Tom O’Halleran

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler and Ranking Member Collins for moving this bill through the Judiciary Committee. Similarly, I thank all the committee members for supporting the bill on a unanimous voice vote. This legislation has the bipartisan and bicameral support of the Arizona delegation. This simple, commonsense legislation allows current Federal judges to sit in existing courthouses or magistrates' chambers in Yuma and Flagstaff, two rapidly growing communities where constituents do not have full access to the Federal judicial system. By allowing existing judges to sit in Yuma and Flagstaff, residents of rural Arizona will not have to travel the significant distances they currently do to Phoenix or Tucson to be heard by a judge. This will mean that police officers can spend more time on patrol and that individuals won't have to travel to serve on juries or participate in matters that require a judge. Easier access to courthouses will help Tribal nations that are under significant Federal jurisdiction. This will only further support Tribal sovereignty. This legislation is a simple way to improve life for residents of rural America, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1569.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay respects to a hero and a warrior. William Tully Brown, one of the last surviving Navajo code talkers, passed away earlier this month at the age of 96. The code talkers were a group of brave soldiers who used their native tongue to create unbreakable codes in the battlefield and to transmit messages during World War II. They participated in every major Marine operation in the Pacific Theater, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. I was saddened to hear of the passing of another decorated hero from this important group. William was born in Black Mountain, Arizona, in 1922, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1944. During his service, he received many military honors, including the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. We must never forget William Tully Brown and all code talkers for their service to our country and our veterans' service to their country.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, on May 28, 1894 Percival Lowell arrived in Flagstaff, Arizona Territory and officially began operations at his new astronomical observatory. This was one of the first permanent scientific establishments in the western United States and one of the most storied centers for scientific research and outreach in the world. As we celebrate Lowell Observatory's 125th anniversary this year, we not only look back to honor its rich heritage, but also look ahead to a future in which the sky is not the limit but the starting point. Percival Lowell was the scion of a Boston Brahmin clan steeped in the traditions of public service and community leadership. His siblings alone included brother Abbott Lawrence, president of Harvard University for 24 years, and Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Amy. Percival Lowell established his observatory initially to study Mars and the possibility of intelligent life there. He transcended science into pop culture by writing several popular books and lecturing widely. His provocative ideas triggered much discussion and debate--both within and outside of scientific circles--about extraterrestrial life. This standard set by Lowell to not only carry out research but to share the wonder and awe of space with the public led to the observatory's dual mission of research and education. Some significant contributions made at Lowell Observatory: V.M. Slipher detected the first evidence of the expanding universe in 1912. Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930. At the urging of Lowell scientists, Flagstaff enacted the world's first dark skies ordinance in 1958. This laid the path for future regulations that culminated in the community's designation as the first International Dark Sky City, in 2001. Flagstaff continues to serve as a model for dark skies protection. The second class of astronauts, the so-called ``Next Nine'' that included Neil Armstrong, and Jim Lovell, visited Lowell Observatory in 1963 to learn about the lunar mapping efforts going on here. This was part of a training exercise in northern Arizona that proved an important step in preparing the astronauts for their missions to the Moon. A team of scientists, including many from Lowell, discovered the rings of Uranus in 1977. Using observations with several research instruments, including Lowell Observatory's Perkins Telescope, Vera Rubin and Kent Ford confirmed the existence of dark; matter in 1978. A team of scientists, including many from Lowell, discovered Pluto's atmosphere in 1988. Lowell scientist Will Grundy served as a team leader on the New Horizons mission's 2015 exploration of Pluto. This mission returned stunning images of the only planet in our solar system discovered in the United States. Today, scientists at Lowell use a variety of ground-and space-based instruments for research--including Lowell Observatory's flagship Discovery Channel Telescope, one of the most versatile telescopes in the world. Meanwhile, the visitor program welcomes more than 100,000 guests per year and in the fall will complete construction of the Giovale Open Deck Observatory, the first stage of a multi-year master plan that will greatly increase the observatory's educational reach. In recognition of Lowell's heritage of science, education, culture, and history, the observatory was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1965 and identified as an Arizona Treasure in 2005 by Governor Janet Napolitano. In 2011 Time magazine named it one of ``The World's 100 Most Important Places.'' Also, Astronomy magazine Editor Dave Eicher recently nicknamed Lowell Observatory ``America's Observatory'' because of its ``unique combination of astronomical history and famous discoveries''.