Chellie Pingree

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise to support the Fiscal Year 2023 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. I thank Ranking Member Joyce for his collaboration and partnership through this process, and I am grateful for the leadership of Chairwoman DeLauro, and Ranking Member Granger. The fiscal year 2023 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies bill provides a total of $44.8 billion dollars. This is an increase of $6.8 billion dollars over last year's enacted level, which is an 18 percent increase. Last year, we made unprecedented investments to fight the climate crisis, return science as the foundation for decision- making, dedicate the highest level of federal funding to the arts and humanities ever, and continue our commitment to tribal nations. This bill continues to build on those successes. Through the investments made in this bill, our country will be better positioned to confront the climate crisis. Just last month, we witnessed Yellowstone, America's first national park, experience devastating flooding that triggered mudslides, resulting in its emergency closure and leaving damage that will take years to rebuild. Only weeks later, a destructive wildfire threatened to destroy the giant sequoias of Yosemite National Park. These tragedies underscored how vulnerable our ecosystems and species are to the impacts of climate change. That is why the investments in this bill, such as the 15 percent increase for the land management agencies, will be meaningful for climate adaptation and resiliency efforts on our public lands. The bill also invests in renewable energy, both on and offshore, to provide opportunities for growth in this sector--creating good paying American jobs. And we make historic investments for science and environmental protection, providing the funding necessary to build a strong EPA. In addition to these critical investments to protect our natural resources, the bill also includes strong funding for cultural resources by fostering the Arts and Humanities. The bill provides $414 million for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. These funds benefit all of our districts and are a positive tool for economic development, education, and community building. And finally, this bill supports Native American families by investing in a strong and resilient Indian Country, including through education and health care programs. This is a strong bill. Through its investments, the Interior bill takes a whole-of-government approach to securing a safe and habitable world for future generations. I urge my colleagues to support.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate a great Mainer, Skeek Frazee. Skeek is retiring this month after 12 dedicated years of constituent service to the people of Maine's First District. I believe the great majority of us who work in this institution do so because we want to make life better for our neighbors. Skeek exemplifies that spirit. For over a decade, she has committed herself to some of the most challenging and sensitive cases that come through my office. She has fought for asylum seekers and refugees who have lived through horrors in their home countries. It is no exaggeration to say that new Mainers can build thriving new lives because of her help. She is known across the country for her work advocating for survivors of military sexual trauma bravely seeking benefits that they deserve from the VA. Beyond her considerable skill as a caseworker, she has also mentored countless interns; been an unfailingly generous, hilarious, and kind colleague; and become a treasured friend to so many of us in and outside of our office. Skeek, the people of Maine are infinitely better for having you as an advocate, a neighbor, and a friend. We will miss you dearly, and we wish you the very best in your next chapter.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus bill. I want to thank Chair DeLauro for her leadership and perseverance in bringing this omnibus to the finish line. It has been hard fought and I can confidently say that the American people will benefit from the investments made in this bill. Thank you, Ranking Member Joyce, for your collaboration and partnership through this process. And thank you, Ranking Member Granger. For fiscal year 2022, the Interior and Environment division provides $38 billion. This is an increase of almost $2 billion over last year's enacted level, which is a 5 percent increase. This bill makes long-overdue investments to care for our planet, fight the climate emergency, and meet our trust obligations to tribal nations. The bill prioritizes the protection and preservation of our landscapes and biodiversity, providing $14.4 billion for the Department of the Interior. It supports the administration's initiatives on climate change and affirms the role of science as the foundation for decision making. The bill provides necessary resources to deal with the threat of wildfires in the West, providing $5.5 billion for Wildland Fire Management and it invests in programs to improve the health of our forests and make them more resilient. The bill also includes major investments to clean up pollution and protect human health and the environment. It invests heavily in environmental justice, and I am proud that we are providing an unprecedented $100 million for these efforts, which is a nearly 700 percent increase. Additionally, the bill provides $3.3 billion for grant programs to make drinking water and sewer system improvements, remove lead from our taps, improve air quality, and strengthen our nation's recycling infrastructure. These grants have profound impacts on public health and the environment, but they also are economic drivers that create good paying American jobs. This bill supports the Arts and Humanities by providing the largest increase in twelve years to the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. And finally, this bill supports Native American families by investing in a strong and resilient Indian Country, including through education and health care programs. The investments in this bill will improve the lives of Americans and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Yanina Nickless, who is my invited guest for President Biden's 2022 State of the Union address. Yanina lives in my district, but her family is home in Ukraine