Scott Peters

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the loss of one of San Diego's most accomplished native sons and one of our most devoted citizens. On May 27, Bill Walton passed away from colon cancer at just 71 years of age. Most people know Bill Walton as a successful basketball player, and that he certainly was. After winning titles at Helix High, he enrolled at UCLA where he was a three-time college player of the year, and he led the Bruins to two national championships in 3 years. In the NBA, despite a series of injuries, he won titles with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics, and he had an all-around game. His college coach, the great John Wooden, said: ``Walton is the type of player who wouldn't have to score at all, yet he'll dominate the game.'' Magic Johnson called Bill ``one of the smartest basketball players to ever live.'' Most count Bill as one of the two greatest college players ever, along with Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bill was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and included in ESPN's ranking of the 50 greatest basketball players of all time. Bill retired from basketball almost 40 years ago, so his most famous accomplishments, those on the basketball court, have been history for a long time now. However, his generosity, his gratitude, and his determination, which set an example for me and so many, were present to the very end, and we will miss those qualities very much at home. I understand when he was young, Bill may have been a bit cranky. Well, I never knew that Bill Walton. By the time I met him, he wanted to make everyone happy. He wanted to volunteer. He wanted to help. He wanted to boost San Diego. Bill was a champion for the poor and for addressing homelessness through his work with the Lucky Duck Foundation, Champions for Health, Father Joe's Villages, and Feeding San Diego. He supported the Brad Fowler Memorial Scholarship, which used sports to help teens overcome substance abuse. He helped the Challenged Athletes Foundation equip disabled people to participate in sports. He helped San Diego State become a national basketball power. He cared deeply about the environment and joined the activists and organizations working to protect San Diego's natural resources. He never just raised money, although he was willing to do that. He was there personally to thank, to encourage, to congratulate, always with a big smile and never intending to be the center of attention, but inevitably always the center of attention. Bill also faced hard times. The injuries he had suffered in sports led to such intolerable pain that Bill actually considered ending his own life. Fortunately, medical innovations in spine surgery helped him have close to a normal life, though he often brought his own tall chair with him so he could have a more comfortable spot for his 7-foot frame to sit. Given the physical pain he suffered, I guess it is a little ironic that when you encountered Bill, what you noticed was his joy. You could feel that joy when he did a basketball broadcast or when he talked about the Grateful Dead or when he told basketball stories about Coach Wooden or about Larry Bird. Thankfully, he found joy in riding his bicycle. When I rode the Bike the Bay with him once, he told me that that was really important to him. Even though this amazingly accomplished world- class competitor was notoriously slower on a bike than his friends, he would regularly proclaim himself the luckiest man in the world. Just being healthy enough to ride was the win. Mr. Speaker, I offer condolences to Bill's wife, Lori; to his sons; Adam, Nate, Luke, and Chris; and his grandchildren; Olivia, Avery Rose, and Chris. Bill Walton was a great San Diegan and a great American, and while we will miss him so much, he will live on through the thousands he served as a philanthropist, as a citizen, and as an example.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chair, VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and Shallow Subsidy service provides low-income veterans direct assistance to prevent the imminent loss of a veteran's home or to identify a new, more suitable housing situation for them and their families. Funding for this program goes to every community across the country, and in fiscal year 2024 alone, San Diego organizations received over $17 million to provide these services. My bipartisan amendment recognizes the important role this program plays in preventing housing insecure veterans from falling into homelessness. It is essential that we preserve this program and we show strong support for this program for those who put on the uniform in defense of our country. Keeping these veterans in their homes not only preserves their safety and security, it also preserves their dignity. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chair, all veterans deserve a roof over their heads. Far too many vets in San Diego remain homeless. We have to do more to ensure our veterans and their families have access to quality, affordable housing. The Housing and Urban Development-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing, known as HUD-VASH program, is a critical tool to address this issue. Earlier this year, local news in San Diego reported that nearly 35 percent of HUD-VASH vouchers, which San Diego received, went unused. That is not acceptable. We have to do everything we can to ensure veterans are receiving this assistance. This bipartisan amendment simply encourages local VA systems and public housing authorities to work together to streamline the voucher application process for HUD-VASH vouchers to reduce barriers for veterans seeking housing assistance. VA San Diego is now taking the initiative by partnering with local housing authorities to better align voucher applications across public housing authority jurisdiction. This partnership provides a critical pathway to connect veterans to housing. The