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a selfless hero and warrior, Mr. Fleming Begaye, Sr., a Navajo code talker. He served our Nation during World War II and passed away last week in Chinle, Arizona. He served with his fellow marines from 1943 to 1945 in the Battle of Tarawa and the Battle of Tinian, some of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific theater. He was wounded serving our Nation. Mr. Begaye returned home and became a businessman and farmer in Chinle, where he raised his family. We must never forget the service of these brave code talkers. They sacrificed so much for our Nation. My prayers are with Mr. Begaye's family, and I know he has been reunited with his sweetheart, Helen.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I join my colleagues to remember and honor a true patriot and someone I was honored to know and call a dear friend, Jerry Emmett. Jerry lived a long, full life beyond reproach. She was dedicated to serving Arizona. She was a teacher for more than four decades. She was a passionate advocate for the rights of women and underrepresented groups. I mourned with our State when she passed away last month at the age of 104. Jerry inspired people from every corner of Arizona and across the Nation, and that will be her lasting legacy. I am in awe of what she has seen and what she has accomplished in her lifetime. She witnessed history unfold, from the suffrage movement to the nomination of the first female President candidate. At the national convention, the world saw Jerry as we all in Arizona knew her, full of life and zeal, and she proudly represented Arizona for such a historic moment. I will never forget the wisdom she shared with me over the years. She was truly an inspiration to all of us, and I never left her side without learning something important. We come together today to mourn her passing but also to remember all she has done for our State. My prayers are with her family and with all the admirers and students she shaped and inspired over the years. I will leave you all with a lesson she shared with her son Jim: No matter what is going on at the time, as long as you keep hope and you keep believing things will change and you are doing your best to help change, it will change.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to honor law enforcement officers across Arizona and the Nation. As a former investigator and officer, I know what the brave men and women and their families go through every day to protect their communities. This week brings back the memories of the friends and partners I have served alongside during my time on the force. We remember the officers who have been killed in the line of duty, many of them friends of mine, including DPS Officer Tyler Edenhofer and Jesus Cordova. We will never forget their service to our State and our country. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues this week in thanking the men and women who serve our communities, protect our families, and allow us to continue to be a free society.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Madam Speaker, on May 8, 2019, I was present and voted for two bills on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. I voted in favor of H.R. 1520, the Purple Book Continuity Act. However, my vote did not register on Roll Call 188. I voted to advance the legislation out of the Energy and Commerce Committee and supported its passage on the House floor.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support of the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan. In Arizona and across the Southwest, communities have struggled through a 19-year-long drought. During my time in the State legislature, I spent years working with Republicans and Democrats alike to create Arizona's first conservation, drought, and statewide water management plans. It cannot be understated how hard Arizona has worked to implement a drought program that ensures our State continues to have access to the Colorado River and other instate water sources. I am pleased to see the resulting plan was passed earlier this year. Now it is our turn. This legislation will complete the process by directing the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with each of the seven Colorado River Basin States and it will ensure that water conservation efforts can begin quickly. The sooner we get these agreements signed, the sooner we can address the water issues across the region. I applaud the great work being done here in Washington and in the seven States impacted by this drought contingency plan to put forward innovative solutions to protect our precious water assets. It is important to remember that we are not done. We must continue these conversations and work together to manage our rivers in ways that allow cities to grow, ensure farmers and ranchers are successful, and keep our obligations to Native American Tribes and Nations. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important legislation.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Since it was first enacted in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has saved countless lives and supported millions of domestic violence and assault victims and survivors by funding critical programs. In February 2019, the Violence Against Women Act expired. This is unacceptable. It is imperative that we fully reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. A stopgap Violence Against Women Act does not address critical issues within the legislation and would seriously impact the lifesaving programs needed across Indian Country. Domestic violence affects every community in America. Tribal communities, though, face it at an alarmingly high rate. According to Federal data, at least 55 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced physical violence at an intimate partner's hands. We are here to make visible the unacceptable and glaring disparities that women and families across Indian Country face when it comes to violence, assault, and abuse. We are here to demand action because there are things we can and