fighting for their lives and for democracy amid Russian invasion. For the past week, Vladimir Putin has attempted to violently overthrow a sovereign democracy. But it's the countless examples of courage by Ukrainians like Yanina's family that has united the free world--rallying behind democracy and against autocracy--as the Ukraine people defend their homeland. As Yanina told me, ``Every day I wake up, I hope my parents wake up too. I'm staying strong for them and for my country and I believe in the USA and in the world. Thank you, Congresswoman Pingree and President Biden, for not being silent and for supporting a democracy in Ukraine. Ukrainians will never forget.'' It is truly an honor to have Yanina join me tonight as President Biden further unites our nation with his State of the Union address. Yanina and her family's heartbreaking story deserves to be heard on the global stage--joining a chorus of courage in the fight for freedom. Under President Biden's leadership, the U.S. stands firmly against Russia's unprovoked war.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the continuing resolution, which extends government funding at current levels until we pass a full appropriations package for the next fiscal year. It is my strong hope that this short-term extension will be the last one and that my colleagues across the aisle will acknowledge our solemn duty to exercise the power of the purse. A continuing resolution that lasts a full year does not serve the American people. As the chair of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, I can attest that the investments in the House interior bill would benefit all of our constituents, for those of us on both sides of the aisle. The bill makes long-overdue investments to protect human health, to fight the climate emergency, and to meet our trust obligations to Tribal nations. It provides critical resources to rebuild the Federal workforce so that these agencies can meet their missions and better serve the public. Failing to complete a full-year bill means no additional investments in the EPA to research and develop standards for harmful pollutants like PFAS, no further investments in domestic renewable energy, and insufficient resources for the healthcare of nearly 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Regardless of whether we pass a full-year bill, we can be certain that millions of Americans will be exposed to pollution, that healthcare costs will rise, and that our window for mitigating climate change will shrink. To ignore these threats is not in the Nation's best interest, nor any of ours. We were sent to Congress to improve the lives and livelihoods of our constituents. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, but I encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to finish the bill. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, November 15, 2021. Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Chair, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kay Granger, Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Patrick Leahy, Chair, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Richard Shelby, Vice Chair, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Chairwoman DeLauro, Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Granger, and Vice Chairman Shelby: Thank you for your past leadership in championing sustained, real growth in medical research funding. As Congress begins to draft a final fiscal year (FY) 2022 spending package, the 314 undersigned members of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research urge you to invest robustly in agencies and programs to improve the nation's health and well-being, including base funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as a key national priority and to finalize the appropriations process as expeditiously as possible. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research is a coalition of patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations, and industry, dedicated to enhancing the federal investment in biomedical, behavioral, social, and population-based research supported by the NIH. We greatly appreciate that both the House-passed (H.R. 4502) and Senate draft Labor-HHS-Education spending bills include strong increases for the NIH base in FY 2022, which would provide greater hope and opportunity for every patient awaiting a cure, every researcher working toward the next breakthrough, and every aspiring scientist considering a career in the lab. To maximize the potential of medical research to make rapid progress toward these goals, we urge you to provide at least $46.4 billion for NIH's base, as included in the House-passed bill. Continuing the momentum of the prior six years of bipartisan support for meaningful funding growth in the NIH's existing institutes and centers is key to ensuring that the nation can continue to accelerate the development of life-changing cures, pioneering treatments and diagnostics, and innovative preventive strategies. Additionally, we appreciate that both bills ensure that the new investment for the proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) supplements, rather than supplants, the NIH's base. While complementary, NIH and ARPA- H have distinct and important missions. As such, investment in ARPA-H must not come at the expense of the NIH base. Instead, to fully realize the benefits of the envisioned new entity while simultaneously allowing NIH to keep pace with discovery, an FY 2022 appropriation of at least $46.4 billion for NIH's base budget is needed. Prioritizing strong investments for foundational research discoveries funded by the NIH will be critical to the success of the visionary new research initiative, particularly as it builds its operational capacity in its inaugural year and beyond. Likewise, avoiding further delays in finalizing funding determinations will enable both ARPA-Hand NIH's planned and existing programs to be maximally efficient and strategic in their work in FY 2022. To that end, our organizations strongly support an approach to the final FY 2022 spending package that avoids additional CRs past December. Aside from the budget implications, CRs create inefficiencies and add uncertainty to a system that is already under stress with the continued reverberations of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We strongly