Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), my good friend.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of a constituent and distinguished soldier in our Nation's Armed Services, U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman of Richland, Washington, who passed away on July 10, along with 15 of his fellow servicemen. Sergeant Schmieman served honorably as part of an elite Marine raider battalion stationed at Camp Lejeune and was on his way to complete his predeployment training in Yuma, Arizona, before being deployed to the Middle East. Our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to individuals like Dietrich who, through their service, have preserved the freedoms that form the cornerstone of our Nation. Sergeant Schmieman's death is a tragedy. The hole he leaves in the lives of his friends and his family can never be filled. I join the Nation in sending prayers to his family during this very difficult time. Please join me in remembering Sergeant Schmieman and his dedication to selfless service to our Nation. Again, our prayers are with his family and his loved ones.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, my legislation would provide a much-needed ``commencement of construction'' extension to the FERC permit for the Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project located in my Central Washington district. The Enloe Project is located at the existing Enloe Dam in the Similkameen River Valley, which is situated approximately four miles upriver of the City of Oroville. The original dam was constructed by BLM in 1920 for power generation but operations ceased in 1958 when the Bonneville Power Administration extended a high-voltage transmission line into the Okanogan Valley. However, since 1958 the dam and its related power-generating facilities have sat dormant and the Okanogan Public Utility District (``District'') is now working on the proposed project to re-energize this infrastructure for hydropower development, as well as to relocate the site to the opposite bank, which offers numerous environmental and construction advantages. The proposed 9 megawatt hydropower facility has faced several setbacks and regulatory hurdles, which have been addressed but have also delayed progress. However, despite these challenges the District has made considerable progress in fulfilling all of the pre- construction obligations contained in its FERC license. H.R. 2828 would ensure this critical hydropower project can move forward and provide important renewable energy generation to the region. The Enloe Project makes economic and environmental sense, as it will convert currently untapped energy in existing flow releases into clean, carbon-neutral energy. Additionally, the Project will have a footprint that is roughly half the size of the existing facility but will provide approximately three times the generating capacity of the decommissioned plant. Completion of the Project will provide Washingtonians and the Pacific Northwest region with a clean, renewable energy resource that generates an estimated 45,000 megawatt hours per year of carbon-free, renewable power. Further, the proposed project will create jobs and needed employment opportunities in a region with an unemployment rate that far exceeds the national average, underscoring the many positive benefits this project will have for the local community, state, and region. This important legislation will allow for development of this critical hydropower facility to move forward under a realistic regulatory timeline and in a manner consistent with prior congressional actions on similar projects. By passing this measure and extending the ``commencement of construction'' deadline for the Enloe Project, Congress can help spur hydropower development in Central Washington and ensure the Project's many benefits are realized, which will have a lasting impact on the region's energy supply and economic viability.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a region in my district, the Yakima Valley, for being recognized as the winner of the World Food Travel Association's FoodTrekking Award for Best Beer Experience. John Cooper, president and CEO of Yakima Valley Tourism, nominated the region for the award, and this is just one example of the efforts John and his group are making to promote the budding beer and hospitality industries of the Yakima Valley. The FoodTrekking Awards recognize excellent food and beverage tourism experiences all over the world, and it is an honor for Yakima to be selected as the winner for the Best Beer Experience among the international applicants. Central Washington's beer industry is thriving and has greatly contributed to the increase in tourism as well as the overall economic development of the area. As a third-generation hops farmer from the Yakima Valley, I am proud that our fellow growers and our local craft brewers are receiving recognition for their efforts in making our region a unique travel destination. Please join me in congratulating John, his team, and the entire industry for helping bring such a prestigious award to Washington's Fourth District.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Immigrant Heritage Month. The month of June is a time for us to celebrate the people that have come to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their families. These individuals have come from all over the globe and play an integral part in the development of our country. Since its founding, America has been a nation of immigrants. It is important that we acknowledge their contributions to our communities and remember that it was the goals and dreams of immigrants that formed our great nation. I am honored to represent Central Washington, where our culture and economy are deeply enriched by our immigrant neighbors and friends. Please join me in honoring Immigrant Heritage Month, as I continue to work to ensure opportunity and prosperity for immigrants in my district and across the country.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his leadership on this important issue and for the opportunity to address the House on this very important topic. Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, our Nation is facing an epidemic. Over the past two decades, opioid overdoses have quadrupled. Think about that. They have quadrupled in the United States. My home State, as Dr. Murphy has just mentioned, has faced significant increases in drug overdose death rates, including a 70 percent increase in synthetic opioid overdose deaths in just the last 10 years. It is clear that this is a crisis, which is why we in Congress are committed to combating this growing epidemic. Late last year, Congress passed sweeping legislation, called the 21st Century Cures Act. It was bipartisan legislation that authorized $6.3 billion in funding to bring our healthcare innovation infrastructure into the 21st century. This legislation included $1 billion for opioid intervention and prevention treatment programs throughout all 50 States. Earlier this spring, the Federal Government began awarding grants in order to confront this crisis, including $11.7 million to the State of Washington. While these funds will help expand treatment options, there is still much more work to be done at the Federal level, which is why I cosponsored legislation like H.R. 1057, the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention, or STOP, Act. Designed to stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl, which you heard about, and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders, this legislation will combat bad actors from China and India who have been taking advantage of weaknesses in international mail security standards to break U.S. customs laws and really wreak havoc on our communities. This is just one step of the opioid crisis that we must address. We need to combat the illicit drugs coming into this country as well as equip doctors, nurses, and first responders with the resources they need to treat pain appropriately. We also need to support better access to care for individuals suffering from psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. And, most importantly, we must ensure these drugs are not falling into the hands of our Nation's children. My colleagues in Congress and I are committed to combating this epidemic to keep it from causing further harm to our Nation's families and communities.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, as this Chamber considers H.R. 1967, the ``Bureau of Reclamation Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act,'' I would like to provide some brief remarks regarding issues raised by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The Colville Tribe has been participating in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceeding related a proposed pumped storage project on Lake Roosevelt and Banks Lake in north central Washington. A portion of Lake Roosevelt is within the boundaries of the Colville Reservation. The Colville Tribe has raised several questions about the project's potential impacts to culturally and economically important fisheries in Lake Roosevelt, water quality, and to revenues the Tribe receives from the Bonneville Power Administration from the operation of the Grand Coulee Dam. Because of these questions, the Colville Tribe and the project proponents have been involved in ongoing discussions in hopes of reaching an agreement on how to proceed with the project review process. As those discussions proceed, I would like to provide my commitment to work with the Colville Tribe and the project proponents as the legislative process moves forward.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Kayla Barron of Richland, Washington, who was recently selected for NASA's 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. Kayla was chosen 1 of 12 from over 18,000 applicants to join just 338 people who have held the prestigious title of American astronaut. Before applying to the NASA program, Ms. Barron attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where she received several medals and unit commendations while earning a bachelor's degree in systems engineering. She went on to earn a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge. She was a member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community as a submarine warfare officer. Kayla is an exemplary role model for students interested in science and technology. I commend her for her hard work, and I wish her luck in her training and her future exploration endeavors.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Justin Smith Morrill Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016. This legislation would honor a true American hero by posthumously awarding the Honorable Justin Smith Morrill with the Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Morrill was elected to six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and six terms in the United States Senate, making him the longest serving Member of Congress in the 19th Century. During his tenure, he chaired the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Buildings and Grounds, he served as the principle advocate for financing and constructing the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress and planned the location of the U.S. Supreme Court Building. He also raised funds to complete the then-unfinished Washington Monument and advocated for the Smithsonian Institution throughout his service in Congress. His greatest achievement was authoring the Morrill Act of 1862, which created the land-grant university system. Today, land-grant colleges and universities award nearly 1 million degrees annually and perform more than $37 billion in research. Additionally, almost 30 years later, Senator Morrill authored the Morrill Act of 1890, which created the flourishing system of historically Black land-grant colleges and universities. I am proud to be a graduate of Washington State University, in my humble opinion, the premier land-grant university in Senator Morrill's system. I have seen first-hand how the system of colleges and universities created by Senator Morrill has changed countless lives and shaped communities across the nation. Justin Smith Morrill is a man who has provided generations and millions of Americans--particularly those from working class families and rural communities--with access to higher education throughout the nation. His achievements have inspired American history, values, and culture, and will be recognized and honored by generations to come. For these reasons, and many others, I urge all members to join me in supporting this legislation to bestow Senator Justin Smith Morrill with a Congressional Gold Medal, a fitting honor for a great American hero.