Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Missy Franklin for her service to our community. Missy Franklin, of Aurora, Colorado, will compete in seven events at the 2012 London Olympics and will be the first U.S. female to swim that many races at the games. Missy has been a competitive swimmer since an extremely young age, and qualified for her first Olympic trials at the age of 12. In 2011, Missy competed at the first long-course World Championships of her career, and won a total of five medals, three of which were gold. Shortly after, Missy won the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke titles at Nationals. Later in 2011, she broke her first world record at a FINA World Cup meet in Berlin. Missy consistently impresses those around her with her tireless dedication to her sport. As a 17-year old high school student, Missy is faced with the formidable task of balancing high school life with a world-class athletic career. Her ability to stay grounded and focused in both aspects of her life shows incredible strength and maturity. Missy attributes much of her success to her wonderful parents in Colorado, who encourage her to make education a priority even after an exhausting day in the pool. I extend my deepest Congratulations to Missy Franklin on your hard work and perseverance. It is an honor to see a native of Colorado rise to this Olympic level. Missy embodies the best our country could hope for in the next generation of Americans. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud David Herman for his service to our community. David Herman, a native of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, is a world-class BMX rider and a contender in the 2012 London Olympics. David has been passionate about BMX since he was eight years old, and received his first factory sponsor in sixth grade. He is currently taking time off from pursuing his college degree in Denver to focus on his Olympic career. David has been a household name in the world of BMX since he burst onto the scene in 2007. He is known as one of the fastest starters in the sport, and has two World Cup wins under his belt. After placing 22nd in the 2011 World Championships in Copenhagen, David began pushing himself harder and harder toward his dream of joining Team USA in the 2012 Olympics. His hard work and dedication paid off in the 2012 World Championships in England, where he finished fifth to become the first U.S. BMX rider to book his place in London. David's dedication to his sport is mirrored by his dedication to his family in Colorado. Though he prepares for the Olympics with his coach Greg Romero at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, David makes sure to divide his time between California and the Denver area. I extend my deepest congratulations to David Herman for his hard work and perseverance. It is an honor to see a native of Colorado rise to this Olympic level. David embodies the best our country could hope for in the next generation of Americans. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I would just like to end, Mr. Speaker, by thanking my friends--and they are my friends--and colleagues from Colorado. From all of us, Aurora and everybody who has been so affected by this senseless act, we are praying for you. We love you. This act actually affected people from one coast to the other. A lot of people from all over the Nation were there. In fact, at the time, from a nearby military base, there were 53 members of our military-- Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines--who were in that theater that night. This is something that touches us all, something that we will all remember. We will heal. Let's hope and pray something like this doesn't happen again. With that, I yield back the balance of my time. The Sense To Find . . . (By Albert Carey Caswell) The . . . The sense to find . . . As now we so ask why? So ask why? All in our hearts and minds . . . Hearts and minds! As the tears we find . . . We find! All because of this most evil crime . . . For all of those most precious lost lives . . . Lost lives! And for all of those injured who must now so rebuild their lives! The tears we find! As all of those smiles so come to mind . . . And all of that pain these families must now so carry until the end of time! Of all of those lost loved ones and their most precious lost lives! Precious lives! As it's here we so ask why? Ask why? For where does the answer lie? So lie! All in that old age question, that rhyme! Of Good versus Evil, as old as mankind! Goodness . . . Evil . . . Darkness . . . Light! This battle, this endless fight! To bring the light! As we so ask why? Ask why? All in your hearts this night! Take these words of hope to but bring the light! That still, the darkness is but no match for The Light! For The Light! For hope and love, will ever so rise above all of this blight! This blight! Let not all in your pain and heartache, let not escape! The strength to so find! For hate is hard! It makes me cry! When, I see those tears in your families' eyes! As we so try to the sense to find . . . To find! But, take comfort all in your hearts and minds . . . Hearts and minds! All in your souls now so very deep down inside! As up to Heaven, all of these twelve innocent souls have now so taken flight! Taken flight! To Heaven find, to become Angels with our Lord on high! As all in our Lord's arms they now so lie! This very night! As from your most swollen eyes the tears you now so wipe! So wipe! So find the sense to find! And say a prayer for all of them, and all of those, and their loved ones who now so cry! So cry! Whose pain shall not so die! So die! And somehow find the strength, all in what their short lives so meant! All in the hope and light, that over evil . . . the goodness so burns bright! Burns bright! To the sense to find, upon this very night! The sense to find! As we lay their sacred bodies so down to rest! Amen!

