Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, H. Res. 271, providing for consideration of three important bills. This rule provides for consideration of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 and the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2016 under structured rules, and the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 under a closed rule. It is important to note that this combined rule allows for separate consideration of each bill. This House will separately debate and consider these important issues. The Legislative Branch Appropriations bill is traditionally considered under a structured amendment process, and that practice is continued today. The America COMPETES Act makes a dozen amendments in order, with more than half--eight amendments--coming from Democratic sponsors. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1806 is a fiscally responsible proscience bill that reauthorizes civilian research programs at the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The bill keeps our Nation competitive on the global stage and works to refocus the Federal Government's primary scientific role to fund basic research. This reprioritization of basic research will help ensure future U.S. economic competitiveness and security and will spur additional private sector technological innovation, which is crucial to the United States remaining a world leader in scientific and technological advances. This bill keeps overall funding for these programs equal to the fiscal year 2015 appropriated levels and is consistent with the caps set by the Budget Control Act, prioritizing taxpayer investment in basic research without increasing overall Federal spending. The emphasis this legislation places on Federal investment and research in the physical sciences and engineering helps to develop and advance knowledge and technologies used in fields by scientists who are dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans. I have seen firsthand the importance of these investments while visiting the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, one of our 17 national labs, which I am proud to represent in my district, Washington's Fourth District. The work being done at PNNL and at the national labs and research universities all across the country is critical to our country's future, and the prioritizations and reforms on this bill will enhance the work being done to the benefit of all Americans. Additionally, H.R. 1806 reduces by $1 billion the administration's large and unjustified program, such as late stage commercialization, which picks winners and losers that compete with the private sector. We must be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, and this legislation will prevent duplicative and wasteful research activities by requiring the Department of Energy to certify that the work being done is original and has not already been conducted by another Federal agency. Overall, the America COMPETES Act will reestablish the priority of basic research in the core physical sciences and biology in the Nation's civilian science agencies. This bill sets the right priorities for our Nation's civilian research and will promote U.S. innovation, ingenuity, and competitiveness, all without increasing our national debt or deficit. This rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 2250, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2016. This legislation provides funding for all operations of the United States House of Representatives, the U.S. Capitol complex, the Capitol Police, the Congressional Budget Office, and the many other agencies that are so important to the day-to-day functions of Congress. H.R. 2250 provides the legislative branch with $3.3 billion in fiscal year 2016--the same amount as fiscal year 2014, as well as fiscal year 2015--continuing this Chamber's commitment to leading by example during these times of huge deficits and out-of-control debt. The activities this bill funds are critical to the operations of the Capitol complex, which must be protected, cared for, and maintained. Visitors from my district in central Washington, as well as visitors from across the country and throughout the world, travel countless miles to visit this remarkable institution, which is a symbol of democracy and freedom for so many. For these and many other reasons, we must ensure that the Capitol remains in this pristine condition and is able to withstand the test of time so that many future generations are able to visit this truly unique and historic place. Finally, this rule provides for the consideration of H.R. 2353, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015. H.R. 2353 will extend the highway trust fund's expenditure authority for 2 months--from May 31 to July 31. It will also provide an extension for many important Federal highway and public transportation programs, such as the motor carrier and highway safety programs as well as the hazardous materials transportation program, through July 31. Last August, Congress passed and the President signed the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, which was intended to provide enough funding for the highway trust fund to remain solvent through May 31 of this year. However, the funding is now lasting longer than was originally predicted, and this bill will extend the trust fund's expenditure authority so that transportation spending is able to continue through July while Congress works to find a solution that will ensure the trust fund remains solvent for years to come. A constructive dialogue in Congress is needed on this issue, one that will give States the certainty they need to build the roads, the bridges, and other infrastructure that our communities and our economy need to thrive in the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, this is a good, straightforward rule. I support its adoption, and I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bills. