Mike Simpson

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Assuring funding for the modernization of our nuclear weapons stockpile is a critical national security priority of this bill. The bill provides necessary funding to extend the life of our Nation's nuclear weapons stockpile and to address the continued deterioration of infrastructure at the NNSA sites. The amendment targets a new proposal to modify a limited number of W76 warheads that are currently undergoing refurbishment in order to provide for a low-level variant of the warhead. They will either be refurbished with a high-yield warhead or a low-yield warhead. This modification does not provide the U.S. with any new nuclear capabilities. The U.S. has the capability and will continue to maintain that capability to deliver warheads at this yield with the Air Force's B61 bomb and the air-launched cruise missile. These lower level warheads are necessary to provide a credible deterrent against the use of warheads of similar yields that exist in large numbers by other nuclear weapons states. Specifically, possessing a warhead at this yield shows any aggressor that the U.S. has the capability to provide a proportional response to the use of a nonstrategic or tactical nuclear weapon against the U.S. or its allies. That is why the U.S. nuclear strategy under both the Obama administration and this administration advocated maintaining and modernizing both the B61 bomb and the nuclear-tipped cruise missile. Given that the U.S. has possessed this same capability for many years, I disagree with the idea that this modification will serve to destabilize relations with other nuclear weapons states. Rather, the intent of this warhead modification is to improve stability to demonstrate that the U.S. has the ability to deliver this capability on platforms that are not vulnerable to air defenses. It is intended to improve the credibility of our nuclear deterrent and show that the U.S. has the resolve to respond to nuclear threats. Credibility is the most basic requirement for nuclear deterrence to work. The amendment would also reduce the size of the current W76 stockpile because the funding supports not only the low-yield modification but also the refurbishment work that is needed to extend the life of these warheads. Mr. Chairman, I support the modification. I urge all Members to vote ``no'' on this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Thomas J. Middleton on his retirement from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) after 27 years of service. Since June of 1991, Mr. Middleton has held INL positions of increasing responsibility: physical security officer, physical security manager, safeguards and personnel security manager, protective force manager, Security and Emergency Services Division director, Facilities and Site Services deputy director and Laboratory Protection director. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Mr. Middleton received a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts and science and is a martial artist with a third- degree black belt in Taekwondo. Prior to working at INL, he served six years as a special agent with the U.S. State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Before moving to Idaho, he was the assistant regional security officer for the American Embassy in Guatemala. Mr. Middleton completed his service to the Laboratory as the Director of Laboratory Protection, to which he had oversight of programs that secure critical national research facilities, and the development and deployment of applied nuclear science research assets. He also managed 550-plus employees and a $110 million annual budget. Mr. Middleton's greatest joys are spending time in Idaho's great outdoors and with family. One of his greatest accomplishments was climbing the Grand Teton when he turned 50 years old. Mr. Middleton exemplifies qualities in knowledge and skills that have been essential to keeping the nation and INL strong and secure, and I thank him for his service.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brent Stacey on his retirement from Idaho National Laboratory, and to thank him for his service to our nation. As Associate Laboratory Director for National and Homeland Security at INL, and as a strategic advisor, Brent provided valuable leadership in addressing the cybersecurity challenges facing the nation's critical infrastructure. In this capacity, Brent addressed House and Senate subcommittees on several occasions, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence regarding efforts to mitigate cyberthreats to our nation. Brent played an important role in INL's campus infrastructure expansion, and was instrumental in bringing the first high-performance computer to the laboratory. Brent advanced INL's partnerships with academia and industry and was the first president and CEO of the Idaho Regional Optical Network, a nonprofit organization that advances science, research, education, health care and state government through high-speed bandwidth. I offer my best wishes to Brent and his family, and gratitude for his three decades of service.