduced Savanna's Act. Our legislation aims to address and bring awareness to the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women at the Federal level by improving coordination between Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. The bill would develop guidelines and best practices for Tribes and law enforcement agencies across the country to enhance the reporting and recordkeeping of crimes against indigenous women and improve communication between law enforcement and families of victims. Now, this bill may sound familiar. Last Congress, the Senate unanimously passed a version of Savanna's Act that stalled in the House. Representatives Torres, Haaland, and I worked with Tribes, advocacy groups, law enforcement, and Senators Murkowski and Cortez Masto to improve the legislation and introduce a bill that can--and should--be signed into law. The bill is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22-year- old member of the Spirit Lake Tribe, pregnant with her first child, who was murdered in August of 2017. Her murder brought long-overdue national attention to missing and murdered indigenous women. After meeting with local families of victims, State and local law enforcement, and regional Tribes, it has become clear to me that central Washington has a unique perspective on this crisis. The stories about these women are heartbreaking. It is with these stories and mine that I have urged both House Judiciary and Natural Resources Committees to hold a field hearing on the Yakama Nation reservation to learn firsthand how this crisis is plaguing our communities. I am pleased to have gained the support of local Tribes and the YWCA in Yakima in calling for a field hearing, and I am eager to have committee members hear their stories as well. Thankfully, justice was served upon Savanna's murderers. We owe the same justice for the many murdered, missing, indigenous women.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak on my bipartisan amendment to prevent any funding in this Interior appropriations bill from being used to close or transfer the operation of U.S. Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Fortunately, Mr. Chairman, after overwhelming concern expressed by a broad coalition of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and on both sides of the Capitol, I am pleased to report that the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, has listened to our concerns and informed us that the proposal to end the CCC program will be withdrawn. Over the past several weeks, I have helped lead this coalition to tell the important story of our Civilian Conservation Centers and the value they provide in supporting rural communities and maintaining our public lands, actively managing our Nation's forests, and helping restore communities harmed by catastrophic wildfires. I would like to thank Secretary Perdue for listening to the concerns of central Washington communities and for preserving the unique and important role these centers play in rural communities. I look forward to working in partnership with the CCCs; the U.S. Forest Service; and our many local, regional, and Federal partners in strengthening these programs so they can continue to efficiently and effectively support the U.S. Forest Service motto of: Caring for the Land and Serving People. Mr. Chairman, I intend to withdraw my amendment, but I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend and colleague from Maine, Ms. Pingree, as well as my good friend and colleague from Oregon, Mr. Schrader, for their comments. In the weeks since this proposal had been announced to close the Forest Service Job Corps CCCs, I know my colleagues have, and I also have, received dozens of personal accounts and testimonials from men and women across my district whose lives were profoundly impacted for the better by the CCC program. I will quote a couple of those comments, Mr. Chair. The first one: ``Job Corps saved my life.'' ``The 10 months I spent at Fort Simcoe were the most beneficial months of my life.'' Another person said of the program: The CCC ``didn't just change my life but saved my life.'' ``I am so grateful for Columbia Basin Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center. . . . If they hadn't accepted me, I would be in a different, much worse phase of my life.'' Mr. Chair, I would, again, like to thank the Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Perdue, for hearing the strong support expressed by my colleagues and myself on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service Job Corps CCC program. Mr. Chair, I respectfully withdraw the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, as the designee of the gentlewoman from Texas, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment that I introduced with my friend from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) to prevent Federal funds from being used to close or transfer the operations of the U.S. Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Mr. Chair, I am a strong supporter of this administration's demonstrated commitment to rural prosperity for communities often ignored or forgotten across this country. Their focus on promoting policies to protect rural communities is so important to regions of the country like my own district of central Washington. Unfortunately, the recent proposal to close many Forest Service Job Corps facilities and remove the Forest Service-based mission from the remaining centers will hurt rural America. It is for this reason that I have been working with a bipartisan coalition of Members from across the country, both in the House and in the Senate, to prevent this proposal from moving forward. The three centers in central and eastern Washington are critical to supporting our rural communities, which are on the front lines of facing ever-worsening impacts of catastrophic wildfires. I have met the students who aid active management efforts in our Nation's forests and help restore communities devastated by wildfires. The public service they provide is worthy of our support. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record letters from the National Association of Home Builders to Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy. National Association of Home Builders, Washington, DC, June 12, 2019. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi: On behalf of the more than 140,000 members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), I write in support of Amendment #13 (#95 for Division A, sponsored by Representatives DeFazio, Newhouse, Schrader, and Gianforte) to H.R. 2740, the Fiscal Year 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. This bipartisan measure would prohibit funds appropriated for Job Corps from being applied towards the closure of any of the 25 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers currently operating. The recent termination of the Department of Agriculture's training partnership with Job Corps and subsequent announcement by the Department of Labor (DOL) of nine center closures is deeply concerning to NAHB and its workforce development arm, the Home Builders Institute (HBI), which has trained and placed thousands of students for careers in residential construction through its 45-year partnership with Job Corps. HBI Job Corps programs are offered at 65 centers across the country, and have equipped at-risk youth with the skills and experience they need for successful careers through pre- apprenticeship training, job placement services, mentoring, certification programs, textbooks and curricula. DOL's planned Job Corps center closures stand to impact more than 43 construction training programs, six of which are operated by HBI at three of the affected locations. Many of these centers serve rural and dislocated communities and have enrollment numbers exceeding national and regional averages. However, the Department of Labor