Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express the gratitude of the people of central Washington State for the dedicated public service of Sharra Finley, who until last week served as my district director for Washington's Fourth Congressional District. Sharra has a long history of serving the people of the State of Washington. For the last 10 years, Sharra worked for me also as a professional staffer for my office in the Washington State legislature and then as a professional staffer during my tenure as the director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Sharra's efforts have been dedicated to assisting central Washington's constituents and keeping their concerns front and center. On a personal note, there is simply not enough time to recount the number of stories, many filled with laughter and some with tears, which might encapsulate the last 10 years of working with Sharra Finley. Suffice it to say that she will be missed. I am grateful for Sharra's hard work, for her sense of humor, and for her friendship. I look forward to her next steps as someone who is dedicated to her community and to her family, her husband Ellery, her daughters Emma and Abby, and her son Lane. Congratulations to Sharra Finley on a job well done.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce on their 10-year anniversary celebration. This auspicious occasion marks the date that the Richland and the Tri- City area Chamber of Commerce merged to form the regional Chamber in 2006. The Tri-Cities is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the State of Washington, situated at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima Rivers. The beautiful Columbia Basin and 300 days of sunshine attract opportunities for agriculture, recreation, and business. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce represents nearly 1,200 diverse businesses, providing access to customers and a network for job creators. The Chamber provides visibility for partner companies and works to improve the economic climate of our region. The Chamber represents local leaders, working to advance the local economy and the quality of life in the Tri-Cities. With the motto of ``Bolder, Brighter, Better,'' this advocacy group has had a tremendously positive impact, attracting jobs to our community. It is my distinct pleasure to recognize and congratulate them on this milestone.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, rural communities deserve better from their government. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 2406, the SHARE Act, and urge my colleagues to support its adoption. This amendment is very straightforward. It simply requires the Forest Service to publish a notice in the Federal Register along with a justification explaining the decision for the closure of any public road on Forest Service lands. Some of you may ask why this amendment is necessary, and that is understandable because, fortunately, many Americans have never had to deal with this issue. However, in my district in the Pacific Northwest and in many Federal forests across the country, many people have faced the reality that a public road that they have used for decades is suddenly closed. When I say ``closed,'' if I could refer your attention to this photograph, there is a picture indicating that a road is no longer even available for use. It is not just a chain going across the road. However, the reality is far worse. When the Forest Service closes many of these public roads, they do so by piling gravel, downing trees, or both, in order to block access. At other times, they create what are called tank traps, essentially large ditches dug into the ground that makes passage impossible. Furthermore, these practices create impediments that not only block human access but can also restrict the movement of wildlife in our national forests. This has become a serious issue in central Washington. For many people who use these roads, it can have detrimental impacts on their everyday lives, whether by making their daily travel much longer or by restricting access to campsites or treasured areas in our national forests. Some of these roads have been in use for 70 or 80 years, with generations of Washingtonians using them for forest access and recreation. Yet, in most cases, the Forest Service has closed them without even first notifying local residents and the surrounding communities. Mr. Chairman, I believe the first indication of a public road being closed should not come when an individual or a family is faced with an impassable roadway, but rather through adequate public notice from the Forest Service. That is why I have introduced this amendment today. Just to be clear, my amendment simply requires the Forest Service to provide notification when closing a public road on Forest Service land as well as justification for such a decision. This is an important first step in ensuring that rural communities and residents are given proper warning and advance notice when a public roadway will suddenly be blocked and access to a Federal forest area will no longer be available. Local residents and communities deserve to know when such an action is taking place and whether forest action will be denied. This amendment will guarantee the Forest Service is being transparent in future decisions and closures.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments from the good gentleman from Alaska. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I would only say that since this is a bill, the SHARE Act, about public access, about use of our treasures, our national forests and public lands, all we are asking from the Forest Service is a little bit of transparency, notice so that people aren't caught off guard. Certainly there are extenuating circumstances where notice, if there is a downed power line or debris is in the middle of a road that makes it impassable, it seems to me that is a time when notice is even more necessary and imperative for the public good. I appreciate the gentleman's comments, but would still urge my colleagues to support the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I do have one more speaker who would like to say a few words on this issue. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), the sponsor of the bill.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE. So, with that, I would be very happy to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, just out of courtesy to the gentlewoman from New York, I do have one Member who would like to speak on this bill, if that is okay with you.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just respond that certainly there are many issues facing Congress today, many important things that we have to consider in many issue areas, but that should not preclude us from addressing a very important issue, and that is access to our national, our Federal lands by sportsmen, by hunters, by fishers. Protecting the ability of Americans to enjoy our natural abundance of Federal lands, I think, is something that our President Roosevelt, who the distinguished gentlewoman from New York quoted, would be very much in favor of. Certainly he was a proponent of enjoying those same Federal lands. Any efforts that we can put forth to make sure that we can continue those strong traditions of Americans being exposed to the great outdoors in this country is something that we should do all we can to preserve. I might note, too, that this is a bipartisan-led effort in the House of Representatives. Passed in the last two Congresses, many of the provisions of this bill have enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support, and this year we do have a clear path forward, as the committees in the other body across the rotunda are already marking up very similar legislation in their work on this important issue. So I feel very positive about the direction we are taking, about the bipartisan nature of the effort that we have here before us today, and I think it is an important thing that we need to address, as well as many of the other things that the gentlewoman from New York discussed. But certainly this is something that we can and should move forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 619, providing for consideration of H.R. 2406, the SHARE Act, also commonly known as the sportsmen's bill. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2406 under a structured rule, with 17 amendments made in order that are roughly evenly split between Democratic and Republican members of this legislative body. Mr. Speaker, the SHARE Act is an important bipartisan package of proposals that will promote greater opportunities for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, as well as safeguard the rights of hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters. While similar bills have passed the House in the past two Congresses, the Senate has failed to adopt them, making this legislation long overdue. This is especially true when considering the current administration's ongoing assault on the Second Amendment, as well as their restrictions on access to Federal land. This includes restricting hunting and shooting on Federal lands, where many people go to participate in these time-honored American activities. The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation recently stated that roughly 37 million American sportsmen and -women spend over $90 billion annually on outdoor sport activities, highlighting the important economic impact this legislation will have on small businesses across the country that comprise our recreational industries. Mr. Speaker, these outdoor activities are deeply ingrained in America's heritage and culture, with the values they instill passed down from generation to generation. In fact, according to a 2013 Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation report, hunting, fishing, and shooting are growing in popularity throughout the country, with almost 40 million people over the age of 16 hunting or fishing in the United States. However, over the past 7 years, we have seen the Federal Government continually find ways to block law-abiding Americans from exercising this most fundamental right. People all across my State of central Washington are avid hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen. Many Americans, especially in the West, look to our vast Federal lands to hunt, fish, and shoot. Unfortunately, over the past few years, we have seen Federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management prevent or impede access to Federal lands which should otherwise be available for these purposes. Lack of access to acceptable areas to participate in these activities is often one of the main reasons why sportsmen and -women stop participating in these traditional American pastimes. Ensuring the public has reliable access to our Nation's Federal lands must remain a priority of this Congress. Mr. Speaker, we should be fostering and growing participation in outdoor sporting activities--rather than trying to create regulatory barriers that drive Americans away from them--which instill important lifelong values and principles. These include responsibility, firearm safety and conservation, as well as patience, discipline, respect for wildlife, and most of all, appreciation of our country's rich natural heritage and beautiful national parks, forests, and vast wilderness areas. H.R. 2406 is critical to protecting our way of life and ensuring all