should do to help survivors. In 2013, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act created special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction. This was critical to holding perpetrators accountable on Indian Country, but it didn't go far enough. The special jurisdiction limits Tribes to prosecuting only crimes committed against intimate partners, not kids or police officers. As a former law enforcement officer and homicide detective, I can tell you that responding to these types of calls was extremely and is extremely dangerous for police officers. Within the past 3 years alone, the Navajo Nation has lost three officers responding to domestic violence calls. We must honor their sacrifice with action. Further, these gaps in jurisdiction put children who are victims or witnesses to violence in harm's way. It affects families dramatically. It affects our communities. It affects our country. This reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act includes my legislation, the Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act. This lifesaving provision would fix these jurisdictional gaps and expand current law regarding special jurisdiction. It would allow Tribes to prosecute and convict non-Indian offenders who harm children and law enforcement officers responding to domestic violence cases, as any town outside Indian Country can already do. Few things have shaped my life more than the 13 years I served as a police officer. My first call as an officer involved domestic violence. I still remember it and other domestic violence and sexual assault cases. There are too many to remember. Our society has to change if we are to make life and our families successful. We must protect children and other survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. I join my colleagues in demanding a full reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation and urge all my colleagues to support its passage. It is long overdue.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concerns over the proposed budget cuts made in the President's budget and the skyrocketing deficits that will leave our children and grandchildren with trillions more in debt. While it is imperative that we rein in wasteful government spending and get our national debt under control, we cannot do so at the expense of the men and women living in rural and Tribal communities and our seniors. This budget proposal slashes trillions from healthcare programs that millions of seniors, working families, and veterans rely on every day. Additionally, it would cut infrastructure programs and funding for critical projects in rural America and hurt farming families. This is not how we are going to curb spending and get our fiscal house in order. We need to act now to pass a bipartisan budget that addresses the debt crisis and invests in the future of our Nation.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Madam Chair, as I travel throughout my district, I hear Arizona's concerns about the integrity of our elections, our elected leaders, and those who serve them in the highest positions of our government. At a time when millions of Americans feel uncertain about the state of our democracy, Congress must act. I am proud to support H.R. 1, which will strengthen our democracy and close ethics loopholes. I want to thank the chairwoman and the ranking member for agreeing to adopt my three amendments to the underlying bill. These amendments, which include my Taxpayers DIME Act and my Protecting Defense Dollars Act, will do right by our taxpayers by increasing transparency and accountability when it comes to travel, including on government and military aircraft. These amendments will crack down on bureaucrats abusing ethics rules in place of lavish travel on private jets, first-class flights, and more. Several of these amendments have previously received bipartisan support. Regardless of party, those who serve the American public must be held to the highest ethical standards. Our ability to hold government officials accountable to taxpayers is a hallmark of our democracy, and we must work to uphold that right. Again, I thank my colleagues for including my commonsense amendments in this package.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Navajo code talker Alfred Newman, who passed away this week. Mr. Newman was one of the last surviving members of the Navajo code talkers, a group of brave Navajo marines who used their native language to create unbreakable codes that were used in the Pacific during World War II. He served our Nation with honor, from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima. He was recently honored with other code talkers at a White House ceremony and was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal for his service in 2001. Mr. Speaker, Alfred Newman was a hero. He and his fellow code talkers saved the lives of countless troops with their unbreakable codes, and they deserve our respect and honor every day. My prayers are with Alfred's family and loved ones and the entire Navajo Nation as they mourn the passing of this hero and celebrate his life. Honoring Milton Bluehouse, Sr.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to hear of the passing of former Navajo Nation President Milton Bluehouse, Sr. Raised in a traditional Navajo lifestyle, President Bluehouse graduated from Ganado Mission School and served in the United States Army for 3 years. Throughout his life, he represented the interests of his community on the Tribal Council before serving as president for a short time. He had many ambitious plans to assist at-risk youth, create good- paying jobs, and expand programs to improve safety in Tribal communities. President Bluehouse will always be remembered for his commitment to the Navajo people and for ensuring the Federal Government upheld its obligations to the Tribe. My prayers are with his family and loved ones and the entire Navajo Nation as they mourn his passing and celebrate his life. It Is Time to Open Up Government