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Alan Gunn on his upcoming retirement from the Department of Energy after thirty-six years of distinguished service to this nation in various roles in the United States Navy (USN) and United States Department of Energy (DOE). Mr. Gunn received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mississippi State University in 1980 and completed graduate work in Business Administration at Louisiana State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, State University of New York at Albany, and Idaho State University. He also completed the College of Naval Warfare program in residence at the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and received a Master of Arts Degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies in 1996. Mr. Gunn completed the Navy Officer Candidate School as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a regular navy officer in February, 1982. He was selected for duty in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and served as both a member of the staff of the Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion program in Washington, D.C. and as a field representative for the Director in Schenectady, New York and Idaho Falls, Idaho. Since the completion of his active duty service, Mr. Gunn has served as a civilian with the United States Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration in numerous leadership and management positions with the Office of Naval Reactors in Washington, D.C., the Idaho Branch Office of Naval Reactors, the Naval Reactors Laboratory Field Office, and the Idaho Operations Office. Mr. Gunn retired as a Captain in the United States Navy in 2007 after completing over 28 years of active and reserve military service. Mr. Gunn completed his service to our nation as the Assistant Manager for Programs and Facilities at the Department of Energy's Idaho Operations Office (DOE-ID); providing leadership over the nuclear energy research and development programs and oversight of Idaho National Laboratory (INL). In the service of his country, Mr. Gunn exemplifies the best qualities of the thousands of talented individuals in the Navy and DOE, whose knowledge and skill have been essential to keeping our nation strong and secure. I want to thank Alan for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow for morning-hour debate and 11 a.m. for legislative business.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Jeff Szabo for winning the 2017 Arthur Flemming Award. The Arthur Flemming Award is a great honor and Dr. Szabo has demonstrated the innovation and vision to be worthy of such an award. He has been instrumental in advancing the Nation's understanding of the fate, persistence and transport of contaminants in drinking water distribution systems, and in wastewater treatment utilities. Under Dr. Szabo's direction the Water Security Test Bed (WSTB) was designed and built at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a first-of-its-kind, multimillion dollar field scale water distribution system. It is a platform for performing drinking water security experiments in a setting that resembles real water pipes in the ground without public health risk. Research conducted at the WSTB has proven to be invaluable by greatly enhancing the Nation's knowledge of how to decontaminate these critical infrastructures, and the water sector's ability to respond to a chemical, biological and radiological incident. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Szabo has made an important impact at the Idaho National Laboratory, and we celebrate his accomplishments.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ray Furstenau on his selection as the next Director of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Ray is eminently qualified for this position and the able Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Ms. Kristine Svinicki, did the nation a great service by hiring Ray for this important responsibility. While the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is gaining a true professional, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Office of Nuclear Energy are losing a great leader and steward. Throughout his thirty years of service with the Department of Energy, at the DOE Idaho Field Office and headquarters, Ray has been a person who takes is job seriously and performs with excellence, competence and technical expertise. Ray brings vision and a collaborative spirit to his work and he makes others better by offering mentorship, candor and warmth. Ray's quiet and steady leadership was a great value to Idaho National Laboratory and the Office of Nuclear Energy and on behalf of all of his friends in Idaho and Washington, DC; I want to wish Ray all the best as he moves up the road to the NRC headquarters in Rockville. Best wishes, and thanks to Ray for his many years of productive federal service.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Bob Naerebout, a longtime champion of Idaho's dairy and agriculture industries. Bob oversees government affairs for the Idaho Dairymen's Association and formerly served as their Executive Director for 15 years. He was recently recognized by the Catholic Diocese of Boise with the Bishop Michael Driscoll Award. The award recognizes individuals ``who have served in love and justice the needs of those in our community who are less fortunate, left behind, or in any way marginalized.'' Bob's passionate cause is bringing agricultural laborers out of the shadows. Bob's service to laborers in Idaho's dairy and agriculture industry has been a brave service of moral and economic importance. Prior to coming to Idaho, Bob graduated from Michigan State University and managed the Dairy Research and Teaching Center, as well as his own dairy in McBain, Michigan. Bob and his family went west to Utah when he worked for Dairy Farmers of America, a marketing cooperative of nearly 14,000 farm families. In 2002, he moved to Idaho, where he served as Executive Director of the Idaho Dairymen's Association. From his first days in Idaho, Bob brought a fresh perspective to addressing the challenges facing Idaho's growing dairy industry. Bob went to work on a number of regulatory reforms affecting the industry. These included a memorandum of understanding between the industry, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that ensured practical and effective environmental regulation of Idaho's dairies. In Idaho, policymakers know that if you want to talk dairy, you had better visit with Bob Naerebout. Idaho's dairy industry has rapidly expanded its economic footprint across the state, especially in the Magic Valley. Bob has played no small role in this growth. As producers and processors alike looked for a new home where they could expand, Bob