urge you to work swiftly in securing bipartisan, bicameral agreement on topline discretionary spending allocations and to ensure any final budget agreement reflects a strong commitment to the nation's health. Once again, we commend you for continuing to recognize the incomparable value of the federal investment in the NIH, and we look forward to working with you to secure $46.4 billion for the agency's base in FY 2022, in addition to funding you provide for ARPA-H. Sincerely, 314 Signatories as of November 15, 2021 Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health, Academic Pediatric Association, Academy for Eating Disorders, Academy for Professionalism in Health Care, Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research, ACT for NIH, AdventHealth, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM), Alliance for Aging Research, ALS Association, Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's Impact Movement, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association for Anatomy, American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training, American Association of Immunologists, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, American Brain Coalition, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM), American College of Cardiology. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American College of Radiology, American College of Surgeons, American Council on Education, American Gastroenterological Association American Geriatrics Society, American Headache Society, American Institute for Cancer Research, American Institute for Medical & Biomedical Engineering, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Liver Foundation, American Lung Association, American Massage Therapy Association, American Pediatric Society, American Physiological Society, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society for Investigative Pathology. American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Nutrition, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), American Society for Virology, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Neuroradiology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, American Surgical Association, American Thoracic Society, American Urogynecologic Society, American Urological Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Associated Medical Schools of New York. Association for Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Chairs (AACBNC), Association for Clinical and Translational Science, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, Association for Psychological Science, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC), Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, Association of Academic Physiatrists. Association of American Cancer Institutes, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of American Universities, Association of Bioethics Program Directors, Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology, Association of Independent Research Institutes, Association of Medical and Graduate Departments of Biochemistry (AMGDB), Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, Association of Minority Health Professions Schools, Association of Pathology Chairs, Association of Population Centers, Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Association of University Professors of Neurology, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, Association of University Radiologists, Atrium Health, Autism Speaks. AVAC (AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Bassett Healthcare Network, Biophysical Society, BJC HealthCare, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Brown University, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, CDH International, Cedars-Sinai, Child Neurology Foundation, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, ChristianaCare. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Clinical Research Forum, Coalition for Clinical and Translational Science, Coalition for the Life Sciences, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Columbia University, COMBINEDBrain, Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Consortium of Social Science Associations, Cooley's Anemia Foundation, Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Cornell University, Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology, Council on Social Work Education, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, CURE Epilepsy, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Digestive Disease National Coalition, Dravet Syndrome Foundation, Drexel University, Duke Health, Duke University, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, East Carolina University, ECAN Esophageal Cancer Action Network, Emory University, Endocrine Society, Epilepsy Foundation, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Fight Colorectal Cancer, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Friends of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, GBSICIDP Foundation International, Global Health Technologies Coalition. Global Liver Institute, Harvard University, HealthyWomen, Henry Ford Health System, HIV Medicine Association, Hope For Stomach Cancer, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Indiana University, Indiana University Health, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Initiative to End Alzheimer's Disease Board of Visitors, International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), Interstitial Cystitis Association, JDRF, Jeffrey Modell Foundation, John & Amy Mewhiney Cancer Foundation, Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, Joslin Diabetes Center, KidneyCAN. Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Lewy Body Dementia Association, LGS Foundation, Lupus Foundation of America, Lymphatic Education & Research Network, Magee- Womens Research Institute and Foundation, March of Dimes, Mass General Brigham, Medical College of Wisconsin, Medical Image Perception Society, Medical Library Association, Memorial Sloan Kettering, MemorialCare Health System, Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, METAvivor, Michelson Center for Public Policy, Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michigan State University, Moffitt Cancer Center, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research. National Alopecia Areata Foundation, National Association for Biomedical Research, National Eczema Association, National Fragile X Foundation, National Kidney Foundation, National Pancreas Foundation, NephCure Kidney International, New York Medical College, New York University, North American Vascular Biology Organization, Northeastern University, Nutrition & Medical Foods Coalition, NYU Langone Health, Oakland University, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Patient Services, Inc., Pediatric Policy Council, Penn State University, Personalized Medicine Coalition. Population Association of America, Project Sleep, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Association, Research!America, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, RTI International, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Scleroderma Foundation, Sjogren's Foundation, Sleep Research Society, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Society for Neuroscience, Society for Pediatric Radiology, Society for Pediatric Research, Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Society for Women's Health Research, Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SAAAPM), Society of Behavioral Medicine, Society of General Internal Medicine, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Society of Skeletal Radiology, Society of Surgical Chairs, Society of Toxicology (SOT), Society of University Surgeons, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Stanford University, Stony Brook University, Syngap1 Foundation. Temple University, Texas A&M Health, The American College of Rheumatology, The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The Gerontological Society of America, The Jackson Laboratory, The Maya's Wings Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, The State University of New York, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina System, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Triage Cancer, TSC Alliance, Tulane University School of Medicine, UC San Diego, UCLA, UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. University of California, Irvine, University of Chicago Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, University of Colorado System, University of Connecticut, University of Hawai'i System, University of Illinois College of Medicine, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, University of Rochester, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California, University of Washington, US Hereditary Angioedema Association (HAEA). USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, UVA Health, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington State University, Washington University in St. Louis, West Virginia University, Yale University.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize and remember Army veteran, retired police lieutenant, and social justice advocate, Thomas Hobart Keller. He lived a life of service with a commitment to advocacy, and his indefatigable focus on fairness, kindness, and equality improved the lives of so many of my constituents. Tom loved the ocean, residing at various times in Maine, Nova Scotia, and the Florida Keys. He was a foodie and a cook. He was fiercely devoted to his family and close friends. He was a Veteran for Peace. He embraced recovery to craft a life he described as ``second to none.'' And he was a pioneering law enforcement leader in Maine's movement to end violence against women. Tom both challenged and changed policing practices to better protect and support survivors. In his profession and as a volunteer and board member at the local women's shelter, he was compassionate, knowledgeable, and influential. Tom knew that one's judgement did not define others so much as it defined oneself. To that end, he was accepting and open hearted. He faced death as he had lived--with dignity, grace, and good humor. Tom Keller served his country and his community. He changed lives, and I am grateful for the legacy he left in my state and beyond.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor my constituent, Gerald E. Talbot, who is celebrating his 90th birthday this year and who I wish to recognize for his instrumental role in advancing civil and human rights in Maine and across the nation. After serving in the U.S. Army, Gerry Talbot's activism was sparked when he participated in voter registration drives and was among only a handful of Mainers at the historic 1963 March on Washington, after which he became the founding president of the Portland, Maine, chapter of the NAACP. In that role, he helped pass the Maine Fair Housing Bill and the Maine Human Rights Act. As the state's first African American legislator, Gerry fought for a state holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr; and championed issues not traditionally addressed at the time, ranging from gun control and protections for migrant workers to fair housing and tribal sovereignty. In 1977, he sponsored Maine's first gay rights legislation. Throughout his life, Gerry Talbot has worked to educate people about the Black experience. As an avid collector of books, posters, photographs, and other artifacts, as well as personal papers and records, he has helped document Black history in Maine and throughout the country. In 2006, he co-authored Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of its People. A sought-after speaker, Gerry generously shared access to his historical memorabilia wherever he went, and in order to inform generations to come, he donated it to the African American Collection of the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity at the University of Southern Maine. In Maine, public service and a commitment to others is the backbone of our communities, and Gerry Talbot is a shining example of these important values and commitments. Schools and parks have been named in his honor, and honorary degrees have been awarded. Today I am privileged to recognize his (or Gerald E. Talbot's) contributions to my state by entering his story into the official record of our great nation.