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, just a note to my colleague from Colorado, I agree that this is an important issue that he keeps bringing up of immigration, and I will certainly ask my chairman for any timeframe, and I will look forward to working with him and all my colleagues on solving this important issue. But today we are talking about highways. We are talking about science. We are talking about keeping this place running smoothly. To get us back on subject, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Americans have sent us here to get things done. They are tired of gridlock. And we, in the 114th Congress, are on track to be one of the most productive Congresses in modern history. House Republicans have an aggressive and forward-looking agenda which will help our economy recover and help create high-paying American jobs. The use of the compound rule, which provides for separate consideration of each underlying measure under a single rule, helps expedite legislative business. The consideration of one rule allows the House more time to debate the underlying measures, or to consider additional legislative business. We have a lot to do, and this is an efficient way to get our work done. I appreciate the discussion that we have had over the last hour. And although we may have our differences of opinion, I believe that this rule and the underlying bills are strong measures that are important to the future of our country. This rule provides for ample debate on the floor: the opportunity to debate and vote on three bills and numerous amendments sponsored by both Democrat and Republican Members of this Chamber. This rule will provide for a smooth and deliberative process for sending these bills to the Senate for their consideration. These bills are solid and substantial measures that will address several critical issues facing our country. H.R. 1806, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, is a pro-science bill that will keep America competitive in the 21st century global economy by prioritizing taxpayer investments in basic research without increasing overall Federal spending. H.R. 2250, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2016, keeps funding for the legislative branch level with fiscal years 2014 and 2015 and will be used efficiently and effectively for the operations of the legislative branch of the Federal Government. H.R. 2353, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015, will allow transportation spending to continue through July while we in Congress work diligently toward a next step to close the shortfall in the highway trust fund. Currently, highway and transit spending authority expires at the end of this month, and officials at the Department of Transportation are concerned that Federal cash infusions to transportation projects in my State and around the country would slow or even halt as the summer construction season begins unless we extend this temporary extension. Overall, this is a strong rule that provides for consideration of three important bills, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 271 and the underlying bills.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, during National Police Week we honor those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives while protecting and providing for the safety and protection of our communities. As an important part of these ceremonies that we see here today in Washington, D.C., we honor city of Wapato, Washington, police officer Derek ``Chip'' Andrew Hansen, an Army veteran who paid the ultimate sacrifice on March 8, 2014, when he passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in 2011. Over his 15-year career as a police officer, Officer Hansen demonstrated exemplary service. He acted as an instructor for Standard Field Sobriety Testing. He was a school crossing guard. He wrote numerous grants related to school safety. And he served as a volunteer in his community. As Derek's name is added to the list of heroes we lost last year, we also recognize his family, especially his son Colt, for their loss. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Officer Derek ``Chip'' Andrew Hansen and his family for his dedicated service and for their sacrifice. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the good gentleman. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Gosar-Newhouse amendment which would prohibit any funds in this act from being used for purposes of removing Federal dams, which are a vital component of the water infrastructure in the West. I would like to thank my good friend and colleague Congressman Gosar for his hard work on this issue which is so important, given the devastating drought conditions facing most of the Western United States. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for March 31, 2015, all or significant portions of 11 Western States, including the State of Washington, are suffering from severe to exceptional drought. Given the current drought conditions facing my State and many other States in the West, now is not the time to consider removing Federal dams. These dams provide important hydropower in my State and also have conservation, recreation, and navigation benefits. Additionally, Mr. Chairman, these dams play a pivotal role in water storage, irrigation, and flood control. They also help ensure many rural and agricultural communities in the West have access to clean water supplies, providing critically important irrigation for countless agricultural operations and millions of acres of farmland. We have fought these dam wars for decades; and, with the West facing a possible 100-year drought, now is not the time to destroy and remove these assets which benefit all of us. Removing this vital infrastructure would have a devastating impact on communities, farms, and businesses throughout the West. This commonsense amendment will help ensure States like mine are not additionally burdened as we work to deal with impacts of mounting water shortages and drastic drought conditions. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment, and I would like to thank my good friend from Arizona for his hard work on this.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, Hanford is the Nation's largest and most complex Department of Energy defense nuclear cleanup site. I have greatly appreciated your willingness to work with me to ensure funding for this important effort. The restoration of funds for cleanup along the Columbia River Corridor, which is legally required and a priority for the mid-Columbia region, puts those projects on a very strong path forward. I also appreciate the funding provided for the Office of River Protection. As the final bill is developed for fiscal year '16, I would like to continue working with you to ensure that all of the work that the Federal Government is legally obligated to do is realized. I am particularly concerned with ensuring that work is able to progress on retrieving Hanford's tank waste and preparing to feed an operational waste treatment plant while providing sufficient resources to meet near-term regulatory requirements in the tank farms.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. I thank the gentleman and look forward to working with him, as well as the ranking member from Ohio, in the future.