would seize opportunities to introduce them to Idaho. He would help find a way to ensure that Idaho would be a great place to do business. For example, Bob worked to bring Chobani to Idaho to build the largest yogurt plant in the world. Today, Idaho is the third largest dairy state in the U.S. The Boise Diocese's Driscoll award recognizes Bob's work with these most vulnerable of new citizens, many of whom are Catholic and all of whom are trying to make a better life and a fresh start for their families. Theirs is the same pioneer spirit that settled our country--from Virginia to Michigan to Idaho--since its founding. Bob's work on behalf of the dairy industry recognizes a very simple fact about immigration--it is an issue of vital economic and moral importance. Bob believes every corner of Idaho benefits from the tremendous strength and productivity of our agricultural industry. Bob has advocated for common sense immigration reform, and has been part of a team that has helped build Idaho's dairy industry into an economic powerhouse. All the while, Bob has put a human face on the debate of immigration. That human face--with its diversity and optimism for a better life--is a face that is an integral part of the fabric of American agriculture. I offer my congratulations to Bob Naerebout for the recognition of his good work, and thank him for reminding us all of the importance of being a better citizen and friend to those looking for that same opportunity.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present to vote due to personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 138 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 139.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank my ranking member, Marcy Kaptur, for her efforts and input as we have worked through this bill over the past year and developed and completed the final fiscal year 2018 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I would also like to acknowledge the work of our Senate partners, Lamar Alexander and Dianne Feinstein. I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill. It was negotiated in a bipartisan manner, but the end result has a strong emphasis on Republican priorities. Within the Energy and Water Development division specifically, those priorities include national security and infrastructure. Funding for DOE's nuclear weapons security programs is at $14.7 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion above last year and $738 million above the budget request. These funds will ensure the reliability and effectiveness of our nuclear weapons stockpile and will address a backlog of deferred maintenance at aging nuclear weapons facilities. The bill makes targeted investments to protect our Nation's energy infrastructure against cyber and other attacks, including an increase of $18 million above last year's level for research and development activities to strengthen the security of our electric grid. In total, the Energy and Water Development bill increases funding for energy and water resources infrastructure by $1.5 billion above fiscal year 2017. That includes an increase of almost $800 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to address pressing needs at our ports and waterways and to increase public safety through flood and storm damage reduction activities. The bill exceeds the annual target for harbor maintenance trust fund activities by providing $1.4 billion--which represents 94 percent of the estimated annual revenues, compared to the WRRDA 2014 target of 74 percent. The Bureau of Reclamation is funded at $1.47 billion, including $134 million for water storage projects authorized under the WIIN Act, $55 million for additional water conservation and delivery projects, and $66.5 million above the budget request for rural water projects. The bill provides strong support for basic science research, with total funding of $6.26 billion for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, an increase of $868 million above last year. Nuclear energy and fossil energy are also increased above last year, with $188 million and $59 million respectively.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, these research and development activities will advance the Nation's goal of an all-of-the-above energy solution and energy independence. I encourage my colleagues to support this. I would also like to take just a second to thank my colleague, Chairman Calvert, for his work on the wildfire funding fix, a bill that I have been working on since 2013, and which Congressman Schrader and I have introduced for the last 3 years. The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and their staff have done a fantastic job of getting it in there. This is very important to the West. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bonnie Stoddard of Dubois, Robert Brown of Idaho Falls, Frank Priestly of Franklin, R.J. Smith of Tendoy, and Stan Boyle of Idaho Falls on their inductions into the Eastern Idaho Agricultural Hall of Fame. Now 87 years old, Bonnie Stoddard has dedicated her life to documenting agricultural history. Much of her early life was spent on a cattle ranch in the Medicine Lodge area of Clark County. From these beginnings she recognized the imperative to preserve and share the history of her area, as well as the surrounding Idaho and Montana ranch and farm country. I applaud Bonnie for her agricultural service and the historical value she has added to her community. Operating a portion of his grandfather's original homestead in Ririe, Robert Brown raises wheat, barley, and hay. Robert's hard work has not gone unnoticed, in fact, he's received the Life Achievement Award from the Idaho Grain Producers Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the Idaho Wheat Commission, and various other awards. He has served on the Farm Service Agency Board and other agricultural and land use advisory groups. From hosting delegates at his farm to representing