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Virginia Oliver, who at 101 years old is Maine's, and perhaps the world's, oldest lobster harvester. Known as Ginny to her friends, and affectionately called ``The Lobster Lady'' by us at home, Mrs. Oliver has been hauling traps off and on since the age of seven, a decade before World War II and at a time when few women were working on the water. When asked recently how much longer she'll continue lobstering, she shared that she has no plans to stop. Three long days a week, May through November, Mrs. Oliver and her son Max tend their traps off Rockland, working one of the most hazardous jobs in the country. She pilots the boat named after her, cleans and fills bait bags, and measures and bands lobsters. In Maine we take great pride in our strong work ethic, and Virginia Oliver, The Lobster Lady, is a bright example of why that pride is well-placed. I am honored to recognize this Mainer's contribution to our heritage lobster industry.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. I am so grateful for the leadership of Chair DeLauro, who I know has worked tirelessly on this critical legislation, and for the staff, who I know haven't slept much lately. This bill maintains current government services so that the important work funded through the Interior bill, such as preserving our natural and cultural resources and upholding our responsibilities to Native Americans and Alaska Natives, can continue. I am pleased that this bill also contains supplemental funding to provide desperately needed relief from the devastation caused by climate change, extreme weather events, and catastrophic wildland fire. This bill provides $1.8 billion to agencies in the Interior bill for expenses related to the consequences of wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters that have occurred since 2019. Western States, as we all know, are battling more and more historic high-intensity wildfires, so I am especially pleased that the bill includes $230 million for hazardous fuels activities and $220 million for post-wildfire restoration efforts at the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service. Such activities are essential to watershed protection, critical habitat, and burned area recovery in our Nation's forests. These investments are essential to meet these current needs in such a critical time. Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to support this bill.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Within the Department of the Interior, the bill invests $4 billion in Indian Affairs programs, including an additional $180 million to address climate change impacts. For Indian Health Services, the bill provides an additional $1.9 billion toward meeting Federal treaty and trust obligations for healthcare. The investments in this bill would improve the lives of Americans, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding the time. I thank her and Ranking Member Granger for their leadership on this committee. I rise to support the fiscal year 2022 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. I also want to thank Ranking Member Joyce for his collaboration and partnership through this process. It is truly a privilege and a pleasure to work with him. I want to thank the hardworking committee staff, Rita Culp, who is our clerk; Jocelyn Hunn; Janet Erickson; Kusai Merchant; Tyler Coe; Marcel Caldwell; and also my personal staff, Evan Johnston, Lisa Pahel, and Katie Bergh. We couldn't do it without all of their hard work. For fiscal year 2022, the subcommittee is recommending a total of $43.4 billion for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. This is an increase of $7.3 billion over last year's enacted level, which is a 20 percent increase. I am proud this bill makes long-overdue investments to care for our planet, to fight climate emergency, and to meet our trust obligations to Tribal nations. The bill prioritizes the protection and preservation of our landscapes and biodiversity, providing $15.6 billion for the Department of the Interior. It supports the administration's initiatives on climate change, such as the Civilian Climate Corps, and affirms the role of science as the foundation for decisionmaking. It funds a national initiative to reclaim abandoned mines and cap orphan oil and gas wells, and it makes investments in renewable energy development, including offshore wind. Climate change is causing more extreme weather events and drought conditions, as well as worsening existing problems such as the spread of invasive species. These factors are all contributing to the increasing threat of high-intensity wildfires in the West. The Interior bill not only provides $5.7 billion for wildland fire management but it also invests in programs to improve the health of our forests and make them more resilient. The bill also includes major investments to clean up pollution and protect human health and the environment. The bill provides $11.4 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, the highest level in the Agency's history. Across the country, Superfund cleanups are delayed because of the lack of funding. This bill boosts Superfund spending by 27 percent and will accelerate the pace of cleanup of toxic chemicals from the country's most contaminated sites. The bill adopts a whole-of-government approach to address environmental justice and invests an unprecedented $248 million in these efforts. Additionally, the bill provides $4 billion for grant programs to make drinking water and sewer system improvements, remove lead from our taps, improve air quality, and strengthen our Nation's recycling infrastructure. These grants have profound impacts on public health and the environment, but they are also economic drivers that create good-paying American jobs. Following our work in the CARES and the American Recovery Plan Acts, this bill supports the arts and humanities by providing $201 million for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The cultural sector has been particularly devastated by COVID-19, and this funding will help to support relief and recovery for community organizations across the country. Finally, this bill supports Native American families by investing in a strong and resilient Indian Country, including through education and healthcare programs.