Gary Palmer

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher).

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Dr. Joyce), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6398, the RED Tape Act, which would address burdensome regulations in the Clean Air Act and provide the permitting reform needed to support American innovation. The legislation, which was introduced by my friend Congressman John Joyce of Pennsylvania eliminates the duplicative requirement in the Clean Air Act that requires the EPA to assess and provide feedback on environmental impact statements other agencies prepare under NEPA. The primary agency preparing an environmental impact statement already possesses the expertise and resources necessary to evaluate the impacts of a project on our environment, and the EPA is often already involved in the NEPA review process as a cooperating agency. Requiring them to provide a secondary review under section 309 is unnecessary, duplicative, and inefficient, leading to more delays and higher costs for American job creators. This legislation is an important step to streamline permitting, and it removes burdensome inefficiencies in the current NEPA process. This bill is an essential component in the committee's permitting reform efforts. The Clean Air Act is long overdue for an update to eliminate outdated provisions that are holding back American manufacturing. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the RED Tape Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6398.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1174, I call up the bill (H.R. 6398) to amend the Clean Air Act relating to review by the Environmental Protection Agency of proposed legislation, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1174, I call up the bill (H.R. 6409) to amend the Clean Air Act to clarify standards for emissions emanating from outside of the United States, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6409.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6409, the FENCES Act, which addresses the need for commonsense reforms on how emissions impact our Nation's ability to support domestic manufacturing and unleash affordable and reliable energy. For far too long, burdensome regulations have stood in the way, allowing investments to go overseas while Americans are forced to pay higher prices. Many of these costly regulations result from regulatory burdens associated with the Clean Air Act. The legislation considered today makes targeted and effective reforms that will support American job creators while continuing to protect our environment and the air we breathe. The legislation produced by my colleague Congressman August Pfluger of Texas ensures that States and local communities are not penalized for foreign air emissions emanating from outside our borders. Across the country, States are being unfairly penalized for pollution that originates from foreign nations, including air emissions from natural events, like the Canadian wildfires. Currently, the Clean Air Act allows States to adjust their plans when foreign emissions prevent them from meeting Federal standards. However, the guidance from the EPA under the previous administration narrowed that relief, limiting it to only human-caused emissions from abroad. This bill clarifies that all foreign emissions, whether natural or man-made, are excluded from consideration when determining whether a State meets national air quality standards. Importantly, the bill allows States to account for foreign emissions earlier in the regulatory process, instead of forcing them to wait until the very end and risk costly delays or Federal sanctions. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting these bills, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is always interesting to me to hear my Democratic colleagues talk about where Republicans are on healthcare when, in fact, it was Republicans who initiated the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund that every Democrat voted against. As a matter of fact, just this year, the State of New Jersey is going to get $147,250,806 from the Rural Health Transformation Fund. I think that is a pretty good investment in trying to improve healthcare for people all over the country. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao), a distinguished Member.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, again, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to talk about Republican positions on healthcare. I will remind them again that, in particular, the State of Ohio received $202,030,262 from the Rural Health Transformation Fund that every Democrat voted against. I remind my colleagues that the Republicans have made a major investment in healthcare. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), the chairman of the full committee.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman bringing up the situation that people in rural America find themselves in. What we tried to do with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act with the Rural Health Transformation Fund was meet a lot of those needs. The State of Texas got more money than any other State, $281,319,361, to try to improve healthcare opportunities for people who live in disadvantaged areas. What we are also trying to do is improve those conditions, to give people an opportunity to have a better job, to have better options in food, and have better healthcare options, as well. That is a big part of what we are trying to do with the modernization of the Clean Air Act and these bills that we bring before the House today. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani).

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I don't think we want to follow the California model for America's economic future, with their high energy prices, the highest poverty rate in the country, and destructive economic policies driving businesses out of the State. I think with Republicans' policies, it is very clear that we have the best interests of the people at heart. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher).