the State of Idaho in supporting legislation that benefits Idaho Farmers in Washington, D.C., Robert has been a great asset to the farming community. Starting at the young age of 14 with his own hay baling business, auctioneer Frank Priestly has been involved in agriculture his entire life. Frank and his wife, Susan, worked in agriculture together, establishing an 80-cow family dairy. Frank served as the President of the Idaho Farm Bureau for 18 years. One of his many accomplishments through the organization was development and implementation of the Moving Agriculture to the Classroom Program, or M.A.C., which enables educators' access to teaching modules on various agricultural topics. Frank has represented his constituent group of Farm Bureau members at the local, regional, state, and federal levels and mentored young producers. R.J. Smith grew up working on the family ranch near Tendoy, and is a graduate from Salmon high school R.J. competed on the rodeo team while attending the University of Utah before enlisting in the Army. During the Vietnam war, R.J.'s heroic efforts included flying helicopters. He used his flying skills while working on a bison ranch in Wyoming along with his wife, Grace. Since returning to the state of Idaho, R.J. has been honored as Lemhi County Cattle and Horse Grower of the year and Lemhi County Grassman of the year. Through his many years of service he has served as chairman of the Lemhi Irrigation District, along with various state livestock committees. He continues to be a great leader in water and irrigation policy which benefits wildlife, fish and agriculture production. Having grown up on a farm in the Ririe, Idaho area, Stan Boyle understands the value of hard work and determination. The Eastern Idaho Agricultural Hall of Fame is an addition to the lengthy list of accolades awarded to Stan. School districts have honored him for his role as an educator, he is a member of the Idaho 4-H Hall of Fame, and the Bonneville County Cattlemen's Association honored him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. As a mentor to countless youth in the community, Stan has helped shaped the future of agriculture in the area. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank these individuals for their service and commitment to the agriculture communities in Eastern Idaho.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Melissa Burnison on her recent confirmation to serve as the Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Melissa is well known to Members of the House, and President Trump made an excellent choice when he nominated her for this important position. Melissa Burnison is a native of Kentucky and she began her career on Capitol Hill working for Senator Mitch McConnell. Melissa later worked for Congressman Zach Wamp of Tennessee where she focused on Department of Energy issues. She later served as a senior advisor at the Department of Energy and most recently represented the Nuclear Energy Institute as Director for Federal Programs. In that capacity, my staff and I have worked closely with Melissa to address challenges and opportunities facing the nuclear industry. Melissa also worked tirelessly to foster increased collaboration between the DOE national labs and the nuclear industry. I have especially appreciated her work in this area. While Melissa Burnison is a respected and effective professional, she truly stands out as a wife and mother. Melissa is an adoring mother of three daughters and with her husband, Scott, they have formed a warm and close family. One of the pleasures of serving in the U.S. House of Representatives is seeing young, talented people come to Washington to serve their country. I commend Melissa for her confirmation in this important position, and I expect we will be hearing more about this talented and gracious public servant in the years ahead.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance and celebration for a lady who spent her days on this Earth, serving her community. Sheila Olsen, of Idaho Falls, passed away on Sunday, and she will be deeply missed. She was a patriot of this nation who made life better for those in my district, the state of Idaho, and this nation. Sheila was an inspiration to many in her community. Many looked to her as an example of enduring the difficulties of life, with optimism and joy. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1967 when she was pregnant with her fifth child. Although this provided many challenges to her health, she only increased in her desire to make this world a better place. Sheila had a deep love for this nation. Her career in politics included a longtime member of the Idaho Republican Women, Republican Precinct committeewoman (30 years) and vice-chair and member of the Idaho Region VII Republican Party. She cultivated a keen understanding of what constituents needed in candidates, and how a candidate could fulfill such needs. Because of this knowledge, she played key roles in the campaigns of leaders such as; U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (1992, 2016), Governor Butch Otter (1994, 2006, 2010 and 2014), Superintendent Tom Luna (2006), U.S. Senator Larry Craig (1990), Governor Phil Batt (2002) and several others. She was currently serving as the Bonneville County coordinator for the Brad Little for Governor campaign. For more than 20 years, Sheila held an annual Fourth of July flag- raising ceremony using the flagpole in her front lawn. Through the years this event attracted friends and family, local and statewide elected officials, and many others who wished to pay tribute to those who had given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Sheila had the ability to build bridges of friendship and engage in constructive discussions, with those of differing beliefs. Many times, Sheila united members of different faiths, to join together in humanitarian projects. She also served on the Executive Committee of the Greater Idaho