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I would just mention the story, and this is one that I'm so proud of people from Colorado. There were two young women in the back of the theater when the gentleman came in and threw a tear gas canister across the theater. And the taller of the two noticed that it really was something other than a smoke bomb and a stunt, and she stood up to warn people, and she was shot in the neck immediately. Blood started to spurt out. Her smaller friend pulled her down, compressed that wound, and the older one said something, or the one who'd been shot said something like you need to leave, you need to get out of here. And her friend said, I'm not leaving without you, and continued to press. The police responded very quickly, but it probably seemed like an eternity. But the young lady who was shot in the neck is on the mend and is going to recover fully, and her friend, basically, saved her life, and the quick actions of the police and the fire department. So despite these terrible losses that we've suffered, and there are so many heartbreaking stories, there are some heartwarming stories as well. With that, I reserve the balance of my time. July 20, 2012 Aurora Theater Shooting Victims Rebecca Wingo, 32 Steve Hernandez wrote, ``I lost my daughter yesterday to a mad man, my grief right now is inconsolable, I hear she died instantly, without pain, however the pain is unbearable.'' Friends said Saturday that Wingo's parents also posted a message about Wingo's death on Wingo's own Facebook page. That page shows a picture of two young girls. A friend, Gail Riffle, brought two teddy bears, one pink and one white, to the memorial site near the movie theater for Wingo's daughters, as well as roses for Wingo's parents. ``Everybody is hurting right now,'' Riffle said. ``She was a gentle, sweet, beautiful soul.'' Rebecca Wingo listed Joe's Crab Shack as her employer on Facebook, and a manager at the restaurant in Aurora confirmed Wingo worked there. He deferred comment to the restaurant's corporate office, which is closed on Saturday. Rebecca Wingo had been enrolled at the Community College of Aurora since fall 2009 and had been working toward an associate of arts degree. Memorial Service Information Funeral: Friday, July 27, 2012--TBD.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank my friend Doug for describing in detail one of these injuries. I'd like to introduce, Mr. Speaker, if I could, for the Record some brief biographical information of each of the victims who was killed: John Blunk, Alexander Jonathan ``AJ'' Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Larimer, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves, and Rebecca Wingo, because I want our Record in this Congress to have their names and some information about them. And I appreciate you talking about somebody specifically. These are hard moments for all of us. These are good people, and some very bad things happened to some very good people. But I want to talk about some of the positive aspects that came out of this dreadful night. Thirteen years ago--Diana DeGette mentioned Columbine--on the southwest side of my district I have Columbine, on the northeast side of my district I have this theater. Colorado is a good place. I mean, all of us love where we come from. We've had some violent incidents that have taken our innocence, as Mr. Polis has said. We heal from these things, but you're never quite the same. You're never quite the same. But one of the positive aspects of that terrible incident 13 years ago at Columbine High School was that our law enforcement, our first responders, our police, our firefighters, our medical teams learned some real lessons. We have, in the Aurora area, a community college called Aurora Community College, where we have gone through a number of exercises to deal with a mass casualty incident such as this, where the police, the fire, law enforcement agencies from across our communities--Denver, Adams, Arapahoe Counties--work together with the CU Medical School to address these kinds of incidents, and the chief of police, Dan Oates, who deserves a higher place in heaven for the way he has managed this terrible time on behalf of law enforcement. They've prepared and prepared and prepared. Unbelievably, this terrible tragedy happened, but because of that preparation, because of what we had gone through before and the terrible lessons we learned, lives were saved. There's no question about it; lives were saved that otherwise would have been lost. I want to applaud, again, the Aurora police, the Aurora firefighters, the medical teams--casualties were taken to six or seven different hospitals in our area--but they all did an outstanding job. The dispatchers, can you imagine all the 911 calls that came in that night. We want to thank them. We want to thank the FBI. Jim Yacone, who is our bureau chief, was outstanding on behalf of the Federal response to deal both with the shootings that occurred in the theater and the elaborate booby trap that was set in this apartment--that I drive by at least once a week-- right across from the University of Colorado. This is something that we will heal from, but we will never be the same. And I just want to thank the Aurora schools, which provided a place of safety for all of these individuals to go at the time of this incident. I want to thank the ministerial alliance. As Mr. Coffman said, this is a community of great faith, and our churches and our synagogues have responded in a tremendous fashion to the sorrow that we all feel. There are many stories, some beautiful ones. The President shared one. Before I go further, Mr. Speaker, can I inquire as to the time on both sides, because I know I have a couple of other speakers that would like to speak.