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 392 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the time of my colleagues, who have joined me on the floor today, to speak in support of these underlying bills, as well as for the hard work of the House Natural Resources Committee. First of all, H.R. 1873 is a bipartisan bill by any measure--five Democratic cosponsors, passed bipartisanly through the committee. This will reduce the threat of electricity outages caused by contact between overgrown trees and power lines. It is that simple. Existing Federal regulations and red tape can make it extremely difficult for utilities to gain the access that they need to their rights of way in order to perform needed maintenance. Before taking this action, they must receive approval from Federal agencies. They have been criticized for not allowing these utilities to carry out vegetative management policies on a consistent and timely basis. Mr. Speaker, as you know, just one down tree on a transmission line can have devastating impacts, causing blackouts for thousands or millions of homes as well as businesses, or it can ignite fires that consume entire forests. Yet it can take months to remove one single tree, due to our outdated Federal regulations and cumbersome bureaucracy. H.R. 1654 streamlines the current multiagency permitting system, which creates significant delays for project construction and completion, by creating a one-stop shop, a permitting process at the Bureau of Reclamation. Mr. Speaker, the Bureau was created to oversee water resource management in the West and to prevent water shortages by building dams and conveyance systems. Yet, over the past 40 years, Federal regulations and policies have slowly made it increasingly difficult to build dams and reservoirs throughout the Western United States. Presently, it is nearly impossible to even expand the storage capacity at existing facilities. The Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act establishes a framework where the Federal agencies with jurisdiction over new surface water storage projects must work together, coordinate their schedules, share technical information and data, and publish their findings publicly. This important measure will allow water providers to better manage their systems to modernize and enhance their water storage infrastructure and optimize water resource management in preparation for future droughts and shortages, which we know will come. The Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act will prevent wildfires and power outages while enabling utilities to safely supply electricity to rural and Western communities. H.R. 1873 will ensure that practical measures are taken to protect power lines and conserve our public lands, which is especially important in Western States where overgrown Federal forests are too often the norm rather than the exception. Mr. Speaker, I believe the rule provides for consideration of two commonsense measures that will implement much needed improvements to the Federal management of our water resources, our Federal lands and forests, and electricity infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to support this rule as well as the underlying bills.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, the beauty of having a diverse membership in this body is that we have people from all over the country who live and breathe the issues that are before us. We are privileged today to have the young lady from Wilson, Wyoming (Ms. Cheney) here to speak on these bills. I appreciate her offering to help in these arguments. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney), my young colleague.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that it is good news that our brother from Louisiana is in fair condition. I appreciate that news report. And I also want to take up the previous speaker's offer to work with us on tax reform. We look forward to his assistance in moving that issue forward. I might say that he is mistaken. The bill that we are talking about today is about protecting public interests. The last time I checked, people who I know like green trees, not black ones; they like their electricity to be there when they turn their light switch on; and they like water. These are three issues that we are looking to protect and make sure that people in the United States can enjoy all of these attributes. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Buck) to talk about exactly that.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, before I begin the rule on the two measures that are before us today, let me just make a couple of comments that have come to mind in light of the events over the last week. Mr. Speaker, you may know that this is the first formal debate that we have had as a legislative body since last Wednesday morning's shooting. I think it is appropriate that we take a minute to reflect and remember those who were injured and are still struggling to recover from their injuries as well as those who did not receive physical injuries on last Wednesday morning but who are still recovering. Let me also say, if I could be so presumptuous, Mr. Speaker, I believe that perhaps some people in the United States look to us here in Congress--their Representatives--and look and see how we act towards one another and how we conduct ourselves in our interaction with each other. Let me just say that if we are disrespectful to each other, others may see that and think that it is okay; that if Congress can be that way to themselves, maybe we can act that way, too. They may not even realize that. It may be just a subconscious thing. I ask how can we expect others to have a high opinion of us if we don't even show each other the respect that we should and that we deserve? I believe that we must all remember that we are--before we are Republicans, before we are Democrats or Independents--all Americans. We are all here trying to do what is right, what is right for our country, certainly what is right for our constituents, and we shouldn't say that someone is not here for those purposes. I don't know your district, Mr. Speaker, and I might say that you don't know mine. So let's argue, which is what we are here for. As ugly as sometimes it can be, that is our job, to debate on the merits of ideas. But it is not our job to win a debate by degrading the ones who are making the arguments against. I think we all have this obligation to win debates or to argue debates on