Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 136th anniversary of the Yakama Nation Treaty of 1855. On June 9 in 1855, the United States entered into an agreement with the confederated tribes and bands of the Yakama Nation. This treaty marked the beginning of a successful relationship between the Yakamas, the Federal Government, and the people of Central Washington State. I am proud to display a copy of the treaty of 1855 in my office here in Washington, D.C. as a reminder of the Federal Government's obligations. The Yakama Nation's presence and influence is evident in my district. The Yakama Nation Museum and Cultural Center provides students and visitors an inside look at the history and the values of the Tribes. The newly opened Yakama Warriors Association's Veterans Center provides resources and assistance to veterans on or near the Yakama Reservation. Events and celebrations bring communities together to honor and preserve the Yakama Nation's cultural traditions. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the Yakamas' input as I work to represent all of Central Washington, and I look forward to continuing to ensure their voices are heard on the important decisions that affect the land that we all love.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's support for the DOE's efforts to take action on the defense-related uranium mines that are a legacy of the Cold War. The amendment does not change funding levels within the bill, and I do not oppose the amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Arizona. Mr. Chairman, although I am supportive of the stated goals of the National Ocean Policy, such as more interagency coordination and decisionmaking, there are many troubling aspects here. This amendment seeks to strip underlying language that prevents Federal agencies from using ambiguous authorities in the National Ocean Policy to encroach on a wide variety of ocean and inland activities. I have heard from farmers and irrigators from throughout the Pacific Northwest concerned that ill-defined terms such as ``ecosystem-based management'' give broad authority to Federal agencies to adversely impact terrestrial agriculture that is hundreds of miles from the Pacific Coast in the name of ocean management. Before imposing these burdens on farmers who feed our Nation, it is necessary for Congress to evaluate such a policy to ensure that all affected stakeholders have a seat at the table. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment on a critical matter for the Bonneville Power Administration and our Nation's other power marketing administrations, or PMAs, including the Southwestern Power Administration and the Western Area Power Administration, as well as the Tennessee Valley Authority, or the TVA. The President's fiscal year 2019 budget request, released earlier this year, included a misguided proposal to sell the transmission assets of these entities. It is unfortunate this proposal was offered once again, as the matter was met with resounding rejection by Congress last year when it was offered in the fiscal year 2018 budget request. The sale of these assets would result in the Federal Government abandoning a successful and efficient solution for providing affordable power to rural, urban, and tribal communities across the country. This one-time Federal debt reduction proposal would create energy production and delivery issues for my constituents, as costs would inevitably rise. Mr. Chairman, this ill-advised proposal is once again a Federal attempt to fix something that is not broken. I fully support efforts to improve energy infrastructure across the Nation. However, I do not believe that this goal should come at the expense of existing infrastructure--infrastructure that successfully fills a need where market-based pricing would not be sustainable. My constituents, especially in rural communities, depend on the Bonneville Power Administration to provide stable and affordable electricity service. Divesting BPA's assets would create needless uncertainty for regional energy markets and ratepayers in central Washington. In a climate where BPA continues to face unnecessary challenges, whether from the imprudent Federal proposal to move to market-based rates or the incessant use of litigation brought forward by radical environmentalists for the past three decades, I offer this amendment which simply prohibits any funds from being used to sell the transmission assets of the three PMAs and the TVA. Mr. Chairman, I come before the House today as a champion for the Bonneville Power Administration, an advocate for public power, and a steadfast representative for ratepayers across central Washington State, the greater Pacific Northwest, and the entire Nation. I encourage the administration to listen to this resounding bipartisan message that I bring along with my colleagues today: we reject this proposal and prohibit the divestment of these assets. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I am proud my amendment is cosponsored by at least 18 bipartisan colleagues, and I would humbly urge the rest of my colleagues to support and vote ``yes'' on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, they claim to support the endangered species with their words but not with their actions. I am proud to have advocated for the inclusion of this language to stop this misguided spill to help save our fish and save our dams. I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 5895.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen as well as Chairman Simpson for their hard work on this package of bills. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5895, which includes the fiscal year 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. Of all the funding bills I work on with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, the Energy and Water legislation is one of the most important for my district of central Washington. From supporting the continued cleanup efforts at the Hanford nuclear site to boosting the groundbreaking scientific research conducted at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, to aiding the vitally important water projects managed and developed by both the Army Corps of Engineers as well as the Bureau of Reclamation, this bill is composed of important resources for central Washington. Regarding Hanford, I am proud this bill restores more than $200 million from the President's request for the Richland office to continue providing for continued safe and effective cleanup operations onsite. I am also pleased with the restoration of more than $40 million to the Office of River Protection to continue important work on the 56 million gallons of radioactive nuclear waste that is stored at the site. I remain steadfast in my commitment to holding the Federal Government accountable to its moral and legal obligation to the cleanup of the Hanford site, and this bill does precisely that, so thank you. I am also encouraged by this legislation's demonstrated commitment to moving forward with Yucca Mountain as the lead geological repository for legacy waste and spent nuclear fuel, as well as the continued commitment to support science, including robust funding for Basic Energy Sciences, cybersecurity, and the National Nuclear Security Administration. These programs are important for the groundbreaking work conducted at PNNL to tackle some of the most challenging problems in energy, the environment, and in national security. Finally, this legislation includes a provision that I authored to stop the dangerous, antiscience forced spill order currently in effect on the eight lower Snake and lower Columbia River dams, which began in early April of this year. Just a week ago, Mr. Chairman, we received news from the Army Corps that fish managers are having to take measures to manage the effects of this reckless spill order. High flow rates from the forced spill are causing fish to stall in their migration upstream, with only 300 to 400 spring chinook passing through Little Goose Dam in late May. However, after the Corps reduced the spill rate by just 20 percent a week ago, the daily passage rose to 2,689 fish. This demonstrates the strain the spill order is placing on our endangered species. Some of my colleagues refuse to acknowledge this unambiguous scientific data and claim to support endangered fish species with their words.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate Karen McGinnis on her retirement. For the past 20 years, Karen has served as the director for what is known as the Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response Federal Training Center, or HAMMER, which is in my district at the Hanford Site in Richland. I have personally visited and can truly say HAMMER is a one-of-a-kind facility. I have witnessed the hands-on training they provide to Federal employees, like Hanford workers and emergency responders who are deployed throughout our Nation. The services they provide to the Tri-Cities community and the country are essential. Karen has worked to strengthen HAMMER's partnerships with Federal and State agencies, Tribes, safety professionals, and community leaders. She focuses on worker health and preparedness, and she has a passion for employee safety. Her leadership has made HAMMER one of the premier training centers in the world. As director, Karen has facilitated the training that makes it possible for the Federal Government to fulfill its obligation to clean up the Hanford Site. I thank Karen for her dedication to HAMMER, and I wish her the best in her retirement.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman for this opportunity to discuss a matter of great interest and importance to the Tri-Cities community in my district. In the 1940s and 1950s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acquired land along the shoreline of the Columbia River in Tri-Cities, Washington. The land, 34 miles of the McNary shoreline, is currently underutilized. The local communities continue to be saddled with hundreds of thousands of dollars of M&O costs annually for upkeep of land of these shoreline properties that they don't even own. I support the community proposal to convey the land back to the cities. I have been working with the chairman on proposed amendment language to do so but respect the fact the chairman has let me know there is still some work to be done. I continue to encourage further community engagement and believe public meetings are necessary to ensure all voices are heard, including that of the local Tribes. It is also a requirement that the city governments fully understand the responsibilities and potential costs that could arise from having this land conveyed. There must be further coordination between conveyance proponents, community stakeholders, city governments, and the Army Corps. Mr. Chairman, you have raised concerns about the language in its current form and have urged further efforts. I am committed to continuing to work with the local communities to address these concerns. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I respectfully ask: Will you commit to continuing to work with me as the NDAA process moves forward to try to address concerns with the proposal while the communities continue to assess their needs?