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, it is time to open up government. We can no longer think that we are not having an impact on our economy. We can no longer think that the safety of Americans who fly in our skies or eat the food in America is not at risk. We can no longer imagine that the millions of families who are being impacted are not suffering. It is time. This is the greatest Nation on Earth. It is the only one in my entire lifetime that I have seen that has closed down government. Our counties don't do it; our States don't do it; our cities don't do it. But the greatest Nation on Earth can find a way to close down government? This should never, ever happen in our country. We should never put our citizens through this. We have the money to pay the staff. We have to find ways to get out of this problem and never let it happen again.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a crisis that is gripping our Nation. This crisis is impacting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of hardworking men and women, such as Border Patrol agents, TSA agents, national park rangers, janitors, machinists, and many more. The crisis I am referring to, Mr. Speaker, is the reckless government shutdown that now has gone into its third week. We are the greatest country in the world. This should never, ever happen in this country. It has left Americans without paychecks, forcing many of them to seek donations from family, friends, and strangers just to make ends meet. In Arizona, my constituents have reached out to share their stories. One Federal prison employee told my office that she planned to take out a loan on their retirement in order to pay for groceries, bills, and health insurance. Another, a scientist based in Arizona and working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wrote to me just yesterday to tell me that she would have to take up dog walking, Uber driving, and other part-time jobs just to cover the cost of her rent. Neither of these Arizonans know what they will do if their paychecks continue to be held hostage for political games. Mr. Speaker, the American people don't deserve this. It goes beyond the furloughed government workers. Small business owners and Arizona farmers and ranchers, already hit hard by uncertainty in their global trade partnerships, are being hurt by this. There is agreement in this body and in the Senate on bipartisan spending measures that open up our government and provide increased funding for SMART, 21st century border security technology that has been proven effective. The administration has conjured up this crisis and devastated the lives of countless Americans in the process, and it must end. Mr. Speaker, these political games are hurting Arizona and our country. Honoring Sheriff Kelly ``KC'' Clark

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and honor Sheriff Kelly ``KC'' Clark as he retires from three decades of service to Navajo County and the State of Arizona. From his first post as a patrol deputy in Winslow in 1989 to sheriff of Navajo County, KC has always dedicated his career to ensuring victims receive justice. Throughout his life, KC has served Arizona as the president of the Arizona Narcotic Officers Association and three terms as president of the Arizona County Attorney/Sheriff's Association. Additionally, KC is a graduate of the FBI Academy 220th Session and the Drug Unit Commanders Academy. He was named Sheriff of the Year by the WETIP Foundation. On top of all of this, Sheriff Clark served on the Northern Regional Advisory Committee for Homeland Security and is a commissioner on the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to call KC a friend. His service to our great State is an inspiration to all public servants. I wish him and his wife, Brenda, the very best as he retires from the police force, and I know his commitment to serve in his community will not end.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chairman, college affordability and the student loan crisis affect every community across our Nation. The decisions that young people are forced to make in order to get a degree-- decisions involving tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars--can affect the rest of their lives. Over 44 million Americans have a total of $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. In Arizona, borrowers owe an average of just under $24,000, annually, in student loan debt. That is why I am pleased that the underlying bill before us today takes an important step towards making sure students and borrowers have more tools and information about their options, including income-driven repayment plans. Income-driven repayment plans like PAYE, REPAYE, and IBR have increased in enrollment in recent years and can offer borrowers more predictability and manageability on their student loan payments. A lot of borrowers don't know about all the income-driven repayment options they are eligible for, making it harder to figure out which one might be the best fit. My commonsense amendment helps to fix that by simply requiring the annual counseling mandated by the underlying bill to disclose the anticipated monthly payment to a borrower for any income-driven repayment plan they are eligible for. Increasing awareness about all income-driven repayment options and what a borrower could expect to pay under each program they are eligible for will help equip them and their families with more resources to make important decisions. My amendment, like the underlying bill, is an important step forward to support our hardworking students and workers in our communities at a time when many are still struggling. We have an obligation to increase transparency to borrowers and ensure they have the tools to thrive. I want to thank Congressman Bera for his support of this amendment, as well as Congresswoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott for their work on this bipartisan bill before us today. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera).