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chair of the full Appropriations Committee, who has done an incredible job pulling all of these challenging issues together and putting this funding bill on the floor today. The activities of January 6 were terrifying, whether you were sitting here in this Chamber or whether you were watching from anywhere around this country or around the world, viewing a violent assault on our democracy. Thanks to the work of the Capitol Police and others in law enforcement, the loss of lives was so much less than they could have been. But as we all know, very tragically there were losses of life in our Capitol Police. Our police were brutally beaten, and we could watch it all happen. That is why I rise today in support of this emergency security supplemental appropriations bill. The bill is the product of months of careful and deliberate analysis of the resource needs to enhance the security at the Capitol. I am privileged to be the chair of the Appropriations Committee's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. I strongly support the funding this bill would provide to the National Park Service. Large-scale special events and demonstrations are a common occurrence in the District of Columbia, and they often move from the National Mall to the Capitol complex. U.S. Park Police and Capitol Police work closely to share information and law enforcement resources to handle these events. The funds provided in this bill would be used to backfill the Park Service's resources that were unexpectedly depleted during the January 6 attack and to prepare the agency for possible future threats. I believe that it is critical that Congress provide sufficient resources to meet the security challenges, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and the ranking member, who have shown a true willingness to address the impact climate change has had on our oceans; and to Congresswoman Bonamici and Congressman Young for their leadership on ocean and climate issues. I rise today in support of the gentlewoman's bill, H.R. 1447, the Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act, a bipartisan bill that would expand scientific research and monitoring to improve our understanding of ocean acidification. Our oceans absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide each year. That process is critical for regulating the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, but this comes at a high cost for oceans and dependent marine life. Coastal communities produce about 40 percent of our Nation's total jobs and 45 percent of our gross domestic product. Given those significant numbers, the financial implications will ripple across all American communities if this problem continues to intensify. We are already experiencing these impacts in my home State of Maine. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99 percent of the world's oceans, and it is particularly susceptible to the effects of ocean acidification. As you know, Mr. Speaker, my State is renowned for its lobster and shellfish, so you can imagine we take this threat seriously. Bill Mook, an oyster farmer on Maine's Damariscotta River, has explained to me how he has adjusted his operations to mitigate for ocean acidification. Bill and so many growers are worried about how future oyster production will be affected when the problem outpaces the adaptations that can be made. I support the COAST Research Act because it would strengthen investments in ocean acidification research and monitoring, increase our understanding of the socioeconomic effects of ocean acidification, and more. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1447. It is critical that we act to protect our oceans and our coastal communities so they are here for future generations.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember an extraordinary Maine woman, Laura Cole. Laura lived her life purposefully, offering help and engendering hope and happiness as a partner, parent, volunteer, friend, business owner, and citizen of Maine. She understood the power of one person's voice and helping hand, and her spirit was contagious. Laura exemplified the words of Edward Hale, ``I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.'' It seems there was very little that Laura did not do, and she received several awards for her efforts, including the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2012, the Responder of the Year Award in 2013, and the New Maine Business of the Year for York County, Maine, in 2019. She spearheaded her community's Operation Santa program for kids and the annual Lebanon Community Festival. In the midst of this winter that has been darkened by a pandemic, she created two acres of holiday lights for the community to enjoy from their cars and drop off canned food to donate to local food pantries. And she used proceeds from her event photography business to support End 68 Hours of Hunger and buy lunches to support local restaurants and donate to first responders. Not only did Laura devote her life to acts of kindness and caring, her final gifts were organ and tissue donations, providing lifesaving help and health to over a dozen people. In her honor, the family has established Laura's Legacy of Love as a living memorial project with a simple mission--to promote kindness by paying it forward in her name. I am proud to have represented Laura Cole in the U.S. Congress--an indefatigable young woman who loved Maine and set an extraordinary example for us all.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, today we honor Stephen M. Culpovich, who is retiring after serving Maine communities as a Postmaster for three decades. Steve has dedicated his career to public service, serving in the U.S. Air Force before working twenty-two years as a Postmaster in Round Pond, then eight years in Rockport. As a public servant, Steve continuously went above and beyond, greeting each customer with a smile and good cheer. Steve's retirement today is all the more remarkable because he originally intended to retire in March 2020. But as the world fell into chaos due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve made the courageous decision to stay on the job. Even though it meant working long days, a daily two-hour round-trip commute, and risking his safety, Steve refused to abandon his community during the most uncertain days of the pandemic. It is because of people like Steve that Maine has a reputation for being ``the way life should be.'' Our state is a much better place because of his vital work and his ability to form deep and trusting relationships with the people of Midcoast Maine. As he moves onto his next adventure, I wish him all the best.