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the chairman for that colloquy.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, on May 19, we recognized Armed Forces Day. This is a day set aside to honor the brave men and women serving in the U.S. military across the country. In central Washington, this day was celebrated by the Ephrata community at an event put on by the American Legion. The annual Nacho/ Taco Feed and Dessert was first started by 9-year-old Justin Pederson, who wanted to help veterans in the area take the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. I have had the distinct honor to welcome Honor Flight veterans from central Washington, and it was an opportunity that I will never forget. The Honor Flight enables veterans from World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war, to visit the memorials that have been erected for their service. I want to thank Justin and the American Legion in Ephrata for their work to support the Honor Flight. Spending the afternoon learning about the once in a lifetime experiences from local veterans is an excellent way to recognize military members. I look forward to greeting more veterans from Washington in the future.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the brave men and women in blue who serve and protect us each and every day. This week is National Police Week, but we owe constant gratitude to these individuals who risk their lives to enforce the law and protect families across the United States. Law enforcement officers take time away from their families and their loved ones, often without the thanks they deserve and often putting themselves in harm's way. This week, we remember the officers who are currently serving, like Aaron Trombley from the Tri-Cities in my district, who was selected as the Washington State Trooper of the Year. We also remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. In January of this year, Deputy Daniel McCartney of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department in Washington was shot and killed after responding to a burglary, leaving behind a wife and three young children. Deputy McCartney and all of the other fallen officers will not be forgotten for their sacrifice. I want to personally thank the police and sheriffs' departments, Washington State Patrol, and all the Federal officers who keep central Washington's communities safe. This week and every day, we offer our appreciation and respect for law enforcement officers across the Nation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 900 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Conaway for his commitment to continue working on this important issue, and I look forward to working with him. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall), and I ask unanimous consent that he may control that time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment No. 20 offered by my friend Ms. Cheney, and I am a proud cosponsor, as well, of this amendment. This amendment would provide resources for ranchers that are facing unforeseeable events, like natural disasters. In my district, particularly in the northern counties of north- central Washington, where catastrophic wildfires are becoming far too common an occurrence, ranchers can be forced off of their allotments due to wildfires causing their land to be unsuitable for grazing. When these ranchers are forced off of these allotments due to these external factors, they have nowhere to take their livestock. This amendment will provide a solution to this problem by allowing these ranchers to take their livestock to vacant allotments in the event they face one of these unfortunate but all too common occurrences. Mr. Chairman, I would like to urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 20, and I thank my colleague Ms. Cheney for her leadership on this issue.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I have one speaker. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I believe I have the right to close, so I would reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, we should not be singling out key agricultural industries under programs like this. We should not be picking winners and losers among our farmers. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to strongly oppose the Russell amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the Russell amendment, which, if enacted, would have a detrimental impact on producers across our Nation, including many of my wine, grape, and hops producers, as well as the beer and wine industry, not only in my State, but around the country. This amendment proposes to eliminate wine, distilled spirits, beer, and other alcohol products from the Value Added Producer Grant program administered by the USDA. These industries, in my State and, quite frankly, across the Nation, are a growing segment of our farm economy, providing thousands of jobs. It is also important to point out the growing significance of wine and hops exports to their industries. Last year, my State exported $28 million of wine, representing about 5 percent of our total production. In my home valley of the Yakima Valley in the State of Washington, we account for 75 percent of the U.S. production of hops. With the continued boom of microbreweries and the demand for hops, we must ensure we have available markets. Our wine grape growers and the wine industry continue to face challenges in export markets, such as the recent tariffs placed on our products by China. We are in an environment with potential changes in international trade, and farmers are looking for more export markets. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose any efforts to limit our farmers' ability to find markets for their products. Mr. Chair, I include these letters of support in the Record: one from the Wine Institute, Wine America, Distilled Spirits Council, and the Brewers Association; and one from the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance. May 17, 2018. Re Oppose Russell Amendment to the Farm Bill. Dear Representative: We write on behalf of the nearly 9,000 small, family owned wineries, 6,200 small and independent breweries and approximately 1,700 distilleries spread across rural America to urge you to vote against the Russell Amendment to the Farm Bill. This amendment would unfairly target a vibrant and growing segment of U.S. agriculture by seeking to block small wineries, breweries and distilleries from participating in USDA's value-added agriculture marketing grants. Combined, the American wine, brewing and spirits industries have a direct economic impact of $287 billion on the United States economy and support more than 5 million jobs nationwide. Wineries, distilleries and breweries in America represent the very epitome of value-added agriculture, bringing quality jobs and generating much needed tourism to farming communities across the country. This amendment would make it harder for these communities to benefit fully from this opportunity. We urge you to support these small businesses and their communities buy opposing the Russell Amendment. Sincerely, Robert P. Koch, President & CEO, Wine Institute. James Trezise, President, WineAmerica. Robert D. Pease, President & CEO, Brewers Association. Mark Gorman, SVP Government Relations, Distilled Spirits Council.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to the amendment.