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2850 and to urge passage of this amendment to the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010. The White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 resolved the Tribe's water claims against the Federal and State governments, as well as other parties and States. This act also authorized the White Mountain Rural Water System all while being budget neutral. This bill is simply a straightforward, technical amendment which is necessary to clarify that authorization authority exists for the Tribe to use the settlement fund for water-related economic development projects. The Tribe needs this clarification in order to complete the construction of its rural water system, which is long overdue and a critical project for the community. I thank Senator Flake, whose staff has worked closely with me and my office on this issue for the past year and a half. I also thank the chairman and ranking member for supporting this bill. Given the importance of the water system and the implementation of the settlement legislation to the White Mountain Apache Tribe, I urge the swift passage of this bill and look forward to working together with all affected stakeholders on its implementation.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support and urge passage of my legislation, H.R. 4032, the Gila River Indian Community Federal Rights-of-Way, Easements and Boundary Clarification Act. I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation along with colleagues Congressmen Biggs, Gallego, and Gosar. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Tribal Nations were here prior to the formation of the United States. However, throughout history, many Federal laws were enacted that diminished land holdings and, as a result, reservation boundaries were often incorrectly adjusted. The Federal Government often lacked the mechanisms to effectively keep track of the various rights-of-way that existed on Tribal lands. These challenges remain today and can be serious barriers to Tribal land use efforts for housing, economic development, and cultural purposes. That is why I introduced my bill, which simply finalizes the settlement of longstanding issues related to the Federal Government's management of Tribal trust assets on the Gila River Indian Community. The legislation provides for surveys of all the Federal rights-of-way on the reservation and establishes a map of those rights-of-way to aid the community in planning land use, including building homes, rebuilding schools, locating businesses, and ensuring access to cultural sites. H.R. 4032 also clarifies the northwest boundary of the reservation, which will avoid a title dispute with the city of Phoenix. In exchange for giving up lands that are currently within the reservation boundary, the community will be able to purchase 3,400 acres of culturally relevant lands from the Bureau of Land Management and have those lands taken into trust. H.R. 4032 is important to the Gila River Indian community, to local landowners, and nearby communities. I would like to thank my colleagues across the aisle for supporting this legislation, as well as the chairman and ranking member. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the administration to ensure this settlement is fully implemented. On behalf of our Arizona communities, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, necessary legislation.

Mr. O'HALLERAN

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chair, Arizona's First Congressional District is home to the largest population of Native Americans and Indian lands in the Nation. Many of the Tribal governments that I represent face a public safety crisis. Nearly every Tribal community I visit is caught in the justice facility backlog, and it is having a serious impact on their ability to protect and serve their communities. The backlog in unmet need for Tribal justice facilities has grown significantly since fiscal year 2014, when the Department of Justice unilaterally stopped new and replacement construction of Tribal justice buildings. All the while, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has kept condemning these types of buildings. This negligent lack of Federal coordination between agencies has resulted in communities being forced to go without essential infrastructure. Tribal justice officials dedicate and risk their lives to provide basic law and order in Native American communities. However, as a former police officer, I can tell you, no justice system can function without a safe and secure facility to house these officers. The San Carlos Apache Tribe's justice system is a devastating example of the backlog for justice facilities in Indian Country. The BIA condemned the San Carlos Police and Courts Building known as BIA Building 86 in 2009. The Tribal police officers and courts worked for 6 additional years in a condemned building, until the Bureau of Indian Affairs provided them with temporary trailers, which had been intended to be used as classrooms and temporary housing in 2015. Here we are, 3 years later, and this temporary fix is failing the San Carlos police and courts, as well as the entire community. The San Carlos Police Chief works in an office with cracks in the wall where he can see outside. The generator doesn't provide air conditioning to the police patrol or court sessions of trailers, and that is in Arizona. Water service is intermittent. There is not enough space for evidence storage. The floors can't securely support storage safes that include cash, drugs, and other evidence. I can go on and on. It is clear that it is past time to provide the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and Tribes across the country, a permanent facility to safely house their police and courts. I commend Appropriations for providing $18 million for replacement of new public safety and justice construction. My amendment demonstrates the reality that the need is greater. It suggests a funding level of $36 million divided between replacement and new construction. This would help provide for the needs of communities like San Carlos, who have had their police and court facilities condemned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Every law enforcement officer at the local, State, Tribal, and Federal levels risk their lives to protect and serve their community. If we can't give them the basic tools to do their jobs, our communities risk safety and justice for victims. We must do better. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment on behalf of these brave law enforcement officials, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Chair, I just want to thank the chair and the ranking member for all their commitment to Indian Country and for their support of this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.