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to yield 3 minutes to Diana DeGette, my friend from Denver, who had a number of constituents in the movie theater that evening.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity the other day for us to have a moment of silence. I know it was important to the members of our delegation as well as to the people of our community in Aurora, Colorado, and the whole metropolitan area. I had a chance to speak on Tuesday. I have a number of things to say, but I know each of us in our delegation bears a heavy heart as a result of all this, and I would like others to be able to share some of their thoughts. With that, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from Boulder, Mr. Polis.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of July 25, 2012, I call up the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 134) condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous atrocities that occurred in Aurora, Colorado, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I again inquire about the balance of time.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I stand here with a lot of sadness with my friends from the Colorado delegation. We Democrats and Republicans are a pretty tight-knit group. We had a terrible incident in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday, you all are well aware of, where 12 people were killed and 58 were wounded. It is with sadness and grief that we come before you today. As our Governor said at the vigil on Sunday night, we will remember these 12 and those who were shot. But there was a silver lining in this very, very dark moment in the history of Colorado. We saw bravery and selflessness and heroism among the people who were in the theater that night. Any one of us can tell you stories of how complete strangers were willing to give up their own lives to save the lives of the strangers next to them. In times when it is difficult like that, you want to find bright spots--and there were many. Another bright spot was the courage demonstrated by the Aurora police and the fire department and the FBI and the ATF in the face of what was a monstrous action by this guy. In Colorado, we consider ourselves to be pretty tough. Aurorans, where this act took place, are pretty tough. It hurts--we all hurt--but we are resilient and we will get through it, and the stories being shared of some of those who were injured actually really do lighten the day. I know any one of us would be happy to talk to you all about that. There has been a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and condolences and compassion from all of you. I know I speak on behalf of our entire delegation when I thank you for thinking about us and where we live and our community, because we are in this together. We just thank you very much. Moment of Silence So I ask that all of you stand with me and our delegation in a moment of silence to honor the memory of those who were killed, the wounded victims and all Americans during this time of healing. As I said once before and as our Governor said, we will remember these people who were hurt, and we will help them all along the way.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to correct an error I made in voting recently. Rollcall vote 430, the twelfth Broun amendment, proposed to reduce the Public Housing Operating fund by $56 million. Because that particular series of votes included six successive amendments by Representative Broun of Georgia, and these votes were shortened to two minutes in length, I mistakenly lost track of the order of amendments and voted ``yes'' on rollcall 430. I ask that the Record reflect I intended to vote ``no'' on rollcall 430.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Zachary Nielson for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Zachary Nielson is an 8th grader at Moore Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Zachary Nielson is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Zachary Nielson for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and applaud the Colorado Railroad Museum for receiving the Living Landmark Award. The Living Landmark Award is presented by the Golden Landmarks Association, a nonprofit organization which works to preserve historic places and educate people about the wonderful history the Golden area has to offer. The Colorado Railroad Museum has provided an interesting and colorful history of railroading unique to the Western United States. Railroads have been instrumental in Colorado's history by encouraging the economy, migration, and culture to flourish. In 1959, Robert W. Richardson and Cornelius W. Hauck opened the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. The museum houses the largest repository for Colorado's railroad history and nearly 100,000 people visit the museum every year. In the late 90's the museum added a climate-controlled library to house books, photographs, and corporate records and added an authentic roundhouse and turntable to restore and maintain the historic equipment. To instill in today's youth a love for trains and railroads, The Colorado Railroad Museum offers train rides every weekend and hosts the Thomas the Tank Engine event every year. The Colorado Railroad Museum is ranked among the top 25 Denver area historical and cultural attractions and has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institute, American Association of State and Local History, and Colorado Historical Society for its work preserving railroad history in the Rocky Mountains. I am honored to congratulate the Colorado Railroad Museum; I know they will work to provide an understanding and passion of railroads for future generations.