HUD-VASH program is critical for addressing veteran homelessness in San Diego and throughout the country, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this commonsense amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court recently circulated guidelines to its employees that cautioned against anything `` . . . that might signal a political display.'' Those guidelines for employees are apparently lost on some of the Justices themselves, who fly upside-down American flags, display symbols of insurrection and Christian nationalism, and take gifts from political operatives. Supreme Court Justices should set the highest standard and avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest. Mr. Speaker, I am increasingly concerned about attacks on the American system of justice from the inside and out. As an attorney, I am bound by a code of ethics that states: ``A lawyer should demonstrate respect for the legal system and for those who serve it, including judges, other lawyers, and public officials,'' which is why it is so shocking to see colleagues who have practiced law standing outside of the trial of the former President in an attempt to undermine those proceedings as they are going on. They should know better, and they do know better, but loyalty to Donald Trump is apparently the only loyalty some attorneys serving in elected office adhere to these days. As Members of the House and members of the bar, we must do better.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 153.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, today marks Teacher Appreciation Day, which is a chance to honor the educators who have guided us, inspired us, showed us kindness, and recognized our potential, and I want to thank just one of many today. Anyone who knows me knows I am a stickler for clear, concise writing, and I credit my appreciation for a good turn of phrase to Yvonne Vish, my ninth grade English teacher at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois. She must have spent hours going over our papers to correct every wrong word, dangling participle, and misplaced modifier. She did so much to help me become an effective communicator, a skill that has helped me my whole life. I thank Miss Vish for her patience and dedication, both of which unquestionably made a difference for me and for many others.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I rise to mark the unfortunate designation today of the Tijuana River as one of America's most endangered rivers. While it gives me no pride that the Tijuana River is receiving this distinction, it will help bring critical attention to this environmental catastrophe and public health threat. The sewage crisis has plagued the river for far too long, harming the environment, public health, tourism, our national security, and residents' quality of life. We are finally beginning to turn the page on this crisis, thanks to advocacy efforts like this, and soon the story of the Tijuana River will, I hope, be one of triumph and not tragedy. Last month, we celebrated a victory when we secured $156 million for the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission's construction budget. This money will go toward fixing and upgrading the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. It keeps us on track to begin work this year, but there is still a lot more to be done. We will need to secure additional funding over the next few years to ensure this project is completed without delay and at the fully intended capacity. I will continue working with my colleagues here in Congress to end this crisis so that, one day, the Tijuana River earns the distinction of being an environmental jewel and not an environmental disaster.

Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Candace Carroll, a longtime San Diego attorney, constituent, and friend. To say Candace was a trailblazer would be an understatement. I don't know how many women entered the legal profession in 1974, the year Candace graduated from Duke Law School. I do know that, just 4 years earlier, there were only 13,000 women lawyers in the entire United States. Today, there are more than half a million. Candace said of Duke Law: It was the first place I had ever been where, if you were a fairly loud, smart, and opinionated woman who put your hand up all the time, you were welcomed. Indeed, Candace was never one to stay silent. Her accomplishments reflect that. Her impressive legal career included a clerkship with the D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, 7 years as an appellate attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, and she practiced with Sullivan Hill Rez & Engel in San Diego for 30 years. A mother of three, she advocated for women attorneys who were struggling to juggle a work-life balance, and she was also a champion for underserved communities, serving on the boards of San Diego Volunteer Lawyers, the national and local ACLU, and the San Diego chapter of the International Rescue Committee. She cared about the next generation of attorneys. She taught seminars at Duke Law and the University of San Diego School of Law, where she supervised a Ninth Circuit legal clinic. She and her husband, Len, established fellowships at Duke to aid students working in nonpaid public interest positions during law school. Candace also loved the arts. She served on the board of directors of the San Diego Opera and was credited with helping save the organization from being forced to shut down. Madam Speaker, if everything I have mentioned doesn't reflect someone who has embraced a life of giving back, Candace also served as President of the San Diego County Bar Association and the California Women Lawyers, and chaired Senator Barbara Boxer's San Diego-area advisory committee for Federal judge and U.S. attorney nominations. Sadly, Candace died from leukemia at her home in San Diego on January 24 with her husband, Len, and her sons, Daniel, Matthew, and David by her side. She was an inspiration to those who were lucky enough to know her friendship, compassion, and commitment to service firsthand, and San Diego is a better place because of her. Designation of Tijuana River as One of America's Most Endangered Rivers