Falls Public Affairs Council as a liaison between the media and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was frequently asked and entrusted to provide her insight and views to the media with regard to sensitive issues involving religion, faith and politics. She was the recipient of numerous awards, including the President's Award, Community Human Rights Activist by Lockheed Martin, Service to Family Award by Brigham Young University, Exemplary Citizen by the Rotary Club, Woman of Distinction by Zonta, Who's Who in American Politics and National MS Mother of the Year by President George H.W. Bush. Despite all of the awards and accolades that have come her way, Sheila will be remembered for the personal relationship that she built with anyone she came in contact with. Our nation is a better place because of Sheila Olsen. Mr. Speaker, I send my condolences to Sheila's family and express my appreciation for the exceptional life she lived and the service she rendered in Idaho. On behalf of a grateful state, I honor her legacy.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel Albert J. Gomez on his outstanding career as he retires from serving as the West Point Field Force State Coordinator. LTC Gomez, Al, has set a standard of excellence in Idaho, leaving a lasting, positive impression in the lives of many. For nearly 20 years he has been an invaluable asset to our offices. In 2000, the Idaho Congressional Delegation began to hold an annual Service Academy Day. Service Academy Day is an opportunity to provide information to Idaho's best and brightest young men and women who are interested in attending our nation's service academies. Al has been instrumental in setting up Service Academy Day from the beginning while juggling deployment and other commitments. He has assisted numerous Idaho students with obtaining an exceptional educational and service opportunities available at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is responsible for incorporating the principle method into the delegation's nomination process, which has made a significant difference in the number of Idaho appointees to West Point. In fact, he is considered the ``secret weapon'' in our delegation responsible for the high success rate of Idaho students receiving appointments to West Point. For LTC Gomez, his remarkable work has always been about his love for West Point and our country. He is known for his extraordinary mentorship of youth, and candidates are frequently told to listen to Al if they want to be successful. As a West Point alumni, Al has clear insight into what it takes to succeed at a service academy and what it means to serve our nation. He earned his Regular Army commission in 1979, and started his career in 1980 as a Lance Missile Platoon Leader serving in Germany. His assignments took him and his family to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Neckarsulm, Germany, which included command of a Pershing II missile nuclear capable firing battery. He served in deployments in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was selected to represent the U.S. Army and provide testimony to the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces in November 1992. Al continued his military education with a 1994 graduation from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served as a State Inspector General for both the Idaho and Guam National Guard for nearly a decade before his retirement from the U.S. Army in 2006. As a civilian, he worked for the Idaho National Guard as a special security officer for the Supervisor Human Resource Office before his current position, as the State Equal Employment Manager. His strong work ethic and dedication have not only given him a reputation among the delegation of being a go-to-guy when something needs to be done right and quickly, but have also contributed to him being recognized with many honors for his service to our country. These include the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal, 4th Award; Army Commendation Medal, 3rd Award, Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal, 2nd Award; and many other recognitions.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important conservation program taking place in central Idaho that was created as part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act. I also want to acknowledge the outstanding cooperation between Idaho conservationists and ranchers that have made this program a success. The signing of the law in 2015 created three new wilderness areas totaling over 429 square miles. This jewel in the heart of Idaho was protected for future generations to enjoy. It also returned significant amounts of wilderness study areas back to multiple use allowing individuals and families to engage in outdoor and recreational activities for years to come. When I began working on the Boulder-White Clouds bill nearly 20 years ago, ranchers on the East Fork of the Salmon River were facing significant headwinds to their traditional way of life. Lawsuits, federal regulations, and other obstacles were making it difficult to graze on their federal allotments. In many instances, their allotted animal unit months (AUMs) had been significantly reduced and in some cases completely eliminated. The trend going forward was not positive. It became clear to me that providing opportunities for the ranching families to continue their livelihoods would be critical to a final outcome. A final bill would need to provide area ranchers with options that could help them reset their grazing operations and provide greater certainty for them in the future. To meet this need, we developed a program in which area ranchers could voluntarily retire individual allotments that might not be economically viable to their ongoing ranching operations in exchange for compensation from a private third party. This program specified that agreements were to be voluntary, that ranchers would be paid for all of the AUMs on their allotment and that funding would come from third party private entities and not the federal government. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to say that last month marked the completion of the initial phase of voluntary retirements. In the past year, four families have retired five allotments and received over $1.35 million in private compensation. Some of these allotments were proving difficult to use and were marginally viable in their traditional operations. Through our program, the ranchers were paid for every AUM on each allotment. On the conservation side, over 126,000 acres of pristine and ecologically important areas that include winter and summer range for elk and deer, important sage grouse habitat, and some of the highest elevation spawning habitat for ocean-going salmon and steelhead found anywhere will no longer be grazed. These were high conflict areas that have experienced past litigation and would probably see future litigation or regulation. I am very pleased to say that the voluntary retirement program has been a success and a win for both the ranchers and for conservation. While the initial third party funding for the voluntary retirement program has expired, the mechanism still exists for ranchers to retire allotments in the future, should they so choose. In doing so, they will be free to enter into new agreements with new terms. These future agreements will be of their own accord between the ranchers and conservation interests. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the following organizations and individuals for their contributions to the voluntary retirement program. The Idaho Conservation League were the backbone behind the voluntary grazing retirement program. The legislation provided the mechanism for the voluntary retirements and they provided the muscle, resources, and expertise to carry out this initial batch of retirements. I want to give special thanks to Rick Johnson, the Executive Director of the Idaho Conservation League. Rick worked very closely with my staff and me as we developed the program. He made sure the grant funding was in place prior to passage of the legislation so that promises made to the ranchers would be kept after the bill became law. Rick has been a true friend and partner from start to finish in this process. A very big thanks and well done go to John Robison, Public Lands Director of the Idaho Conservation League. John facilitated each retirement from start to finish. He worked with multiple people and agencies and exhibited great professional skill and patience in getting each retirement completed. His outstanding work with various parties under short deadlines was critical to the success of this program. I also want to thank the ranching families on the East Fork of the Salmon River. They are great people, who with their past generations, have made significant contributions to the region and to our country. When we first met together 17 years ago they told me their concerns and we came up with an idea of how we might go forward. They put their trust in me and I believe we came up with a plan to give them an opportunity to help put them in a better place. It has been a pleasure and honor to work with each family and I can proudly say that I believe the promises we made have been kept. I would also like to recognize the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for their assistance in processing the retirements. In particular, I want to thank Kit Mullen, Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor; Kirk Flannigan, Sawtooth National Recreation Area Ranger; Andrea Cox, Supervisory Rangeland Management Specialist, Sawtooth National Forest; Ed Cannady, Recreation Manager, Sawtooth National Forest; Chuck Mark, Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor; Kurt Pindel, Challis-Yankee Fork District Ranger; Faith Ryan, Range and Weeds Program Lead, Salmon-Challis National Forest, Tim Murphy, BLM State Director (retired); and Todd Kuck, Field Manager, BLM Challis Field Office. They each did great work and we could not have completed the retirements without them. Finally, I would like to note that without this voluntary grazing retirement program, the Boulder-White Clouds and Jerry Peak wilderness bills would never have become law. The program was a lynchpin to the compromise that allowed us to protect one of the most pristine areas of Idaho. It seems apparent that the cost of the program was small in comparison to the benefits that future generations will receive when they enjoy the remarkable beauty and serenity of the Boulder-White Clouds and Jerry Peak. We all owe a great deal of thanks to those who provided the resources for the program and to the ranchers who put their trust in allowing it to go forward.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the continuing resolution before us today. First, I'd like to acknowledge the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Chairman Frelinghuysen. Under his leadership, the Committee reported, and the whole House considered and passed, all twelve appropriations bills for fiscal year 2018. That doesn't happen very often anymore, and the fact that we did it this year is a credit to our Chairman. We've heard complaints about considering another CR rather than full appropriations bills. And I agree that continuing resolutions aren't an ideal solution to funding our government. Ideally, all twelve appropriations bills would be enacted by October 1st. That process provides the Congress with its best opportunity to set priorities across government programs, and it provides the most stability for agencies to carry out those programs in an efficient and effective manner. But sometimes we need more time to complete those negotiations. For example, in 2010, the Democrats controlled both the House, the Senate, and the White House. Guess what happened when they hadn't completed the appropriations process on time? They passed a CR until