Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Spiritual Head and leader of the second largest Christian Church in the world. His All-Holiness is visiting Washington, D.C. in conjunction with his acceptance of the distinguished Templeton Prize in New York City--an honor previously bestowed on Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, among others. While here, he will visit both the White House and the Congress. Elected in October 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2,000-year-old Church founded by the Apostle Andrew, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. He is also a leading figure in the dialogues among the Abrahamic Faiths--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--and his presence in our Nation's capital is an opportunity to highlight the positive role religious leaders of his stature bring to the cause of peace and religious liberty. The true peacemakers of history not only sought to reduce conflict but also showed compassion toward those who persecuted them. Patriarch Bartholomew fits that definition precisely. Despite facing harassment by foreign governments and attacks by extremists, he has remained steadfast in his mission to promote reconciliation, environmental stewardship, and human dignity. His contributions have been recognized around the globe. In 1997, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the United States Congress. The Guardian identified him as one of the world's foremost leaders in raising environmental awareness. And Time Magazine, in its category of Leaders and Revolutionaries, named him one of the world's most influential people. Mr. Speaker, as we welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Washington, D.C., let us also celebrate his unwavering commitment to interfaith dialogue, peace, and religious liberty. His leadership serves as a reminder of the power of faith to unite people across nations and traditions.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I thank our ranking member, Ms. Kaptur, for the time, but also agree with her in urging my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this really terrible bill. Today, we are debating one of the worst Energy and Water appropriations bills I have ever seen. Usually, when you are in charge, they are very good, actually, but this one is terrible. I think it sets a dangerous precedent. It hurts our constituents by increasing their energy costs, just as so many are already seeing huge hikes to their bills. It weakens national security, and it undermines the critical work that the Army Corps of Engineers does to keep our coastal communities safe. Mr. Chairman, I will focus on the cuts to shore protection. Republicans are making a massive cut to the shore protection funding that allows the corps to fund beach replenishment projects in places like the Jersey shore in my district. This Republican bill woefully underfunds replenishment projects by hundreds of millions of dollars. Just recently, Hurricane Erin slammed our coasts, washing away dunes and eroding beaches, a stark reminder of why replenishment funding is so critical. Mr. Chairman, House Republicans are abandoning coastal communities at a time when climate change is accelerating erosion and increasing the risks of devastating storms. I have to stress that beach replenishment projects and shore protection projects aren't luxuries. They are lifelines. We don't do them so people can sunbathe. We do them to protect the homes, the businesses, and the public infrastructure. Towns in my district and in red and blue districts throughout our country alike depend on beach replenishment to prevent damage from coastal storms. It is that simple. We can't let a bunch of climate-denying Republicans in Congress gamble with New Jersey or other coastlines. I think about it like a slot machine on the Atlantic City boardwalk: We will just hope that the storm doesn't come, and we will be okay. Mr. Chairman, that is not what happens. The reality is that places like the Jersey shore need protection from the next big storm and making drastic cuts like these are simply dangerous.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Recardina Boccippio, also known as Dina, as she celebrates her 100th birthday this year. It is my pleasure to join Dina's family and friends in honoring the wonderful life she has led. On September 16, 1925, Recardina DePalma was born to Dominick and Michelina DePalma in Port Reading, New Jersey where Dina resided for 21 years. On October 27, 1946, she married the love of her life Angelo Boccippio and in 1953, they purchased their forever home in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Her loved ones refer to her as a pleasure to be around and a true inspiration. For 10 years, Dina worked at Flagstaff Foods and Liquors. For the next 35 years, Dina worked as a private secretary and head bookkeeper for the Mauro Family at Mauro Motors. Now retired, it is clear she is living her best life as she is happiest spending time with family and friends. In her free time, Dina enjoys watching game shows and soap operas and is always ready for her next hair and nail appointments. After many incredible years, Dina Boccippio's contagious positivity and kindness is truly deserving of this body's recognition. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in wishing Dina Boccippio another year of good health and happiness she celebrates the milestone of her 100th Birthday.