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose H.R. 1023 which would not only repeal the EPA's commonsense fee on methane pollution but would also eliminate over $1 billion of financial and technical assistance for small- and medium-sized oil and gas producers to reduce their methane emissions. The bill also repeals tens of billions of dollars for local communities to make smart investments in the clean energy technologies of the future. It is so frustrating that during so-called energy week, House Republicans are not focusing on how we can lower consumers costs, combat the climate crisis, or protect public health. Instead, we are taking time to vote on whether strong regulations on methane emissions are even necessary or if we should invest in American energy at all, regardless of whether it is cleaner oil and gas or accessible renewable energy. Addressing methane emissions, particularly fugitive methane emissions, is one of the most important steps we can take to combat the climate crisis, and there is across-the-board recognition that we need to do more to get methane emissions under control. Additionally, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will expand access to financing for clean energy projects across the country, helping American families and businesses create good-paying jobs, reduce pollution, and lower costs. Last Congress, House Democrats were proud to advance legislation that reduces methane emissions from the oil and natural gas industry, incentivizes the adoption of clean energy technologies, and delivers significant economic and public health benefits. We can't let the House Republicans drag us into the past. I understand that no program is perfect, so let's talk about how to make it better. Be that as it may, instead of coming up with ways to make these programs better, Republicans cannot help but think of ways to make them worse or eliminate them entirely. For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to the committee. If the House rules had permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. That amendment would have ensured that this bill would not have gone into effect until the Secretary of Energy had determined that it would not increase energy prices. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record the text of this amendment.

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

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, the majority is once again choosing to engage in a partisan, unproductive, and unserious messaging exercise that they have dubbed energy week. In 2023, the United States produced more oil and gas than any other country ever and exported unprecedented amounts of liquefied natural gas to our allies across the world. Simultaneously, 2023 was a record year for combined utility-scale solar, wind, and energy storage installations across the country. These clean energy projects can be found in nearly all congressional districts in all 50 States. My friends on the other side of the aisle claim to be champions of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, but they are completely silent about these massive accomplishments that are not only driving significant investments to areas across the country but are producing cheap, clean, American energy. This is probably because so many of these wins were made possible by the historic bills House Democrats passed last Congress, like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. I was proud to include in those bills several of my priorities, including combating methane emissions and encouraging the development of transmission infrastructure by ensuring the Federal Government has the tools it needs to step in and stop excessive permitting delays. However, the laws we passed last Congress will not be enough. We are facing extraordinary growth in energy demand from electric vehicles, AI, data centers, and the reshoring of domestic manufacturing, again thanks to the efforts and leadership of President Biden and his administration. However, we are lagging far behind China, which is dwarfing us in manufacturing, construction of clean energy resources, and the extraction and refining of critical minerals like nickel and cobalt. We need an unprecedented level of clean energy development and deployment to meet our climate goals and avoid catastrophe. If the majority is interested in talking about a long-term energy strategy to maintain affordability and reliability, we need to finally talk about transmission and the grid. We also need to work on speed. We will still fail if we let all the money we have set aside sit in the bank by making good energy projects wait years for permits to come through and further delays if bad actors and nervous neighbors take them to court again and again. It is extremely frustrating that during energy week, we are actually taking the time to vote on whether strong regulations on methane emissions are even necessary or whether oil and gas producers should cover the cost of unplugged or abandoned wells. Are you kidding me? Of course we need to regulate methane, and of course oil and gas companies should pay to clean up for the messes that they made. How can Republicans say they support clean American energy while simultaneously fighting against commonsense regulations on methane and not even engaging on how to expand and upgrade the grid? The bills we are considering this week take us farther away from the solutions to the problems we are facing, and I am proud to oppose every single one of them. Our country prides itself on accomplishing big things together, whether it is winning world wars, constructing an interstate highway system, or discovering the next big medical breakthrough. We should be voting on my FASTER Act, so transmission lines aren't stuck jumping between local, State, and Federal agencies for the permits they need. We need to thoughtfully streamline the judicial review process for all energy projects so that developers, agencies, and petitioners aren't in limbo for years. We need certainty, not an unreliable and inefficient review process. Everything I have said about that today could and should be bipartisan. Mr. Speaker, I will say to my Republican colleagues that we should look beyond just oil and gas and truly invest in an all-of-the-above energy strategy that looks to the future instead of clinging onto the past.