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Virginia Larson for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Virginia Larson is an 8th grader at Moore Middle School and received this award because her determination and hard work have allowed her to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Virginia Larson is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Virginia Larson for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all her future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Aaron Tate for receiving the 2012 Amgen Foundation's Teacher of the Year Award. This award is designed to recognize and honor extraordinary science teachers at the K-12 level who significantly impact their students through exemplary science teaching and who achieve demonstrated results in student learning in communities where Amgen operates. Mr. Tate has been a middle-school science educator for nearly ten years at Bromley East Charter School in Brighton, CO. His classroom experiences include developing and implementing 7th grade science and S.T.E.M. elective courses, sponsoring chess, middle school science, and LEGO clubs, and overseeing the 7th grade science fair. Aaron Tate's commitment to teaching science is commendable. In addition to his time in the classroom, Aaron is a member of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education, where he stays abreast of the newest researched-based best practices in science education. I extend my deepest congratulations to Aaron Tate for this well deserved recognition by the Amgen Foundation. Thank you for your dedication to the future of science in our classrooms and your commitment to the community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Wilfredo Huerta for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Wilfredo Huerta is a 12th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Wilfredo Huerta is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Wilfredo Huerta for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and applaud Meg Van Ness for receiving the Living Landmarks Award. The Living Landmark Award is presented by the Golden Landmarks Association, a nonprofit organization which works to preserve historic places and educated people about the wonderful history the Golden area has to offer. Meg has been a champion in preserving and promoting the historical integrity of Golden. Meg Van Ness has had a passion for archaeology since high school. She attended the University of Missouri and later the University of Northern Arizona where she received her Master's in Archaeology. In 1990, six years after she moved to Golden, Meg was appointed to the Golden Historic Preservation Board and remained on the board for ten years. In 2000, Meg joined the Golden Planning Commission and worked with the community to keep Golden special. Meg worked for 16 years as an archaeological consultant, another 16 years with the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and is currently the Regional Historic Preservation Officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She continues to serve on various outreach programs and committees in Golden. I am honored to congratulate Meg Van Ness on this well deserved recognition by the Golden Landmarks Association. We all thank her for her advocacy for the Golden community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and applaud my friend and talented singer Judy Denison for receiving the Living Landmark Award. The Living Landmark Award is presented by the Golden Landmarks Association, a nonprofit organization whose focus is to preserve historic places and educate people about the wonderful history the City of Golden has to offer. Judy Denison relocated to Golden in 1988 because she loves the peaceful nature of Golden and the small town feel. She was the co- founder of Save the Mesas and an organizer for the Mesa Music Festival. Judy's involvement in Citizens Involved in Northwest Quadrant (CINQ) lead to the establishment of the Golden Newsletter, which reaches out to nearly 1,000 Golden citizens each week. The newsletter discusses environmental and cultural news and its mission is to preserve the clean mountain air and the ambiance of Golden. Judy's accomplishments are many. After a medical mission to Belize, Judy set up the Belize Education Project to send teachers to Belize and provide books and scholarships to underprivileged students. She is a member of the Golden Rotary Club and meets with teenage girls in the community to discuss life and ethics. Furthering her youth outreach, Judy organized the Golden Community Choirs, which is now in its twelfth season. Judy Denison is a true ``Golden'' citizen in every sense of the word. She has been a champion in the community and I am honored to congratulate her on this well deserved recognition by the Golden Landmarks Association. Thank you for making our community a proud place for all Coloradans.