the merits of the issue. Last Wednesday reminded me that it is up to us, if we want changes, to make them and to begin them here in this body. I was heartened in our meeting as a Congress in the auditorium over at the Capitol Visitor Center that there were several Members asking for a change in tone--a change in tone in how we interact with each other. It is important that we act civilly, that we be polite, and that we be respectful--kind of like how we treat each other on the journey over here from our offices in the elevators and in the hallways. I would assert that this is also something that is the responsibility of our President, our country's leader, someone who can set the tone for our country, someone who can describe our hopes and our dreams and help us aspire to reach those things. It is also the responsibility of our media and for those advocacy groups that we all have and that we all work with. It is up to our parties. I think it is up to every single American. We need to rediscover the faith that we should have in each other, our respect for each other and those bonds that make us one nation under God. Now, it is simple to state, but how do we accomplish this? It can start right here on this floor. Say something positive. We all call each other lady and gentleman. We all start off that way, and then sometimes the gloves come off. I can assert to you that not every idea that is presented here is all good or all bad. What is the risk of acknowledging a good part of a larger idea even if you may disagree with that larger idea? I believe we have some very articulate people in this body who can figure out quite easily how we can accomplish that. We shouldn't impugn the motives of others. We don't assign blame. We don't get personal. In fact, if you look in the rules that were adopted by this Congress, in section 363 of Jefferson's Manual of Parliamentary Practice, it says: ``The consequences of a measure may be reprobated in strong terms; but to arraign the motives of those who propose to advocate it is a personality, and against order.'' So it says in no uncertain terms that we should not make this personal. We can object without being objectionable, and maybe--just maybe--others will see this and discover a tone that we need and a change in America. I believe that we can start this right here, today, with our very first debate right now. Will we agree on everything? Absolutely not. In fact, this is where our disagreements should show the most. We are duty-bound to shape legislation by pointing out weaknesses but also by accentuating strengths. Mr. Speaker, every debate, every speech on the floor or in committee, our interactions with the media, in townhalls, or press releases, we are being listened to and being watched. I hope that we can change our tone and begin to change the tone in the United States of America. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce that, on Tuesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 392, providing for consideration of two important bills: H.R. 1873, which is the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act; and H.R. 1654, the Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act. This combined rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1873 under a structured rule, making three amendments in order, all of which were submitted by Democratic Members of our Chamber. H.R. 1654 will also be considered under a structured rule, with one Democratic and one Republican amendment made in order. H.R. 1873 will help ensure reliable electric service and reduced wildfire hazards, which can result from inadequate vegetation management near power line rights-of-way on Federally owned and operated lands. Mr. Speaker, over the past several decades there have been numerous electricity outages as well as incidents of wildfires due to contact between power lines and trees on Federal lands. In 1996, my home State of Washington was impacted when three power lines in the Pacific Northwest sagged onto overgrown trees, leading to a massive electricity blackout that impacted 7.5 million people across 14 Western States, two Canadian provinces, and even parts of Mexico. Then, in August of 2003, an outage left 50 million electricity customers without power when a falling tree came into contact with transmission lines. These are not isolated incidents. According to the U.S. Forest Service, in 2012 and 2013, contact between power lines and trees on Forest Service lands led to the outbreak of 113 and 232 wildfires, respectively. This legislation would reduce such wildfires in part by promoting Federal consistency, accountability, and timely decisionmaking to protect electricity transmission, grid reliability, and distribution lines on Federal lands from overgrown and under- maintained trees and vegetation. H.R. 1873 will cut red tape to create a streamlined and consistent process for removing hazardous trees and vegetation without wasting time and money before they cause a wildfire or an outage. Preventing forest fires and maintaining a reliable electrical grid for our communities is an obvious priority for all of us here in Congress, which is why I was pleased to see this bill pass through the House Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. I have seen countless catastrophic wildfires devastate Western communities just in the past several years, which is why this issue must be addressed and resolved. However, due to existing regulations, it is extremely difficult for utility companies to remove hazardous vegetation or trees that have the potential of falling on these power lines. The scope of this problem is evident when considering the U.S. Forest Service manages 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands-- encompassing over 192 million acres--that include 2,700 authorized electric transmission and distribution facilities. Similarly, the Bureau of Land Management administers 245 million acres, including over 71,000 miles of electrical transmission and distribution lines on its Federal lands. In order to perform infrastructure inspections and operate and maintain power lines on these lands, electric utilities must seek permission and approval from the appropriate Federal land management agency, which typically use processes under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to assess whether the proposed vegetative management measures comply with Federal environmental laws. This often leads to delays and cumbersome bureaucratic requirements, which often prevent utilities from carrying out important vegetative management activities on a consistent and timely basis. Yet the costs of operating, maintaining, and repairing these electric lines on Federal lands fall to the utility companies and their customers, which can lead to higher electricity costs for ratepayers. Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 1654, the Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act. This legislation will streamline the permitting process for new surface water storage projects, which is critically important for many Western and rural communities that have endured severe droughts in recent years. Currently, the regulatory process for constructing new surface water storage projects often involves applying for a host of Federal, State, and local permits, as well as approvals from various agencies, which can be a very cumbersome, costly, and time-consuming undertaking. Additionally, conflicting permit requirements and agency reviews can add time to the project, the planning, and implementation process while also increasing the potential for last-minute surprises that could endanger the success of a project or require significant additional work. In order to address this problem, H.R. 1654 creates what is seen as a one-stop-shop permitting process to expedite construction of both new and expanded non-Federal surface water storage projects. The measure establishes the Bureau of Reclamation as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all reviews, analyses, permits, licenses, or other Federal approvals as required by law, which will streamline the current multiagency permitting process and eliminate unnecessary delays for job-creating construction projects that directly benefit local communities and economies. As the lead agency, Reclamation will be required to coordinate and prepare the unified environmental documentation that will serve as the basis for Federal decisions authorizing the use of Federal lands, as well as to coordinate project development and the construction of qualifying projects. Additionally, H.R. 1654 will allow the Secretary of the Interior to expedite the evaluation of permits for qualifying projects through the use of funds contributed by a non-Federal public entity. Mr. Speaker, the rule we consider here today provides for the consideration of two bills that will have positive and lasting impacts for the American people, ratepayers, rural communities, and many Western States, as well as our entire country's economy. H.R. 1654 will provide the type of coordination and streamlining that is essential to the development and construction of much-needed water storage projects, certainly benefiting my home State of Washington, as well as water-stricken communities across the country. H.R. 1873 will create a framework for vegetation management near transmission and distribution lines on Federal lands while also providing electric companies with much-needed clarity and defined authority to remove hazardous trees that pose a risk of falling into power lines. Managing this vegetation is a critical component in ensuring the safety and reliability of the electrical grid, which will benefit all of our constituents. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this rule as well as the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in my district. Specifically, this legislation will provide for a ``commencement of construction'' deadline extension for the Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project that is being developed in Washington State by the Okanogan Public Utility District. On July 9, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted the Okanogan Public Utility District an original license for the Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project, which will be located at the existing Enloe Dam that is situated about 3.5 miles northwest of the City of Oroville in the State of Washington. The current Enloe Dam was constructed in 1920 on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land for power generation. However, operations ceased in 1958 when the extension of Bonneville Power Administration's high voltage transmission line into the Okanogan Valley provided a less expensive source of electricity. The proposed Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project makes economic and environmental sense, as it will convert currently untapped energy in existing flow releases into clean, renewable energy. The Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project will have a footprint that is roughly half the size of the existing facility but will provide approximately three times the generating capacity of the decommissioned plant. Completion of the Project will provide Washingtonians and the Pacific Northwest region with a clean, renewable energy resource that generates an estimated 45,000 megawatt hours per year of carbon-free, renewable power. Additionally, the proposed project will create jobs and needed employment opportunities in a region with an unemployment rate that far exceeds the national average, underscoring the many positive benefits this project will have for the local community, state, and region. The legislation will allow for development of this critical hydropower facility to move forward under a realistic regulatory timeline and in a manner consistent with prior congressional actions on similar projects. By passing this measure and extending the commencement of construction deadline for the Enloe Dam Hydroelectric Project, Congress can help spur hydropower development in Central Washington and ensure the Project's many benefits are realized. For these reasons I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, which will have a positive and lasting impact on the region's energy supply and economic viability.