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I rise once again to address what could very well be one of the greatest ongoing environmental disasters in the United States. I am referring to the billions of gallons of raw sewage, industrial waste, and other pollutants that flow down the Tijuana River and into San Diego's coastal waters. These flows sicken our communities, shutter our local businesses, harm our tourism industry, endanger wildlife, and threaten our servicemembers and Border Patrol agents stationed in San Diego. Just last month, researchers at San Diego State University released a report that shows that this pollution also poses a massive public health threat. The studies they cite reveal extremely troubling findings, like the fact that cancer-causing chemicals banned in the United States decades ago, including DDT and PCBs, have been found in the soil. Waterborne contaminants include viruses like SARS-CoV-2, salmonella, listeria, hep B and C, and pathogens carrying antibiotic-resistant genes. The report cites a recent study of bottlenose dolphins that had become stranded and died in San Diego waters. The dolphins died from sepsis caused by water contaminated by feces. This is the same water our troops train in and our kids swim and surf in. Avoiding the water alone will not make you safe. Air quality monitors that were recently installed in the region have confirmed what residents have known for years, that the air itself is also polluted. Sewage that washes up on land dries, sending dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide into the air around people's homes. The solution is simple. The United States owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant on our side of the border that has not been maintained. It is in desperate need of repair and expansion to handle the flows. President Biden included $310 million in his supplemental funding request that would make those repairs and upgrades possible. This is a small price to pay for the health of our community, our brave servicemembers, and our environment. Many of the communities hit hardest by this pollution are low-income communities of color. I can't help but think if this was happening somewhere that wasn't 3,000 miles from here, like the Chesapeake Bay or even the Great Lakes, it would have been taken care of long ago. We know that Mexico must also do its part. Much of their infrastructure has also fallen into disrepair. The good news is that Mexico is bound by a treaty we signed in San Diego in 2022 to spend nearly $150 million to fix their treatment plant. Mexico, to its credit, has made great strides in the last year. They have repaired and replaced key infrastructure, like sewage pipes that redirect the contaminated water, and they have broken ground on a new wastewater treatment plant. Madam Speaker, this is a public health, business, and national security disaster. The more we delay in addressing cross-border pollution, the more costly and difficult it will be to fix. I urge my colleagues to support this funding and ask that congressional leadership and appropriators include this funding in any upcoming spending package.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address an issue that may not be on the top of the agenda for most politicians in Washington but could very well be the greatest ongoing environmental disaster in the United States today. I am referring to the billions of gallons of raw wastewater sewage, industrial waste, and other pollutants that flow from Mexico down the Tijuana River into San Diego and onto our beaches. Those flows sicken our communities, they shutter our local businesses, they harm our tourism industry, and they threaten our servicemembers and Border Patrol agents stationed in San Diego. The solution is simple. The United States owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant on our side of the border that in the past decades has not been maintained and is in desperate need of repair and expansion to handle the flows. President Biden included $310 million in his supplemental funding request that would make those repairs and upgrades possible. It is not a small price, but is there any more worthy investment than in the health of our constituents? Air quality monitors that were recently installed in the region have confirmed what residents have felt for years--that unhealthy levels of pollution are present not only in the ocean, but sewage that washes up on land dries up and is sending dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide into the air around people's homes. Many of the communities hit hardest by this are low income and communities of color. I can't help but think that if this was happening somewhere that wasn't 3,000 miles from here like the Chesapeake Bay or even the Great Lakes, it would already have been taken care of. The public health disaster alone should be enough to force action. The harm it causes our local small businesses alone should be enough to force action. But in addition to all of that, the cross-border pollution poses a grave national security threat. Coronado, which is in my district, is home to the Naval Special Warfare Command where Navy SEALs train in waters polluted with human feces. I