has not disclosed any performance metrics or data to support its closure determinations and it has provided little information on how it will continue to serve the thousands of at-risk youth who will be displaced from their local centers. Further, DOL has not informed contracted training partners like HBI whether their successfully operating programs--and their administering staff--will be relocated or simply terminated along with the centers they have served. At a time of endemic labor shortages in the industry and a record-setting 404,000 open construction positions, eliminating in-demand workforce training programs could prove catastrophic for the labor market, the underserved youth that have benefited from the opportunity to learn a skilled trade, and the communities and businesses that turn to Job Corps for their workforce needs. NAHB encourages Congress and the Department of Labor to work together to address outstanding stakeholder questions about the proposed closures and urges DOL to offer a plan that ensures minimal disruption to affected Job Corps partners and students. In the interim, we ask Representatives to support Amendment #13 to prevent a hasty shuttering of any Job Corps centers. Sincerely, James W. Tobin III.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, the National Association of Home Builders accurately states that ``the Department of Labor has not disclosed any performance metrics or data to support its closure determinations, and it has provided little information on how it will continue to serve the thousands of at-risk youth who will be displaced from their local centers.'' In fact, Mr. Chair, many of the facilities slated to be closed, six out of the nine, like the Fort Simcoe facility in my own district, are some of the highest-performing centers in the country. This simply makes no sense. I thank Mr. Schrader and Mr. DeFazio, my colleagues from Oregon, as well as my colleague from Montana (Mr. Gianforte), for their leadership on this issue, as well as the dozens of bipartisan Members who have been working alongside Mr. DeFazio and myself to stop this proposal from moving forward. I urge my colleagues to support our amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), my colleague from just east of me.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I would like to, again, urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, as the city of Kennewick and the greater Tri-Cities community mourns the loss of Councilman and former Mayor Steve Young. Steve held the distinction as the second longest-serving mayor in the long history of the city of Kennewick, serving the people for nearly a decade in that role. But his service went far beyond those years. Outside of his continued service as a councilman, Steve's footprint stretched far and wide, across not only the city of Kennewick and the Tri-Cities but the entire State of Washington. His vision, his advocacy, and his passion for serving the community will continue on through the many contributions he provided for the Tri-Cities. The long list of community organizations, nonprofits, and local and State boards on which Steve served rightly demonstrate just how passionate he was about serving his community. My deepest condolences go out to Steve's wife, Anita. My thoughts and prayers go out to her and the entire Young family. May my friend rest in peace. We will miss him.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule that is before us today. As Democrats in the House bring forward legislation in the name of supporting the environment and climate, I would like to talk a little bit about the process. My good friend Chairman McGovern and the Democratic majority of the House Rules Committee received a total of 91 amendments submitted for consideration on the legislation that we have before us, and as you just heard from Mr. Cole, of the 45 Democratic amendments, more than half were made in order, 26 of those; but of the 44 Republican amendments submitted for consideration, only 3--let me repeat that--3 of those were made in order. Myself, I offered 2 of those 44 amendments. They were noncontroversial. They were ruled germane to the legislation before us by the House Parliamentarian, and all they did, simply, was recognize the clean, renewable benefits of hydropower and the clean emissions- free benefits of nuclear power, but Chairman McGovern and his committee refused to allow this recognition. So we have got to ask ourselves, Madam Speaker: Why? Why, if we are supposedly here to debate policy affecting our environment and our climate, why would they not want to discuss the clean energy that comes from hydroelectric dams like those in my district along the Columbia and Snake Rivers? Why would they not want to discuss the emissions-free energy produced by nuclear power plants like the Columbia Generating Station in my district in central Washington. It is because the efforts put forward by Democrats in the House, be it the flawed Paris agreement legislation that is before us or the radical Green New Deal proposal--which, I might add, has no mention of hydropower and actually calls for the end of nuclear power in our Nation--have nothing to do with science and everything to do with politics. The majority party, the Democrats, with these proposals, is more focused on pushing a mandated top-down system that will inevitably do nothing to help our environment. What we should be doing, and what my Republican colleagues continue to advocate for, is focusing on the free market approach spurred by collaboration and innovation between our national laboratories, research universities, Federal partners, and the private sector. Madam Speaker, I would say to my friend Mr. McGovern that, when Republicans were in the majority, we made a conscientious effort on the Rules Committee to provide equitable treatment of amendments offered to legislation. With the process before us today, it is disappointing to see the chairman not following in that good faith effort, and I would urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since we lost our beloved colleague, the Honorable Louise Slaughter. Louise always believed personal relationships could transcend politics. She set an example for us all through her acts of kindness, particularly with those of us in the other party. We bonded as members of an exclusive club, a club I wish upon no one: those of us who have lost our spouses. Somehow she made me feel like I was helping her through the loss of her husband when, in fact, she, being much smarter than I, knew that, through my attempts to help her, she was really helping me through the loss of my wife. It was recently announced that Louise, the first female chair of the House Rules Committee, would be inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. What a deserving honor. I will always appreciate my friendship with the Honorable Louise Slaughter and will never forget the efforts she made to take me under her wing from across the political aisle.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mrs. Rose Eng, who turned 100 years old on February 22, 2019. Rose is a model citizen who truly encapsulates the highest ideals of the American dream. She came to the United States from China in 1948, and together with her husband Bill Y.F. Eng, a veteran of World War II, owned and operated the Canton Cafe in Walla Walla, Washington between 1949 and 1980. Through hard work, sacrifice and perseverance, Rose and her husband were not only able to send all five of their children to college, a remarkable feat onto itself, but were also able to put a down payment on the first home for each of their children, laying the foundation for a prosperous future. In the words of her daughter, they are ``forever grateful to such amazing parents.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating her on this milestone birthday and wish her the best in the future.