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my legislation, the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports Act, or simply the ``CREAATE Act.'' For decades, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) export promotion programs have helped American farmers create, expand, and maintain access to foreign markets. The goal of the CREAATE Act is simple--to reassert the importance of the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) to America's agricultural producers and our economy as a whole. These important programs provide the U.S. agricultural community with the tools needed to retain its edge in an increasingly competitive global economy. MAP and FMD are two of the most impactful USDA export promotion programs, and statutory funding each program has been static since the 2002 Farm Bill. However, those funds have been practically eroded in recent years by inflation, administrative costs, and sequestration. Meanwhile, America's competitors have ramped up their own export promotion programs, creating additional competition in the international marketplace. For example, the European Union spends more for the promotion of wine ($255.36 million in 2017 alone) than the U.S. spends on the promotion of all commodities through both the MAP and FMD programs. If this trend continues, American producers will be severely disadvantaged in the global marketplace. Throughout their history, these successful public/private partnerships have cultivated hundreds of billions of dollars in exports, and created millions of American jobs, both in the agriculture sector and in support industries. Without these programs, it is very likely that the United States would not be the net agricultural exporter that we are today.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Perry Technical Institute, a technical school serving the students of the Yakima Valley in Washington's Fourth Congressional District. Since its founding, Perry Tech has focused on educating and preparing students for real-world employment in fields such as welding, instrumentation, carpentry, machining, and manufacturing. These programs provide students practical experience as well as skills in time management, goal setting, and financial literacy. A recent study of economic mobility conducted of nearly 700 technical schools from around the Nation ranked Perry Tech number one for having graduates move from low income into the top 20 percent of earners. With an astoundingly high job placement rate of 93 percent, it is clear that Perry Technical Institute is providing its students with the skills they need to excel in the workplace. Please join me in celebrating Perry Technical Institute's success.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize March as National Frozen Food Month. In my district, growers count on our food processors to ensure that their agricultural products make it from farms to kitchen tables. Jobs in agriculture depend on the ability to transport our products to buyers across the country and around the world. In my district, there are over 6,000 jobs in the frozen food industry, ensuring that families across the U.S. can enjoy Washington's agricultural products. As a farmer and a former State director of agriculture, I understand how important frozen foods are to enable timely delivery and freshness, despite seasonal changes. Freezing reduces food waste and increases safety and affordability. Freezing also allows Americans to have access to the diverse array of food products they enjoy every day. Join me in celebrating National Frozen Food Month and all those who work to ensure that the U.S. has the safest, most reliable, and most affordable food supply in the world.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As we get back to the bill at hand, I think it is important that there are a lot of important topics out there that people want to touch on, and that is all well and good. Just like my friend from Texas, a fine member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, brought up other bills that are important and that relate to what we are talking about here today, and I think that is important as well. But I think I see an underlying theme here. We all agree on one thing: we want the EPA to use science. We want public participation. We want and we need transparency. This is certainly a positive step in a bill, Mr. Speaker, that went through regular order, that was introduced with bipartisan support, that went through the markup process, and that was reported out without amendments, something that this body in the last Congress passed, I believe, in a bipartisan fashion. Just to underscore the importance of taking this important step--and let me underscore again--no matter which side of the aisle you are on, it is important that we do this because of who you may think is the right person or the wrong person occupying the White House, it is important that the EPA has an unbiased source of information in order for it to make its decisions. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a news release from the American Chemistry Council. [From the American Chemistry Council, March 9, 2017] ACC Supports Legislative Efforts To Improve EPA Science Washington.--The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement in support of the H.R. 1430, the ``Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017'' (or The HONEST Act) introduced by Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and H.R. 1431 ``EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2017,'' introduced by Congressman Frank Lucus (R-OK). ``Consistency and transparency are key to the regulatory certainty our industry needs to grow and create jobs. In some instances, EPA has fallen short of employing the highest- quality, best-available science in their regulatory decision making. ``It is critical that the regulated community and the public have confidence that decisions reached by EPA are grounded in transparent and reproducible science. By ensuring that the EPA utilizes high quality science and shares underlying data used to reach decisions, the HONEST Act can help foster a regulatory environment that will allow the U.S. business of chemistry to continue to develop safe, innovative products that Americans depend on in their everyday lives. ``The Science Advisory Board Reform Act would improve the peer review process--a critical component of the scientific process used by EPA in their regulatory decisions about potential risks to human health or the environment. The Act would make peer reviewers accountable for responding to public comment, strengthen policies to address conflicts of interest, ensure engagement of a wide range of perspectives of qualified scientific experts in EPA's scientific peer review panels and increase transparency in peer review reports. ``We commend Chairman Smith and Congressman Lucas for their leadership and commitment to advance these important issues.''