am proud to represent these brave warfighters, but I am ashamed that we have not done more to protect their health. Everyone expects this training to be tough and uncomfortable, but it should not pose potential long-term health problems. Some former SEALs who now serve in Congress--all Republicans, by the way--have told me about the disgusting waters they had to train in, and I am thankful to have their support to get this funding. Now, we know that Mexico must also do its part, and much of their infrastructure has also fallen into disrepair. The good news is that Mexico is bound by a treaty we signed in San Diego in 2022 to spend nearly $150 million to fix their pipes and their treatment plant. That is on top of the $2 million plus that Mexico pays the United States annually to treat these contaminated waters. Mexico, to its credit, has made great strides in the last year on their side of the border. They have repaired and replaced key infrastructure like sewage pipes that redirect the contaminated water. And just today, January 11, they are breaking ground on replacing the wastewater treatment plant on their side of the border that has been broken, as well. We should be embarrassed--embarrassed--that Mexico is acting with more urgency than we are. Mr. Speaker, in closing, this is an urgent public health, business, and national security disaster. The more we delay in addressing cross- border pollution, the more costly and difficult it will be to fix it in the future. I urge all my colleagues to support this funding, and I ask that congressional leadership and appropriators include this funding in any upcoming spending package.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues like to attack California for its forward-thinking policies to address dangerous air pollution, especially from the transportation sector. California has indeed been a leader in reducing air pollution for decades because of our unique air pollution challenges. In fact, we were the very first State to regulate tailpipe emission pollution from vehicles. The Federal Government followed California's lead by enacting the first iteration of the Clean Air Act in 1970, over 10 years after California had legislation to adopt standards for community air quality and motor vehicle emissions. Since California already had tailpipe emission standards on the books, Congress drafted the Clean Air Act to accommodate their ongoing innovation and progress in addressing air pollution from the transportation sector, and all of this occurred under the governorship of Ronald Reagan. Over the years, EPA has granted California dozens of waivers for its emission standards. That has enabled California to not only address its significant air pollution challenges but has also cemented California as a worldwide leader in deploying emissions reduction technologies. Our ambitious standards in California paved the way for the invention of the catalytic converter and the dashboard ``check engine'' lights, in addition to the development of zero-emission vehicles. Unfortunately, H.R. 1435 seeks to erase decades of historic progress on addressing air pollution, driving innovation, and protecting public health. Frankly, the goal of this shortsighted bill is to keep us stuck in the past and our heads in the sand while the real, tangible dangers of climate change continue to harm our communities, our environment, and our economy. We should not reverse decades of California's historic leadership in protecting public health and addressing air pollution from the transportation sector. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1435.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 338 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Con. Res. 57, I would have voted AYE. I thought I had voted but my vote did not register. I could not get back in time to fix this error before the vote closed.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a celebration of love, acceptance, and diversity and a powerful testament to the resilience and spirit of the LGBTQ+ community, Pride Month in the city of San Diego. San Diego has long been a beacon of progress and inclusivity, and at the heart of our great city lies Hillcrest, the vibrant LGBTQ+ center of San Diego in my congressional district. Hillcrest stands as a symbol of hope and empowerment. Its colorful streets, adorned with rainbow flags, proudly reflect a community that has overcome adversity and fought for the rights and freedoms of all. Let's take this moment to celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirm our commitment to a future where every individual can live authentically and without fear of discrimination. In San Diego, and across the Nation, let us build a society that celebrates diversity, cherishes our differences, ensures equality for all regardless of who they love or how they identify. Happy Pride Month San Diego.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, due to a long-standing family obligation, planned well before the congressional schedule was available, I could not be present for votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 202.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, due to a long-standing family obligation, planned well before the congressional schedule was available, I could not be present for votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 201.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, due to a long-standing family obligation, planned well before the congressional schedule was available, I could not be present for votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 195, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 196, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 197, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 198, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 199, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 200.