David Rouzer

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2008 reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program under the Clean Water Act. Reauthorizing this program reinforces the Federal leadership that helps our State and local partners in their efforts to control nonpoint source pollution. For example, my home State of North Carolina typically receives $1 million for competitive grant funding for watershed restoration projects. This money is put to good use conducting watershed restoration projects like stormwater and agricultural best management practices and restoration of impaired streams affected by nonpoint source pollution. In my district, some of these grant funds are being used to reduce stormwater runoff volume on the campus of UNC-Wilmington. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, in closing, the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program has benefited water bodies all across the country and reauthorizing this program will reinforce this successful cooperative Federal, State, and local partnership to control nonpoint sources of pollution around the country. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Last Congress we worked together to ensure bipartisan support for several regional water bills, including this one. H.R. 610 codifies the Environmental Protection Agency's existing restoration work in the San Francisco Bay estuary and establishes a San Francisco Bay program office. I urge support of this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge support of this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 587, introduced by Congressman Peters from California and others from his home State, is a bipartisan bill that aims to make permanent a regulatory exemption under the Clean Water Act. This exemption allows certain wastewater treatment facilities seeking to discharge to the ocean to apply for permit modifications that offer alternatives to the Clean Water Act's secondary treatment standards. These alternative standards must be met every 5 years during the normal permit renewal period. This permit renewal process is lengthy, complex, and costly. The city of San Diego's Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant has been operating under this regulatory exemption for well over two decades. The objectives of this bill are worthy and a win-win for the city and the environment. Madam Speaker, the bill will help ensure that San Diego has long-term certainty for its water supply and will save the city millions of dollars and protect regional ratepayers from billions in new costs by providing this regulatory certainty while preserving applicable standards. Madam Speaker, I support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 587 would support the water recycling and conservation efforts of the city of San Diego's Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant by making permanent its longstanding regulatory exemption under the Clean Water Act. Madam Speaker, this is a good bill, and I urge support of this bipartisan legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1144, the PUGET SOS Act, codifies the Environmental Protection Agency's existing restoration work in the Puget Sound and establishes a Puget Sound program office. Puget Sound was one of the first estuaries designated within the National Estuary Program in 1987, and EPA has worked with Federal and non-Federal entities to coordinate restoration efforts. This bill ensures this important work will continue. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, in closing, H.R. 1144 would continue the EPA's management of a competitive grant program to support projects that protect and restore the Puget Sound. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1921, the Protect and Restore Lake Pontchartrain Basin Act, introduced by my friend Garret Graves from Louisiana, would reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program to provide assistance to the Federal, State, and local watershed partners in addressing the water quality challenges that are in this especially sensitive area. I support the critical work these partners are doing to help restore the water quality of the lake, and this bill will help continue this work. I commend Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves for his leadership on this issue, and I urge support of this legislation. I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), who is the Aviation Subcommittee ranking member.

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1921 would reauthorize an important program that supports the critical efforts of the Federal, State, and local watershed partners in restoring water quality in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of one of the great voices for American agriculture here in our Nation's Capital, Steven L. Kopperud. His death this past year was sudden and a shock to all of us who knew him. Steve was always the same, from the first day I met him almost 25 years ago until the last time we talked. He was a great friend, one whom you could trust to shoot you straight. As are so many in the agriculture arena, he was a down-to-earth, great guy; the type you could pick up a conversation with as though you had just talked yesterday when, in fact, it could have been a year or more; the type who would always be there for you. And if it was a policy question, he always, always, had the facts. He believed in his work, and he was passionate about it. After growing up in Minneapolis and attending the University of Minnesota, Steve started his career in journalism, writing for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the San Diego Union-Tribune. He eventually became the Washington bureau chief for Feedstuffs, which further introduced him to the world of agriculture. From there, he launched a long, distinguished career in advocacy, lobbying on all things animal, everything from food, livestock, poultry, trade, and animal welfare, to biotech, among countless other agricultural issues. He was a founder of the Animal Alliance Association, and eventually started his own firm to represent clients across the Nation's agriculture sector. Steve played an instrumental role in the passage of every farm bill in the past 35 years, from his first in 1985 to his last in 2018. He could always be found in the Halls of Congress, the White House, or USDA, making the case for commonsense agriculture policies critical to our producers and American consumers. And by the fortuitous nature of events early on in his career, he became a key voice with great expertise in the animal welfare policy arena. Steve leaves behind his wife, Judith, of more than 45 years, and many, many friends. The contributions he made to agriculture were numerous, leaving a great legacy of advocacy that has benefited American producers and has helped to feed the world. His was a life very well-lived, and American agriculture is that much better because of Steve Kopperud, and so is our country. Tribute to Carolyn Justice

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay particular tribute to an individual who has been an institution in the Cape Fear region for decades, my friend and former colleague in the State legislature, Carolyn Justice. Carolyn served five terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing New Hanover and Pender Counties. Before her service in the State legislature, she served on Pender County's Board of Commissioners. She has also served as a trustee of New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Pender Memorial Hospital, and as chair of the Lower Cape Fear River Program. Now, I got to know Carolyn while serving in the State Senate. She was a co-chair of the State House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, while I was co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee. So we got to know each other quite well as we went line by line of the State budget, making cuts to the programs under our purview. The economic collapse of 2008 and 2009 had left the State budget in shambles, and it was our job to help balance it. These were not easy decisions, but, with Carolyn as a key partner, we made the budget numbers work while doing our best to fund the programs of most value to the citizens of the State. Through her service and kindness to others, Carolyn Justice continues to leave an indelible mark on southeastern North Carolina. This is why it is so fitting that she was recently named by the Wilmington Star- News in March, which was Women's History Month 2021, as one of 106 women who have made the Port City area a better place. I don't know of anyone who stands stronger for the Cape Fear region and the causes in which she believes. This is a well-deserved honor for a very distinguished public servant and my great friend and colleague.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained at the time of the vote on S. 979. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 246.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020. Our Nation's inlets, waterways, harbors, ports, and beaches are critical components of our national infrastructure, supporting countless local economies all across the country. My district, which includes the southern portion of the North Carolina coast, relies on this biennial, bipartisan bill to maintain and improve our resource projects. I would like to thank the Army Corps of Engineers for their work in support of the coastal storm damage reduction projects at Wrightsville Beach, as well as Carolina and Kure Beaches. Their team and mine work together constantly to ensure that the right decisions are made and executed. I want to especially thank the chairman and the ranking member for their work and commitment to keep this legislation a good, bipartisan product of the committee. I particularly appreciate their willingness to work with me to address the needs of our coastal communities and the infrastructure so important to North Carolina's economy. I also want to thank the staff of the majority and minority for the many hours they have worked to make this day possible. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne).

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), the chairman, to close.

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), my friend.

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8266 will help communities recovering from recent disasters and support the nationwide effort to respond to the COVID pandemic. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bill recognizes that 2020 has been an unusual year with multiple and layered disaster declarations, and it would adjust the Federal cost share for disasters declared this year, including for COVID. H.R. 8266 would also clarify the types of FEMA assistance available for the COVID response, including testing, food distribution, and personal protective equipment, and it would strengthen oversight of these funds. Mr. Speaker, I commend Chairman DeFazio for his work on this bill, as well as his staff, and many other Members who have contributed. I urge support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5919 directs GSA to provide rent relief to the National Children's Museum currently housed in the Federal Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. This bill will provide the National Children's Museum with similar relief afforded to other congressionally designated museums. I want to thank the fine gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) for working with Ms. Norton on this bipartisan piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.