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Deal First Aid Squad as they celebrate their 75th Anniversary this year. In 1950, residents of the Borough of Deal, New Jersey founded the Deal First Aid Squad to provide emergency medical services day and night. For 75 years, this organization has operated uninterrupted, completely volunteer-based, and performed a range of reliable services from routine transport to emergency response. With exemplary civic dedication, members have fostered an immeasurable dependability that stands out as a pillar to the Deal community and beyond. I commend the Deal First Aid Squad for their commitment to support residents during times of need, including life-saving interventions and storm-related emergencies. As the country braces with more extreme weather, like severe flooding and heat, it is rewarding to know that safety is the priority to the Deal First Aid Squad Today, the community outreach by the Deal First Aid Squad is truly inspiring. The organization reached hundreds of residents with classes to CPR, AED, and First Aid training. Over the past few decades, they have answered tens of thousands of calls, while participating in several town parades, health fairs, and local school events. The strong community connection is reflected in the generations of families that have joined the Deal First Aid Squad. Notably, they have served in key mutual aid roles and frequent interagency cooperation across Monmouth County. Mr Speaker, I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me in marking the 75th Anniversary of the Deal First Aid Squad and celebrating its rich impact on the Borough of Deal and greater Monmouth County.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1709, the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act. The security of our mobile networks and devices is paramount to American security overall. Most Americans carry a cell phone or other mobile device with them all the time, and this trend is unlikely to change as we are only becoming more and more connected. Consumers, therefore, deserve to stay in touch with their friends and family, use social media, or connect to the internet without fear of their devices being hacked. We must ensure that these devices, the networks they run on, and the vast amount of data they hold are secure and protected from the malicious actions of our foreign adversaries and other bad actors. H.R. 1709 is an important step toward addressing these concerns. This bill directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to report to Congress on the cybersecurity threats our mobile networks and mobile devices face at the hands of foreign adversaries and other bad actors. Among other things, the report will include an assessment of whether mobile carriers have or have not addressed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in their respective networks. It will also include an analysis of whether there are commercially available tools to help consumers evaluate the cybersecurity risks of these networks. I thank Representatives Landsman and Cammack for their bipartisan work on this bill. It is a good step toward ensuring we can protect our mobile networks from evolving threats. I know we will continue to work toward securing our country's data, devices, and networks, whether from a foreign adversary or a domestic threat. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Landsman), who is a member of our committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill, as was described by the sponsor, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1618, the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act. The innovations we are seeing in the commercial satellite industry have the potential to transform so many aspects of daily life, especially for those in more rural and remote areas. For years, Americans have relied on satellites for a variety of services, including global positioning systems, GPS, and radio and television. But within the last decade, satellite capabilities have become more sophisticated and are now being woven into the fabric of our mobile networks. With these advancements, mobile consumers now have even greater connectivity and the comfort of knowing they can reach first responders and loved ones in a time of need, no matter where they may be. The satellite evolution is also touching American farms by facilitating advancements in precision agriculture. H.R. 1618 promotes the innovation of satellite technology for precision agriculture, which uses satellite images to help farmers yield better crops and maximize their yield profitability. The legislation directs the FCC to review its satellite service rules to assess whether there are any rule changes that could better enable satellites to deliver precision agriculture solutions. If the FCC finds that changes are necessary, the bill requires the FCC to develop recommendations for implementing them. It also instructs the FCC to report its findings to Congress, including any recommendations. I thank Representatives Kelly and Latta for their bipartisan work on this bill. With this legislation, we ensure that the FCC and its satellite rules are enabling technological advancements in the important area of precision agriculture as much as possible. Mr. Speaker, this is important to the farm community, and it shows the efforts that can be made with satellites for precision agriculture. I think it is important. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1770, the Consumer Safety Technology Act. Our consumer protection agencies play a critical role in ensuring unsafe products do not enter the U.S. market. Advancements in technology, especially as it relates to artificial intelligence, have the potential to help alleviate the stress some of these agencies may face in being underfunded and understaffed. H.R. 1770 would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to stay up-to-date on new and emerging technologies by integrating them into their daily agency functions. It also requires the Federal Trade Commission to study blockchain technologies and tokens. The CPSC and the FTC do important work to protect all Americans from dangerous products, including emerging technologies. While this bill will help assist in those efforts, it is no replacement for strong, independent, and bipartisan agencies or proper funding and staffing levels. I hope, in addition to supporting this bill, that my Republican colleagues will finally speak up against President Trump's dangerous attempts to weaken or even dismantle these critical agencies. I commend Representative Soto for his leadership on this issue, and I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1770. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), the sponsor of the bill and a member of our committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill on a bipartisan basis. It is important from a consumer safety point of view. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1766, the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act. Mr. Speaker, protecting our Nation's communication networks is of vital importance to our national security. This is particularly important now, when a significant amount of our country's economic and social activity has moved online and consumers are continuing to connect more devices to these networks every day. We, therefore, must build safeguards into our country's communication networks to increase their safety and security while also promoting innovation and competition. H.R. 1766 will help us achieve these goals. The bill authorizes the existing Office of Policy Analysis and Development at the NTIA and renames it the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity. It also codifies the responsibilities of NTIA in administering parts of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act and requires the office to coordinate and develop policy initiatives to enhance cybersecurity efforts with respect to our communications networks. The office will also be tasked with developing and analyzing policies that promote innovation, competition, and workforce development in the communications, media, and technology markets. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Obernolte and McClellan for their bipartisan work on this bill, which will ensure that there is a firm foundation within the Federal Government to oversee the security of our Nation's communications networks. This legislation is more important now than ever given our foreign adversaries' continued attacks on these networks. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan), a member of our committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge bipartisan support for this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1455, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act, or ITS Codification Act. The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, or ITS, is the premier engineering laboratory of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA. Among its many responsibilities, ITS manages various technology development programs for NTIA and the Department of Commerce and oversees cutting-edge studies concerning the use of our country's airwaves. ITS has played a significant role in furthering telecommunication advancements for our country's benefit. H.R. 1455 recognizes the numerous contributions of ITS by providing it with additional statutory authority. Under this bill, ITS will serve as the primary laboratory for the executive branch of the Federal Government to study wireless technologies, including the use of innovative sharing technologies for our airwaves and improving the Federal Government's use of spectrum. The legislation also will allow the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting through the head of ITS, to enter into agreements needed to carry out the functions of the laboratory. This bill also requires the Assistant Secretary to establish an initiative to support the development of emergency communications and tracking technologies. These technologies would then be used to locate people trapped in areas where wireless connectivity may not be available due to natural disasters and other devastating events. I commend Representatives Pettersen and Carter for their bipartisan work on this bill. It will ensure that one of our Nation's key telecommunications facilities has the necessary tools and resources to not only continue its important work but also expand its activities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill. It is, obviously, very important. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), a member of our committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2037, the Open RAN Outreach Act. Open RAN, or Open Radio Access Network, technology is a wireless network architecture that has the potential to drive 5G and 6G innovation forward. Like any new technology, we are just beginning to broadly deploy it, as there is still much to learn about its potential. This is especially true for smaller communications providers who must be prudent about their resources and refrain from taking unnecessary risks in introducing new technology into their networks. We know Open RAN can both help introduce competition into a market that is currently dominated by untrusted equipment makers, like Huawei, and support the development of new trusted manufacturers, including those in the United States. This bill helps bridge a gap by providing small communications providers with the support they need to determine whether Open RAN is an appropriate network solution for them. Under this bill, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information will be required to engage in outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications providers concerning the uses, benefits, and challenges of Open RAN and other open network architectures. This bill would also require the Assistant Secretary to provide guidance to small carriers about their participation in the agency's Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. Sadly, with the passage of the one big, ugly bill, the need for this guidance is significantly diminished, as congressional Republicans inexplicably gutted this program by withdrawing $850 million in funding. It is deeply disappointing that congressional Republicans would rather use this money to give tax cuts to billionaires than develop creative solutions to protect our wireless networks from foreign adversaries seeking to harm our Nation. Nevertheless, I commend Representatives Carter and Hudson for their bipartisan work on this bill. This is a good bill, as it ensures that our country's small communications providers have the necessary tools to make informed decisions about the need for new technology in their networks. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1717, the Communications Security Act. Our Nation's communications networks play an important role across many aspects of our daily lives. We are more connected than ever before, and it is vital that we do all we can to protect this critical infrastructure and ensure it is reliable and available to all Americans. The Federal Communications Commission's Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council, or CSRIC, is meant to do just that. It is made up of government leaders at the Federal, State, and local levels and thought leaders from industry and public interest organizations. The Council provides the FCC with recommendations on the best practices and actions the agency could take so that our communications networks are secure, reliable, and compatible with each other. CSRIC has been in existence since 2009 and was rechartered in 2024 under the Biden administration and former FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel for another 2 years. It has served the FCC well by operating in a collaborative manner with representatives from private industry, government, and other key stakeholders. The Council is also now co- chaired by a representative from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to help foster collaboration between our Nation's leading cybersecurity experts across the government. However, given the important objectives of CSRIC, we should not leave it to the FCC's discretion on whether to recharter this Council or not every 2 years. Instead, CSRIC must become a permanent fixture at the FCC. H.R. 1717 requires the FCC to do just that. Under this bill, the FCC would be required to establish a permanent council to advise the agency on the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks within 90 days. This Council would include representatives from trusted communications companies, public interest organizations, and academic institutions, as well as Federal, State, local, and Tribal Governments for a term of 2 years. This bill also requires the Council and its working groups to submit reports offering their recommendations to the chair of the FCC every 2 years. In turn, the FCC must make these reports publicly available on its website. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for their bipartisan leadership on this bill. It is an important step in protecting our communications networks from bad actors and foreign adversaries. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1765, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act. This legislation is an important step toward ensuring that the Nation and global bodies crafting standards for next-generation wireless technologies, such as 6G and Wi-Fi 8, include significant representation from trusted American companies and those from allied countries, as well. H.R. 1765 accomplishes this objective by requiring the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to encourage and facilitate the participation of trusted companies and stakeholders in the domestic and international standards-setting bodies for wireless technologies. The Assistant Secretary must also brief Congress within 60 days of the bill becoming law on the strategy to accomplish these objectives. It is crucial, Mr. Speaker, that American and allied interests are well-represented at these standards-setting bodies. If the United States is not a leader in shaping the wireless future, our adversaries will step in to fill the leadership void. This includes dominating the future 6G marketplace in a way that may undermine our values, national security, and economic prosperity. We cannot allow that to happen. History has shown us that early developers and adopters of technology define the marketplace, drive innovation, and reap the economic benefits. That is why America must lead here. Moreover, as we have seen with the Salt Typhoon cyberattack, foreign adversaries often see our communications networks and devices as the entry points to disrupt our daily lives and conduct espionage campaigns. In the Salt Typhoon cyberattack, which was backed by China, several American telecommunications networks were infiltrated to gain access to detailed information about President Trump, former Vice President Harris, other political leaders, and American surveillance information. It is imperative that American interests are at the table as new wireless standards are crafted, including those that have cybersecurity and national security implications. I thank Representatives Dingell, Clarke, Kean, and Walberg for their bipartisan work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1765, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), the sponsor of this bill and a member of our committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge bipartisan support for this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3657, which will provide transparency into the hydropower licensing process at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC. Today, FERC is responsible for issuing licenses for hydropower dams, but it is often dependent on other regulatory entities, such as the Army Corps, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, or State water agencies, to provide information and approvals that FERC relies on to issue licenses. It can also be dependent on the dam developer itself to give FERC necessary information. With all these different entities involved in the process, it is often difficult to monitor from the outside and understand where things stand on a particular project. This bill helps to bring more transparency to the process. It requires an annual report to Congress on the status of each license application and outstanding actions that are required of regulatory agencies or the applicants themselves. This is particularly important now because 15 percent of the electric capacity at hydropower dams will come up for relicensing in the next decade. Forecasts for electricity demand also seem to be increasing by the day, and that is why it is critically important that we have transparency into where the hangups are in the hydropower licensing process. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Schrier for her hard work on this bipartisan bill. I also thank Representative Fulcher, Chairs Guthrie and Latta, and Republican committee staff for accommodating commonsense, bipartisan amendments to the bill, such as expanding it to cover new hydropower projects. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier), who is the sponsor of the bill.