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

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my legislation, the Bureau of Reclamation Surface Water Storage Streamlining Act of 2015. This important and desperately needed legislation would streamline the Bureau of Reclamation's environmental planning and study process for new surface water storage projects. It would accomplish this by applying the same streamlined water project development process used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Water Resources Reform Development Act of 2014 to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, in order to facilitate the construction of new dams and reservoirs. Water is the lifeblood of communities in the arid West and the current water shortage crisis devastating much of the Western United States highlights the critical need for water supply to grow with demand. A streamlined process for new water storage projects is vital to prepare effectively for drought and to provide adequate water resources for future development. This bill allows forward-thinking improvements to the Bureau of Reclamation's permitting process to create new opportunities for water storage. Put simply, this legislation will reform the current cumbersome and lengthy process so that there is a mechanism to build new surface water storage projects in the West. I urge all members to join me in supporting this legislation and I urge its swift passage.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my legislation, the Pacific Northwest Gray Wolf Management Act of 2015. This legislation would remove the Gray Wolf from the ``List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife'' under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and return management authority for the species back to our Pacific Northwest states. A proposed rule released by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in June of 2013 found that the Gray Wolf population has grown substantially and is now considered to be recovered, and therefore, does not merit protection under the Endangered Species Act. State governments are fully qualified to responsibly manage Gray Wolf populations and are better to meet the needs of local communities, ranchers, livestock, and wildlife populations. Delisting the Gray Wolf would allow state wildlife officials to more effectively manage wolf populations. We have seen that this is possible in states such as Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and we should allow Pacific Northwest States the same flexibility to manage these populations. This commonsense and straightforward bill would allow states to provide a more practical management program than the one currently in place by the federal government. I urge all members to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Over the course of those contracts, that is correct.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Illinois' indulgence in allowing me to speak on this important subject this evening. Mr. Speaker, located in my central Washington district is the Hanford site, which has played a pivotal role in our Nation's security and defense for decades. As part of the Manhattan Project, the Hanford site produced plutonium for the bomb that eventually brought an end to World War II, and continued work at the site was critical during the cold war. However, this work also resulted in massive amounts of nuclear defense waste. Today, Hanford is the world's largest and most complex nuclear cleanup site, with over 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste in 177 temporary underground storage tanks. The Federal Government has a legal and a moral obligation to clean up this waste. The importance of Yucca Mountain cannot be overstated. Hanford is scheduled to send more nuclear defense waste to Yucca Mountain than anywhere else in the Nation. The high-level defense waste at Hanford will be treated at the waste treatment plant, which is currently being constructed, to turn this waste into glass that can then be sent to Yucca. The waste treatment plant is over 70 percent complete, and the glass produced will meet the geological specifications of Yucca Mountain; yet the Obama administration has moved the goalpost by illegally shutting down Yucca, which will take us back to square one and harm the already challenging Hanford cleanup. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has spent decades and billions of taxpayer dollars studying the right place for the repository. The conclusion was Yucca Mountain, the subject of one of the most thorough and extensive reviews of a major government project ever conducted. It is the lawful repository for nuclear waste, and Congress has reaffirmed this fact many times over. There is no scientific reason why Yucca cannot and should not move forward. Earlier this month, I visited Yucca Mountain and was impressed by the substantial work that has already been completed. The development of the site has taken decades and has come at great taxpayer expense, costing Americans over $15 billion. Because DOE has failed to begin accepting used nuclear fuel, as required by contracts signed with the electric utilities that own the reactors, liability and settlement estimates now range from $13 billion to $50 billion--a blow to taxpayers and ratepayers--all due to the failure of the President to move forward with the legal repository. Simply put, Mr. Speaker, we do not have the time or the resources to just start over. Doing so would change Yucca from being the Nation's most secure national repository into a monument of government waste and all in violation of the law. After getting a firsthand look at Yucca, I can see why it was selected as the best place for our Nation's defense waste and commercial spent nuclear fuel. I am disappointed the administration has continued efforts to push ahead with its plan to circumvent Yucca, as well as the repeated affirmations by Congress that Yucca is the lawful repository. I look forward to working with my colleagues here in Congress--especially the members of the Nevada delegation--to ensure that the law is upheld and Yucca Mountain moves forward. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my legislation, the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA) Reauthorization of 2015. This legislation authorizes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell surplus federal lands to states, localities, or private entities that can be put to economically-beneficial use. Profits from the sales can then be used to purchase state or private land encumbered by National Parks and other federal areas, advancing conservation goals and improving recreational, hunting and fishing access. Since its initial introduction in 2000, FLTFA reduced federal land ownership by 9,000 acres over the course of a decade. I am honored to introduce this important piece of legislation that will streamline the federal land acquisition process.