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, the recent court decision on medication abortion is the clearest example yet of the horrific consequences of the Republicans' anti-abortion crusade. While many said a national ban was not the goal and that this would be a States' issue, abortion care could be restricted even in pro-choice States. Mr. Speaker, that begs the question: What is next? Birth control? Plan B? Will anti-vaxxers ask the courts to take down lifesaving vaccines? Will extremists litigate any drug that utilized stem cell research? San Diego is home to some of the most innovative biomedical companies in the world, and so many of these companies have come out to oppose this decision, to say that the ruling threatens their ability to create the cures of tomorrow. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are uncharacteristically quiet about this. They let this genie out of the bottle. They need to find the political courage to put it back in.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, energy security and climate action are ripe for bipartisan cooperation in this Congress. Unfortunately, H.R. 1 is a partisan grab bag that fails to meet the challenge before us and reverses our climate progress in many cases. H.R. 1 would eliminate the methane emissions reduction program, the greenhouse gas reduction fund, and energy efficiency and electrification incentives that reduce energy demand and costs for Americans, all vital components of the Inflation Reduction Act. Last week, climate scientists issued their starkest warning yet that the world must cut emissions by 60 percent by 2035 to limit the planet's rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We don't have time to waste refighting the battles of last year. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said they don't want a bill that favors one type of energy over the other. The problem is that their bill, H.R. 1, explicitly favors fossil fuels. It ramps up oil and gas leasing and exploration over the clean, affordable fuels and technologies of the future. Right now, pipelines that carry fossil fuels are already expedited and given regulatory exemptions, while transmission lines, which transmit electricity long distances from all energy sources, don't get the same preferential treatment. The current system favors fossil fuels, risking our energy and climate security. Look, it is not all bad. There are pieces of H.R. 1 that I believe we can work together on--a better process for determining the level of review to apply to a project, reusing existing data instead of reinventing the wheel at each step, and creating presumptive timelines for reviews so that projects are not indefinitely stalled. I am more than willing to admit that NEPA, a law from 1970, can be updated to meet today's challenges. In fact, clean energy permit reform is required to meet our climate goals, but this proposal fails to match the scale of our climate challenge. The current power grid took 150 years to build. To get to net-zero emissions by 2050, we have to triple its size in the next 30 years. According to Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, North America has built just 7 gigawatts of interregional transmission since 2014, less than half of that in the United States, so let's say 4. South America has built 22, Europe 44, and China 260 gigawatts of interregional transmission. We currently have enough wind, solar, and storage projects in the pipeline to power nearly 85 percent of our economy, but 80 percent of those projects could be canceled due to insufficient transmission. This decade, we will need to deploy solar and wind at five to six times our historical record pace. We need to be laser-focused on making it easier, not harder, to build clean energy because all the money in the world can't solve the climate crisis if we leave it in the bank or don't move fast enough. Our country prides itself on accomplishing big things together, whether it is winning a world war, constructing an interstate highway, or discovering the next big medical breakthrough. During World War II, San Diego war factories built a bomber an hour to help combat fascism and support our Allies. During COVID-19, we developed a vaccine in less than 2 years when 10 to 15 years is the norm. Today, we are debating whether a decade is an appropriate amount of time to construct one single transmission line, an offshore wind facility, or a geothermal plant. With a climate crisis that requires us to move at scale and speed orders of magnitude greater than ever before, we can't be bogged down in reviews and litigation before we even begin to build a given project. We can fix our judicial review processes to protect vulnerable communities while preventing wealthy NIMBYs, corporations, and bad actors from blocking essential clean energy projects, which is what is happening right now. We can reduce the level of review for climate projects on non- sensitive land while ensuring that polluting projects remain heavily scrutinized. What we can't do is simply stand by and accept the status quo that is bogging down clean-energy projects that will combat extreme weather and climate catastrophes that threaten vulnerable communities, endangered species, and stable economies. Mr. Speaker, I am ready for us to get to this vote on a bill that has no chance of becoming law to get it out of the way so that both sides can come together to work on a bipartisan solution. I invite any of my colleagues to come to me and to talk to Chairman Westerman, who has been working with me on that kind of bipartisan solution. The future of our planet depends on it. We have no time to waste. Welcoming Joe Garcia and Michael Morasco

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge and welcome Joe Garcia and Michael Morasco, members of the Escondido City Council, to Washington, D.C. It is my great honor to now represent that wonderful city in Congress. I look forward to working with them.