Americans have the ability to enjoy outdoor recreation and develop a profound appreciation for our country's marvelous natural landscapes. This legislation is comprised of a number of provisions that will help provide future generations of Americans with access to our country's Federal lands for outdoor recreation, sport shooting, hunting, and fishing. The measure will also reaffirm the Second Amendment rights of Americans to lawfully carry firearms on Federal lands. Additionally, it will help prevent Federal overreach, eliminate regulatory impediments, and protect against the promulgation of new, onerous regulations that impede access or restrict lawful activities on Federal lands. Sportsmen are natural stewards of public lands and greatly contribute to habitat and wildlife conservation, so I find it difficult to understand the rationale behind many of these Federal decisions. Mr. Speaker, the SHARE Act also includes legislation that I introduced, the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, or FLTFA, which authorizes the BLM to sell surplus lands to States, localities, or private entities that can be put then to economically beneficial use. Since its initial enactment, FLTFA reduced Federal land ownership by more than 9,000 acres over the course of a decade, while also enhancing access for hunting, fishing, and shooting on these Federal lands. This critical program brings a commonsense approach to land transactions and helps streamline land ownership patterns, all without spending taxpayer funds or adding to the surplus of federally owned property. Additionally, the bill includes the Recreational Land Self-Defense Act, legislation that protects the ability of gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment rights when they are legally camping, hunting, and/or fishing on property owned by the Army Corps of Engineers. Like many in Central Washington, I grew up responsibly exercising the right to bear arms, and I am a longstanding advocate for the protection of those rights, which is why I am proud to cosponsor this bill. In my district, access to Federal lands is of paramount importance, and the SHARE Act will ensure that sportsmen, outdoorsmen, and all Americans wishing to enjoy our treasured Federal parks and forests have the ability to do so. For this reason, I have also introduced an amendment to the SHARE Act that would require the U.S. Forest Service to publish a notice in the Federal Register, along with a justification for the closure of any public road in our forests. In Central Washington and across our country, the Forest Service has closed public roads with no prior notification, preventing access to public areas in our region's national forests. Often, these blocked roadways have been in use for decades, and many local residents rely on them for both everyday activities as well as for recreational purposes. The first indication of a closure should not come when an individual is faced with an impassable roadway, but, rather, through an adequate public notice from the Forest Service, which my amendment would provide. Our country has a deep and longstanding tradition of using Federal land for outdoor and recreational activities, and protecting the ability of Americans to use our abundant Federal lands for these purposes must remain one of our top priorities in Congress, which is why I am committed to working with my colleagues in the House and in the Senate to advance this much-needed legislation. Mr. Speaker, for generations Americans have passed down these values to their children and to their grandchildren, which have deeply ingrained hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting in America's heritage and our cultural fabric. As I said, growing up in Central Washington, I experienced the importance of these values firsthand, and they continue to play an important role in my life to this very day. The rule we consider here today provides for consideration of legislation that will protect these values, increase opportunities for hunters, anglers, and shooters, and ensure that future generations of Americans have equal opportunity to access and enjoy our Nation's vast public lands. This is a good, straightforward rule, allowing for the consideration of a critically important measure. I support the rule's adoption, and I urge my colleagues to support the rule as well as the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), 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 619 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) for an opportunity to respond, since she already yielded back her time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me first say I very much appreciate the distinguished gentlewoman's indulgence on allowing folks to speak on this issue. As you can tell, it is very important to a lot of people. So I thank her very much for her polite indulgence. Mr. Speaker, the debate that we have had here today underscores the importance of the legislation that is considered under this rule. I believe we must take a firm stand against executive overreach on the infringement of Americans' constitutional rights to keep and bear arms by protecting the Second Amendment as well as protecting the public's access to Federal lands for the purposes of hunting, fishing, and sports shooting. People all across the country are avid hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen, often utilizing public lands for those purposes, and the SHARE Act will ensure that the Federal Government does not restrict their ability to participate in these activities. Federal lands represent an important and precious national resource for many mixed-use purposes. We must not tolerate efforts by Federal agencies such as the Forest Service