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to point out that no one wants polluted air and polluted water. We have made tremendous advances in pollution control. As a matter of fact, I worked for two international engineering companies, one of which was in environmental systems. We built the pollution control equipment that has made our air demonstrably cleaner. We built flue gas scrubbers. We built electrostatic precipitators and baghouses. The technology has improved dramatically since I left my work in the field of engineering. Since 1980, we have reduced pollution from the six criteria gases monitored by the EPA by 78 percent. That is despite the fact that the economy has grown over 240 percent. That is $2.9 trillion to an economy of $30.6 trillion adjusted for inflation. Vehicles miles driven are up 113 percent, and the population is up over 50 percent, yet we have seen remarkable improvements in air quality. What we are trying to do with this long overdue effort to modernize the Clean Air Act is to not only continue to keep our air clean and our water clean, but to improve economic opportunity to people, particularly people who are disadvantaged such as I was growing up. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues, Democratic and Republican, to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7084, the Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026. This legislation codifies the commonsense principle that foreign nations should not profit from properties stolen from Americans. This bill is needed because for years the Mexican Government has engaged in a deliberate campaign against an American company, Vulcan Materials, headquartered in my district. In 2022, Mexican authorities used military force to shut down Vulcan's lawful operations. Then, in 2024, they took the dramatic step of declaring Vulcan's private property a protected natural area. The move was not designed to conserve land but to justify taking it. However, this is about more than one company. Mexico's actions sent a dangerous signal to every American business operating abroad that their investments, their assets, their rights could be stripped away at any moment by the corrupt Mexican Government. When I and other members of the Alabama delegation, in a bipartisan manner, met with the Ambassador from Mexico, he described his government's actions as a civil dispute. I pointed out to the Ambassador that in America we don't send in our military to resolve civil disputes. The port at the center of the dispute is not just any asset. As has been pointed out by other speakers, it is the only deepwater port on the Yucatan Peninsula, built by American investments and critical to supplying construction materials for infrastructure across the United States. Mexico's actions undermine not only property rights but also our supply chains. The illegal action is more like an action by a cartel than it is a trustworthy government, and it raises serious questions about entering into any agreements with Mexico. The Defending American Property Abroad Act ensures that foreign governments cannot seize American-owned infrastructure and then benefit from the infrastructure. It authorizes the United States to deny entry to vessels operating out of or that have visited ports unlawfully expropriated from American companies. Mr. Speaker, this is about protecting American businesses and, fundamentally, the rule of law. If we fail to act here, then we invite more of this behavior not just from Mexico, but from any nation watching to see how the United States responds. I thank Representative Pfluger for his work on this important issue, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 7084.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the SAVE America Act. This essential legislation would require, as we have said previously, proof of citizenship when registering to vote and the presentation of a valid ID when at the ballot box. Currently, only 13 States do not require any form of voter ID. Having this requirement should be the standard and not the exception. My Democratic colleagues claim that requiring a photo ID to vote is too burdensome. Some say it is too difficult for rural Americans and will lead to voter suppression. I grew up in rural America. The reality is that Americans use photo IDs every day to carry out basic tasks like opening a bank account, boarding a flight, checking into a hotel, renting a car, or applying for a business license. Americans use photo IDs to buy alcohol, tobacco, or nicotine products. They use it to sign a lease or rental agreement. It is also used to get a marriage license, purchase firearms or ammunition, check in for jury duty, or enroll in a college or university. Purchasing insurance or donating blood requires a photo ID. I hope that people who don't have a photo ID don't get sick because they need a photo ID to purchase things like Sudafed, NyQuil, and Mucinex D. I hope they don't have to pick up a package at the post office because we have to have a photo ID to pick up a package at the post office. If we require a photo ID to prevent fraud in these areas I just mentioned, why are my colleagues so opposed to preventing fraud in elections? It is hard to argue that a photo ID is too much to ask for in voting when Americans already use it routinely for far less important activities. Mr. Speaker, protecting election integrity should be a priority. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying SAVE America Act to secure our elections.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I point out that in 2005, 18 of the 21 members of a bipartisan Federal commission headed by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker came out in support of photo ID requirements more stringent than what Indiana had at that time. ``Voters in nearly 100 democracies use a photo identification card without fear of infringement on their rights,'' the commission stated. In regard to voter registration fraud, just last year, six people were indicted for fraudulent voter registration forms submitted ahead of last year's Presidential election. The allegations of fraud appeared to be motivated by the defendants' desire to make money and to keep their jobs and was not an effort to influence the election, so said the Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. It really doesn't matter what the motivation is. What matters is the result--fraudulent voter registrations. Back in 2008, there was an organization called ACORN. There was an ACORN whistleblower who worked for both it and its Project Vote registration affiliate from 2005 until 2006. She said: It is ludicrous to say that fake registrations can't become fraudulent voters. She said: I assure you if you can get them on the rolls, you can get them to vote, especially using absentee ballots. There were documents that were provided by the whistleblower that indicated that the goal of ACORN's New Mexico affiliate was that only 40 percent of its submitted registrations had to be valid. I think fraudulent voter registration is a problem. I think requiring a valid photo ID, as President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State Jim Baker said, is totally a way to ensure integrity in our elections and is not a burden on the people.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to address some of the things my Democratic colleagues have said. They are really high on China. They look at China as a model for America. Apparently, they like how they do their economy. They like their energy production. I would just like to point out, Statistical Review of World Energy reports that coal accounted for 58 percent of China's energy. Oil was at 20 percent, and natural gas was at 10 percent. Some of my colleagues struggle with math. I will just add that up for them. That is 88 percent of their energy production comes from hydrocarbon sources. That means that the remaining 12 percent came from hydroelectric, solar, or wind. What is interesting about this is they make it seem as though China is just dominating the world in renewable energy production. That is approximately the same amount of renewable energy production as the United States. It doesn't sound like the model. I also wanted to point out--because they keep talking about higher energy costs--the increase in energy costs has occurred in the States with the most stringent requirements for renewable energy: California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut. That is where energy costs have gone up the most. That is where people are struggling the most to pay their energy bills. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in support of H.R. 3617, introduced by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James), my friend and colleague. If the United States hasn't learned anything else from the war in Ukraine, it should be this, this is a fundamental principle: No nation, let alone America, should be reliant on adversarial nations for energy and refined materials, critical minerals, rare earth elements that would threaten our economy and threaten our national security, but that is where we find ourselves and where we put ourselves in terms of access to critical minerals, processed and refined critical minerals. H.R. 3617 addresses this. It is a crucial challenge facing the United States today, how to decouple and derisk ourselves from China and other foreign adversaries and build resilient, secure, domestic energy and critical mineral supply chains? Our country is blessed with an abundance of energy and critical mineral resources that are a linchpin to our economy. They are a linchpin to our national security and a linchpin to the new and emerging energy technologies that we are trying to develop here. Yet we are stuck under the thumb of Communist China, who exerts their dominance over energy supply chains, critical mineral supply chains to undermine U.S. interests. This is not a new issue, but one that has grown over the last several decades. The United States used to be a leading producer and refiner of many critical minerals and rare earth elements. We developed the technology to refine rare earth elements, to produce magnets that are critical in our economy and to our national security. By the late 1990s, most of that industry, especially refining, went overseas. This trend has led us to where we are today. The United States is now almost 100 percent import reliant on a dozen critical minerals and heavily reliant on imports for more than half of all critical minerals. The challenge we face today is exacerbated by burdensome permitting processes and regulations, uncertainty in commodity pricing, and market manipulation by Communist China. A few years ago, I launched the Western Hemisphere Prosperity and Security Alliance as a soft power alternative to China. The Western Hemisphere Prosperity and Security Alliance could help us shed our dependence on Communist China when it comes to these critical resources. H.R. 3617 directs the Secretary of Energy to coordinate with industry and relevant stakeholders to identify ways to diversify domestic critical energy resources and supply chains. As part of that assessment, the DOE Secretary will assess how Federal regulations may be affecting domestic production of critical energy resources and minerals and how adversarial nations seek to exploit those markets to undermine investment in the United States. Solving this issue is paramount, and we must address it before we are too late. Critical minerals and their supply chains are vital. We cannot allow the prosperity of future generations to be dictated by adversarial nations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to keep America at the forefront of the next generation's economy and support H.R. 3617.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise this evening with my colleagues to honor Doug LaMalfa in the joint remembrance of his life. He was one of this body's best Members. Doug was a dear friend whom I will miss. He was a talented and trusted colleague who was serious about his work, representing his constituents as he was constantly seeking to move policy that helped them and our Nation. Doug was a rice farmer, an occupation that he loved and that in many respects was foundational to his work ethic, his love of the land, and his love of the people and rural communities. More than anything else, he was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. I will miss Doug and our weekly Thursday morning Bible studies. I will miss his humbleness, his even temper, his humor, and his presence in this body. I will miss hearing him call me Francis Gary Powers after the U.S. spy plane pilot who was shot down over Russia and captured in the 1960s. My wife, Ann, and I are praying for God to comfort Doug's wife, Jill; his children; his family; his staff; and all who, like those who have gathered in this Chamber this evening, knew and loved Doug LaMalfa.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I am certain I cast my vote but it did not record. I voted ``Yea'' on final passage. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 349.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3632, the Power Plant Reliability Act, sponsored by my colleague Mr. Griffith from Virginia's Ninth Congressional District. H.R. 3632 enhances existing authority under the Federal Power Act to protect the bulk-power system from premature retirements of baseload power and ensures more effective long-term planning for our generating resources. It is no secret that we find ourselves in a reliability and affordability crisis driven by irresponsible decisions to shutter reliable and affordable baseload power plants. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim their positions are based on science, but the problem is their science is political science that will lead to higher energy costs and less reliability. Even the head of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, who is charged with protecting the reliability of our Nation's bulk- power system, recently called the reliability crisis a five-alarm fire. This is the path that was laid out by the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats, pushing their misguided and dangerous political science. Making a bad situation worse, we need significant energy resources to compete in the artificial intelligence arms race. With adversarial nations like China, whoever wins the AI arms race will not be a superpower. They will be the superpower. Manufacturing, industrial processing, and AI data centers all require affordable and abundant electricity that only comes from baseload and dispatchable resources. If these energy-intensive industries could run on wind and solar, they would already be doing so. The Power Plant Reliability Act is another tool in the reliability toolbox for States and grid operators to keep the lights on for households and to fuel the next-generation economy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we acknowledge the passing of the last of the Tuskegee Airmen. I will share a little bit about them. They trained on Moton Field and on Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, and later formed units like the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. They were under the command of Colonel Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr., who was born right here in Washington, D.C. When the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group painted the tails of their P-47s red, the nickname ``Red Tails'' was coined. The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of their P-51s. Some of the bomber crews who flew some of the most dangerous missions during World War II called them the ``Red Tail Angels.'' In combat during the war, they flew over 15,000 sorties, escorting bombers and engaging enemy fighters. They received numerous accolades for their service, including 3 Distinguished Unit Citations, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, at least 60 Purple Hearts, and one Silver Star. Colonel Davis went on to become the first African-American brigadier general in the United States Air Force. It is totally appropriate that we recognize the incredible accomplishments, with all of the opposition that they faced, that the Tuskegee Airmen achieved in the defense of our liberty.