the end of September. When they hadn't completed their work yet, they passed another CR until December 2nd. When they hadn't completed their work--they passed another CR until December 22. Then, when we took the majority, we ended up finishing the appropriations process. So while CR's aren't ideal, supporting a CR to keep our government functioning is the only responsible vote today--for national security, for our economy, and for the general welfare of the American people. As Chairman of the Energy and Water subcommittee, I am very familiar with the positive impacts the federal government has in each of these areas--whether it's the Department of Energy maintaining our nuclear weapons stockpile, the Corps of Engineers dredging our ports and waterways so goods and materials can move freely, or the Bureau of Reclamation providing tens of millions of people with water. We must avoid disruptions to these vital activities by passing the continuing resolution before us today and then working towards completing our work on final appropriations bills as quickly as possible. Will we get all our work done by the end of this next CR? I don't know. But one thing I can guarantee is that we will not get it done by tomorrow, and a vote against this resolution is a vote to shut down the government. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the continuing resolution.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Melissa Burnison on her recent confirmation to serve as the Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Melissa is well known to Members of the House, and President Trump made an excellent choice when he nominated her for this important position. Melissa Burnison is a native of Kentucky and she began her career on Capitol Hill working for Senator Mitch McConnell. Melissa later worked for Congressman Zach Wamp of Tennessee where she focused on Department of Energy issues. She later served as a senior advisor at the Department of Energy and most recently represented the Nuclear Energy Institute as Director for Federal Programs. In that capacity, my staff and I have worked closely with Melissa to address challenges and opportunities facing the nuclear industry. Melissa also worked tirelessly to foster increased collaboration between the DOE national labs and the nuclear industry. I have especially appreciated her work in this area. While Melissa Burnison is a respected and effective professional, she truly stands out as a wife and mother. Melissa is an adoring mother of three daughters and with her husband, Scott, they have formed a warm and close family. One of the pleasures of serving in the U.S, House of Representatives is seeing young, talented people come to Washington to serve their country. I commend Melissa for her confirmation in this important position, and I expect we will be hearing more about this talented and gracious public servant in the years ahead.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to acknowledge the chairman of the Appropriations Committee (Mr. Frelinghuysen). Under his leadership, the committee reported and the whole House considered and passed all 12 appropriation bills for fiscal year 2018. This year is the first time since 2010 that the House passed all 12 appropriations bills. I would hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would listen for just a minute. In 2010, the Democrats controlled both the House, the Senate, and the White House. Guess what. They passed all of the appropriations bills on time. But you know what they also did? They passed a CR until December 19. When they hadn't completed their work yet, even though they had passed all 12 appropriations bills in the House, they passed another CR until December 22. When they hadn't completed their work, guess what. They passed another CR until January. Then, when we took the majority, we ended up finishing the appropriations process. So their outrage now is a little bit misplaced. Now we need to finish the final details with our colleagues in the Senate, and we must do this to ensure that the government stays open. Continuing resolutions at this time or of any length are not anyone's ideal solution to funding our government. Ideally, all 12 appropriations bills would be enacted by October 1. That process provides the Congress with its best opportunity to set priorities across government programs, and it provides the most stability for agencies to carry out these programs in an efficient and effective manner. But when we need more time to complete those negotiations, supporting a CR to keep our government functioning is the only responsible vote for national security, for our economy, and for the general welfare of the American people. As chairman of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am very familiar with the positive impacts the Federal Government has in each of these areas. Whether it is the Department of Energy maintaining our nuclear weapons stockpile, the Corps of Engineers dredging our ports and waterways so that goods and materials can move freely, or the Bureau of Reclamation providing tens of millions of people with water, we must avoid disruptions to these vital activities by passing this continuing resolution before us today. Will we get all our work done by December 22? I don't know. But one thing I can guarantee is that we will not get it done by tomorrow, and a vote against this resolution is a vote to shut down the government. So if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to shut down the government, all they have to do is vote ``no.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, December 5, for personal reasons, I was absent and missed votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 655--``Yea.'' Rollcall No. 656--``Yea.'' Rollcall No. 657--``Yea.''