or the BLM to restrict, impede, or prevent access to Federal lands that should otherwise be available for use by our country's outdoor enthusiasts as well as sportsmen and - women. By adopting this rule, providing for consideration of the underlying bill, the House will be taking an important step toward resolving many of the long overdue issues facing our country's outdoor recreational community. The SHARE Act will allow the values instilled by hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting to be passed down to future generations of Americans, just as our parents passed them to many of us. This is particularly important to me because, as a farmer, I consider myself a conservationist, a steward of our resources, and believe we have a responsibility to use our natural resources wisely and with care, preserving them for those who come after. Mr. Speaker, this is a good, straightforward rule allowing for consideration of a long overdue piece of legislation that ensures future generations have access to our country's Federal lands for outdoor recreation and sporting activities. I have certainly appreciated the discussion here today, which underscores the importance of this issue to so many people. I believe this rule and the underlying bill are strong measures that are important to preserving our Nation's cultural heritage. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 619 and the underlying bill.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts behind an incredible breakthrough in humanity's understanding of the universe: the first detection ever of the existence of gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are invisible ripples in the fabric of space- time. Albert Einstein theorized their existence 100 years ago as part of his theory of general relativity. After more than a decade of work by researchers at two identical observatories--one in Livingston, Louisiana, and another in Hanford, Washington, located in my congressional district--Einstein's theory of the existence of gravitational waves has direct evidence as scientific fact. On February 11, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, Scientific Collaboration officially confirmed that the world's most sensitive instruments at these observatories had detected gravitational waves for the first time. The gravitational wave detected by LIGO's team was the result of the collision of two black holes 1.3 billion years ago. Congratulations to my constituents and the entire LIGO team on their historic discovery, which will continue to add to the scientific understanding of the universe for generations.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman from California (Mr. McClintock) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, last summer more than 400,000 acres of tribal land in the Northwest burned with the Colville and the Yakama Tribes, which are in my district, enduring the worst fire season in a generation. The Colville Indian Reservation alone saw 250,000 acres burned, consumed, by that blaze, much of which consisted of commercial timber. The Indian Trust Asset Reform Act, H.R. 812, will authorize Indian tribes on a voluntary basis to carry out forest management activities on their own tribal lands without requiring review and approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It will allow the Colville, the Yakama, and other tribes across the West to move salvage log sales more quickly than is possible under the current BIA process. Providing tribes who maintain their timber resources with the authority to make these management decisions will expedite on-the- ground activity and open new doors to attract investment. In fact, I would argue that we should also give more control to States and localities in addition to these tribes. The new authority derived in H.R. 812 will provide additional benefits to tribes with timber resources. The Colville Tribe has been attempting to reopen a sawmill in Omak, Washington, also in my district, since 2009. One of the primary impediments to reopening has been the BIA's unwillingness to approve longer term agreements between the tribe and third-party investors. This new authority in this bill will allow tribes to enter into these type of agreements on their own, resulting in the creation of additional jobs as well as economic activity. Last September, while catastrophic wildfires continued to burn across central Washington, Secretary Jewell visited the Colville Reservation and saw the devastation firsthand. Mr. Speaker, before the next fire season begins, significant resources will be needed to replant these forests as well as rehabilitate these landscapes. The administration has not done enough to provide these tribes with the resources they need. We must correct that. We must make this change in order to ensure that these forests can continue to be a viable and productive resource for the tribes and communities in my district, my State, and the rest of the country.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, in closing, this is a very simple amendment that just requires the administration to state whether or not it would recommend that Congress adopt a balanced budget when it asks for a debt ceiling increase. Our national debt is one of the biggest threats that exists to our Nation. The American people need to know where the administration is and where Congress is on this important issue. When the President ran in 2008, he promised that his administration would be the most transparent administration yet. This helps him keep that promise. Today, it is all about transparency--letting people know where we stand. I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

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