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Jean Kirshner, co-founder of the Belize Education Project, for receiving the Golden Rotary Ethics in Business Award. The Belize Education Project is responsible for bringing thousands of books and supplies to students and teachers in Belize, as well as delivering teacher training to Belize educators in Belize and here in Colorado. Utilizing five focuses of the ``lifting lives through literacy project'', reading with students, teacher education, family literacy, school supplies and scholarships for both primary and high school students, the Belize Education Project has been able to reach several of their goals. Since 2007, an education team has traveled annually to Belize to work with teachers, students and families. In addition, a group of educators from Belize are hosted in Colorado to learn from instruction in Colorado classrooms. I congratulate Jean Kishner for her leadership, and all the individuals of the Belize Education Project for making our world a better place to live.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Katherine Anne Crouse and Peter Crouse, owners of myPie Inc., for receiving the Golden Rotary Ethics in Business Award. myPie opened in 2010 with Katherine delivering pizzas subway style via her bicycle, which she rides to and from work every day. myPie is the first delivery service in the U.S to sell pizzas in a subway sandwich style. This entrepreneurial eye carries forth in their community outreach as well. myPie initiated the 31.4% day where it awards 31.4% of all sales to local charitable organizations and schools. So far myPie has donated more than $3,000 to Wheat Ridge High School and Middle School, the Action Center of Jefferson County, 40 West Arts in Lakewood, and Wheat Ridge 20/20. myPie is a model for outstanding ethics in business. It is an example for all businesses in America to emulate. I extend my deepest congratulations to Katherine Anne Crouse and Peter Crouse for their well deserved recognition by the Rotary of Golden. I have no doubt Katherine and Peter will exhibit the same dedication and character in all their future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Yimi Serrano for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Yimi Serrano is an 11th grader at Jefferson Senior High and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Yimi Serrano is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Yimi Serrano for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this motion to recommit. It is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill and, if adopted, the House will vote on final passage in this series of votes. The amendment has three parts. They are short and direct. The first involves wildfires and the ability and the authority of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into contracts with the States to clear hazardous fuel to prevent wildfires, as well as treat insect-infested trees. And we'll get into that. The second part is very clear. Just says, nothing in this act shall override tribal sovereignty, including with respect to Native American burial or other sacred sites. It speaks for itself. Finally, it's about making sure that in the parks and in the gift shops, that the goods that are sold there are made in America. So let's just begin with the wildfire piece. As Smokey the Bear says, ``Only you can prevent forest fires.'' Right now, across the West and throughout America we have wildfires dotting our country: 500,000 acres across our country are on fire right now, in Alaska, Arizona, California, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Wyoming, and in my home State of Colorado. Right now we're battling a very big wildfire just north of where I live called the High Park fire--60,000 acres are currently burning. We have about 50 percent contained through the efforts of 1,800 firefighters, some of the best Federal firefighters we have, as well as State and local firefighters who are doing a tremendous job in a situation where we have very dry conditions, record temperatures, and a very erratic fire. Now, what we can do and what is missing from this bill is any public policy concerning what to do with insect-infested forests. And we've had a terrible infestation of what they called the pine beetle. And it makes tremendous fuel. And so what this bill does is it gives the authority to the Agriculture Department and the Interior Department to work with the States to clear these insect-ravaged forests. We need to have that done to prevent forest fires in the future. It's as simple as that. It ought to be very easy for everyone to support that. Secondly, again, this amendment says specifically, the act shall not override tribal sovereignty. We've reached treaties with the various tribes. Those things control, not this particular bill, and we state that specifically. Finally, we address something that I think irks many of us in this Chamber. When we have a visitors center in our national parks which is selling goods made in other countries, it just seems wrong. We want to make things in America. Manufacturing in America is key to this country's economic growth and prosperity. We have a saying, ``If we make it in America, we'll make it in America.'' So three very simple, very direct amendments to this bill which make the bill much better, address public policy that is not addressed in the bill that should have been addressed in the bill, especially the wildfire mitigation piece, something that you would have expected to be right in the heart of this thing after Texas was ravaged by so many wildfires last year, and we knew dry conditions existed across the West. So I urge my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to support this commonsense amendment to mitigate and prevent forest fires, to make sure that tribal sovereignty is respected, and that we make things in America so that we make it here in America. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. In its current form, I am.