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise with the honor to welcome today's guest chaplain, Pastor Dennis Fountain, the pastor of Moses Lake Baptist Church in Moses Lake, Washington. Pastor Fountain has crossed the Cascade Mountain divide to serve common needs on both sides of Washington State. Pastor Fountain began his ministry in 2006 as a youth pastor in Lakewood, in western Washington. He headed east across the Cascades to plant Moses Lake Baptist Church, which first opened its doors 4 years ago this month. Pastor Fountain also currently serves as the chaplain for the Grant County Sheriff's Office. I would like to thank him for his faithfulness and commitment to serve the needs of the people of our State, particularly first responders and the law enforcement community. It is my privilege to welcome Pastor Fountain and his wife, Hannah, to the House of Representatives as fellow Washingtonians. I extend the thanks of this body for his delivering the morning prayer, and I ask my colleagues to join me in making Pastor Fountain's time in our Nation's Capital warm and inviting.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary this month of the Port of Kennewick, located in my congressional district in Benton County. For 100 years, the port has been a driver of economic development, transportation improvement, job creation, and opportunities for the mid-Columbia region. Voters approved the creation of the port in 1915, after the construction of the Dalles-Celilo Canal, which allowed boats to navigate from the Pacific to the upper stretches of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Looking back on its industrial legacy, the port has entered an exciting new phase of redevelopment in recent years. The revitalized port, which is Washington State's fifth oldest, promises to create tourism and recreational opportunities in the Tri-Cities, drawing visitors to our area with projects that include the Clover Island Marina, Columbia Drive, and Vista Field. This month we celebrate 100 years of economic opportunity and look forward to continued progress at the Port of Kennewick.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, as a third-generation farmer from Washington State, I am amazed by the level of progress our Nation's agricultural community has made, even in just my lifetime. It is because of this great progress that today we celebrate March 18 as National Agriculture Day. Few people realize that during the 1960s the average American farmer fed 25 people. Today it is 144 people. The difference is that today our farmers are growing more disease- and pest-resistant crops that require less water and pesticides and better conserve our natural resources. Advancements in technology and technique have allowed our farmers to continue the long-held tradition of caring for the land they use and the people they grow for. On National Agriculture Day, please join me in recognizing our farming community and the essential role they continue to fill in feeding our Nation and the world.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, last week we celebrated National FFA Week and the national FFA organization's more than 80 years of commitment to providing students with a path to leadership and career success through agricultural education. This year's theme, ``Go All Out,'' asks more than 600,000 students from over 7,600 local FFA chapters to ``go all out for agriculture'' and show their communities how they live the FFA motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve. As a former FFA member, I have always been impressed with how well FFA helps hone certain skills and prepare students for the future. I find that FFA not only helps to advance their knowledge of agriculture and develop community relationships, but you can always tell an FFA student by how articulate and well-spoken they are. My own experience in FFA not only helped shape my career as a farmer but also prepared me to represent the Fourth District of Washington State. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the FFA on 80 years of commitment to agriculture and education.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Thank you to the gentleman from Alabama. Mr. Speaker, since its hasty passage in 2010, ObamaCare has been detrimental to American families, businesses, and taxpayers. Americans were promised that they could keep their health care plans and see their premiums decrease. Instead, they have been irreparably harmed by the elimination of their existing health care plans and pushed into a one-size-fits-all health care system--a system that fails to consider individual needs and that eliminates choice of physicians while families are faced with soaring premiums. The cost of implementing ObamaCare has crippled businesses, hurting the drivers of our economy. Small and large businesses have been forced to pass these increased costs on to their employees, resulting in a decreased workforce, lower wages, and delayed hiring. ObamaCare has hurt economic growth at a time when we can least afford it, damaging our fragile economic recovery. Put simply, a government-centered approach to health care is not the answer. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, as the newly elected Congressman from central Washington, I rise to mark the 150th birthday of Yakima County, a county at the heart of my congressional district and the county where I was born and am proud to call my home. The Washington Territorial Legislature created Yakima County in 1865, nearly 25 years before Washington itself became a State. I am a third-generation Yakima County farmer. My family and I continue to operate a 600-acre farm near the city of Sunnyside. Even before the creation of Yakima County, the agricultural industry recognized the vast environmental benefits of the region. Today, agriculture remains the lifeblood of Yakima County's economy, and I am pleased to represent those interests before the House Committee on Agriculture. Today marks Yakima County's sesquicentennial. Happy 150th birthday. It is an honor to represent you in Congress.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. ``. . . to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; . . .''

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, as a newly elected Congressman from the State of Washington, I rise to mark the 50th anniversary of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in my congressional district. I congratulate all current and former lab workers and their families. Their commitment to excellence is apparent from the contributions the lab has made both to the local community and to our Nation. This world-class facility is key to the long-term growth of the Tri- Cities because of the leading role the lab plays in national security, clean renewable American energy, efforts to clean up our Nation's defense nuclear waste, chemistry, and more. Originally created for the Manhattan Project, the lab has adapted to address our Nation's most pressing needs. I look forward to visiting the lab in the coming weeks to congratulate them in person, and I am committed to providing the support the lab needs to continue serving our Nation for another 50 years. Congratulations to the PNNL family.