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize a visionary social justice advocate and leader in my state who is retiring after several decades of working to improve the lives of his fellow citizens. William (``Bill'') Floyd trained as a social worker, held leadership roles in state government, and worked for over three decades to develop housing and provide services for individuals with disabilities, people with very low income, and those experiencing homelessness. His advocacy on behalf of marginalized Mainers is legendary, and in 2015, Bill received the Joseph Brannigan Community Excellence Award in recognition of his work to address the housing and support needs of individuals with mental illness. His commitment to volunteerism is exemplified by leading and serving on myriad boards, including Mobius, Inc., the Maine Association of Nonprofits, the Northern New England Housing Investment Fund, and the Community Development Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of the Genesis Fund in 2007, he also served six years on their Board of Directors. The Genesis Fund, a Certified Community Development Financial Institution, provides innovative financing to create affordable housing and community facilities for underserved people and communities. Under Bill Floyd's leadership, both their assets and loan portfolio have grown by over 600 percent, and they have extended their reach by providing technical assistance to nonprofit organizations across Maine seeking state, federal, and private funding opportunities. Bill Floyd's leadership at the Genesis Fund has resulted in resources for some of Maine's most vulnerable citizens, including single parents and their children, low-income working families, the elderly, homeless individuals and families, and people with disabilities. Bill knows that the impact of affordable housing on individuals and families is profound and leads to better health, improved student performance, better job opportunities, and increased financial stability and personal security. Further, it transforms entire communities. Bill Floyd has spent his professional life ensuring that no one in our society be written off. His public service to struggling individuals, families, and communities across Maine has left a legacy, and for that I thank him wholeheartedly and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court ruled, 7-2, that women have the right to make their own healthcare decisions and to legally access abortion care. Forty-seven years later, our country has seen significant social and economic progress since Roe v. Wade. Seventy-three percent of Americans support keeping Roe v. Wade the law of the land. They agree we can't go back. And yet, nearly 50 years after Roe became settled law, abortion is still under attack by extreme politicians who believe the government should dictate whether and when to have a child. From 2011 to 2018, States across our country enacted 424 separate restrictions on abortion. In 2016, Donald Trump campaigned on a promise of appointing Justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade, and he has appointed more than one-quarter of all active judges to date. His administration has pushed a domestic gag rule to prohibit doctors from telling women about their legal right to access abortion and slashed access to family planning funding in the process. As we honor the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we must expand abortion access for women across the country and stand up to the senseless attacks on women's health.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Scott for yielding and also his leadership on the bill we are considering this afternoon, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. Maine is the oldest State in the union by median age, and older Mainers are an important part of our workforce. As we experience a tight labor market with low unemployment, it is natural to think that this workforce would have more opportunities available to them, and yet we often hear about constituents who struggle to find and keep work that supports themselves and their families. When age discrimination is a factor, these workers deserve fair treatment under the law. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the underlying bill and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' I am also proud to offer this important amendment with my colleague, Congressman Davis, that addresses the connection between age and gender discrimination. Countless studies have shown that women are hired less and paid less in many fields. Compounded by the real effects of age discrimination, that means older women are disproportionately impacted by bias in the workplace. The National Bureau of Economic Research backs this up. In a 2015 field experiment, resumes from older women got substantially fewer call backs from employers than those from older men, younger men, and younger women. Our amendment would direct the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect data on the disproportionate impact of age discrimination on older women and make recommendations for how to address that impact. Women are deeply, materially harmed by inequities in our economy. On average, they take home lower salaries, are able to save less for retirement, and receive less in Social Security benefits. In tandem with age discrimination, all this means that we are leaving older women vulnerable. Addressing this intersection is about economic security, making sure that older women have the chance to work in fair environments for equitable pay. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Chair, consumers have the right to know what harmful chemicals are in their homes, and they should have the ability to choose products that keep their families and their environment safe. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank Chairman Pallone and Congresswoman Dingell for their leadership on PFAS issues, and I thank Congresswoman Spanberger, who is also a sponsor of this amendment with me. I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019. This bipartisan bill would take much-needed and long- overdue action on these forever harmful chemicals. These pervasive and dangerous chemicals pose serious risks to both human health and to our environment, and the delay in taking action on them has been inexcusable. They are known hormone disruptors, and studies link exposure to them to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and other health problems. PFAS chemicals are concentrated in human and animal blood and tissue and can remain there for years. It is estimated that 99 percent of Americans have PFAS in their blood. In my home State of Maine, PFAS was first discovered from the groundwater at former military installations from firefighting foam, but PFAS has also been found in our public water supplies, soil, animal products, and household products like cookware and carpets. A 2015 review by the Environmental Working Group showed the majority of PFAS in homes comes from its presence in carpets and textiles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control named carpet as the number one source of PFAS exposure for infants and toddlers, who, as you can imagine, spend a lot of time playing, lying, and crawling on carpets. My amendment would expand the Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice label to additional household products, including carpet, rugs, clothing, or upholstered furniture certified not to contain PFAS. This change would prompt manufacturers to develop safer alternatives and help consumers find and buy healthier products for their homes. I urge my colleagues to join me in taking action for the health of our communities and the environment and vote ``yes'' on my amendment. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute of my time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko).

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Scanlon for granting me the time and Chairman Pallone and particularly Congresswoman Dingell for their leadership on PFAS issues. I rise today in support of H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019. This bipartisan bill will take much-needed and long-overdue action on these harmful forever chemicals. These pervasive and dangerous chemicals pose serious risks to both human health and to our environment, and the delay in taking action on them has been inexcusable. They are known hormone disruptors, and studies link the exposure to them to kidney and testicular cancer, to thyroid disease and other health problems. PFAS chemicals are concentrated in human and animal blood and tissue, and they can remain there for years. It is estimated that 99 percent of all Americans have PFAS in their blood. In my home State of Maine, PFAS was first discovered in the groundwater at a former military installation due to the use of fire foam containing PFAS. But PFAS contamination has been found in our public water supply, in soil, in agriculture, and in animal products. Once in the environment, PFAS will never break down. That is why they are called forever chemicals, so cleanup is essential to protect people in our environment. Companies and regulators have known about the risks of products like Teflon, Scotchgard, and, yes, Gore-Tex for decades but have failed to take action to protect or inform the American people. The Department of Defense has repeatedly refused to clean up PFAS contamination at military sites across the Nation. Because the Environmental Protection Agency has dragged its feet, we have no enforceable standards for PFAS levels in our drinking water, leaving communities without the information or the funding to protect our citizens, and there has been no action to fund cleanup because there was no requirement to clean up these dangerous chemicals. It is truly time to act. Some of the things that the PFAS Action Act will do: It will finally designate PFAS as a hazardous chemical, thereby ensuring PFAS contamination is cleaned up and polluters pay for their actions; It will require the EPA to develop national drinking water regulations to test and monitor levels of PFAS in our public drinking supplies; and It will add two types of forever chemicals to the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory so we will finally know who is releasing them into our water, soil, and air, and we can hold them accountable. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in taking action for the health of our communities and our environment and to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the final bill.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding. I thank Chairman Grijalva for his work on this committee, and I thank the ranking member even though we don't seem to agree on too much about this bill. I rise today in support of H.R. 729, which includes my bipartisan bill to protect America's working waterfronts at a time when environmental pressures and rapid development threaten their future. More than 30,000 Mainers rely on marine-related industries for their livelihoods. Yet out of 5,000 miles of coastline, just 20 miles of workable waterfront remain in our State. Coastal communities across the country are feeling that same squeeze. Further reducing our usable coastline will adversely impact everything from aquaculture and boatbuilding to coastal tourism and commercial fishing. My bill will help to reverse this disturbing nationwide trend of shrinking waterfronts. It will protect jobs and preserve the character of coastal communities. It establishes a working waterfronts grant program and a 5-year loan fund pilot program for waterfront preservation. It sets up a task force within the Department of Commerce to identify and prioritize critical needs for the Nation's working waterfronts. Through the task force, the bill will also help communities identify and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. At a time when 42 percent of Americans live in coastal communities, this task force is not only a vital planning measure for today, it will support the generations who will follow us. For 8 years, House leadership on the other side stalled critical initiatives like this one to address the climate crisis. The scope and severity of this crisis require comprehensive action. Though my bill addresses just one small piece, it will make all the difference for communities in my State and across the country. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of working waterfronts and vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I was not present for roll call vote 568, the Motion to Table on H. Res. 647, which took place on October 21, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''.