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Rick Ardinger, the executive director of the Idaho Humanities Council. I wish to congratulate him on his retirement after 26 years of service leading the state's efforts to promote and inspire the study of history, literature, philosophy, jurisprudence, cultural anthropology, comparative religion, art history and criticism, music history and other interpretive disciplines. A Massachusetts native, Rick moved to Idaho to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing and quickly acclimated to the local writing scene. In 1976, Rick and his wife Rosalind started producing a literary publication, The Limberlost Review. The publication quickly turned into the Limberlost Press, an independent publishing company that has produced books by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist John Updike and Idaho native Sherman Alexie, among others. Rick joined the Idaho Humanities Council staff in 1991, and became executive director in 1996. During his tenure, the IHC broadened its outreach not only by awarding grants for humanities projects and programs throughout the state, but also by sponsoring a number of flagship council-conducted initiatives to bring attention to the importance of lifelong learning in the humanities. Under Rick's leadership, the Council also launched a successful $1 million fundraising campaign to establish an Endowment for Humanities Education with the Idaho Community Foundation, providing a sustainable source of support for the Council's annual, weeklong, residential summer institutes and workshops in the humanities for K-12 teachers. In 1997, the Council held its first annual Distinguished Humanities Lecture and Dinner in Boise, an event which has brought to Boise a long list of nationally prominent novelists, journalists, and historians to speak before hundreds of supporters every fall. In addition to the annual event in Boise, the Council also hosts Distinguished Humanities Lectures in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Coeur d'Alene. The Council also sponsors statewide reading and conversations programs, supports the work of the City Clubs of Idaho Falls and Boise, brings annual tours of Smithsonian traveling exhibitions to the state, hosts an ongoing Humanities Speakers Bureau, and funds the statewide annual ``Let's Talk About It'' program in partnership with the Idaho Commission for Libraries. For several years, the Council has underwritten Idaho Public Television programming, and has produced a number of publications that have explored Idaho history and recently an anthology of essays about the meaning of wilderness in Idaho. As a supporter of local and national arts and humanities programs, I consider Rick a friend and an advocate for sharing Idaho's cultural significance with the world. It's hard to imagine the Idaho Humanities Council without Rick, but I know he leaves the organization in a good place. For his enduring service to our great state, I thank and congratulate him.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 604 I was absent on account of personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted aye.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of several constituents in my district who have taken it upon themselves to improve their health and wellness by incorporating exercise and a balanced diet into their daily routine. Last year, my staff and I created the Idaho STEP Challenge. The goal of the challenge was to encourage residents from across the state of Idaho to get fit and healthy by walking virtually across the United States, while collecting data on a wearable activity tracker and pedometer. Beginning on June 1, 2016, a group of more than 300 residents and several workplace teams set out on the virtual walk across the United States starting at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and arriving at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Idaho more than a year later. The nearly 3,000 mile route took participants through 18 iconic American cities, national parks, and spacious heartlands. The event was documented on social media under the #hikewithMike hashtag, and through regular email newsletters sent to participants. Residents also shared their encouraging weight loss and fitness stories online, and uploaded their mileage counts to a special section of my website. The event was devised to be a non-partisan, non-political interactive event open to all Idaho residents. The Idaho STEP Challenge officially concluded on October 23, 2017. Those who participated demonstrated their commitment to healthy living and a spirited stand for fitness within our state. I would like to acknowledge the following participants for joining me on the virtual road to Boise and I thank them for promoting healthy lifestyles in our community. Nick Abshire, Jeff Daniels, Kathy Parks, Lisa Lane, Susan Littlefield, Miranda Collins, Jeannette Barnes, Jessica Padour, Suelynn Williams, Pat Mills, Kellie Gough, Carolyn Simpson, Maryl Fisher, Penny Handley, Fred Hughes, Carolee McKenzie, Patrick Kole, Dana Flatter, Miranda Smith Collins, Bart & Julie Harwood, Gerald Simpson, Wendy Jaquet, Celia R. Gould, Sheila Woods, Gina Martin, Ray Simpson, Jan Simpson Rhoades, Dennis & Sheila Conley, Toni Orth, Ron Fisher, Connie Pond, Angela Degni, Sheila Ames, Elizabeth Criner, Elain M. & James Long, Glen Tait, Cheryl Hardy, Shelby C. Sommer, Judy Slayton. Once again, thanks to all the participants in the Idaho STEP Challenge and I congratulate them on their commitment to a better Idaho.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Major General Gary L. Sayler, an extraordinary leader with 45 years of selfless service, appreciative leadership, constructive mentorship, and exceptional meritorious service. Born and raised in North Dakota, Major General Sayler entered the ROTC program at North Dakota State University, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in history and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He entered undergraduate navigator training at Mather Air Force Base, California, in June 1971. As a second lieutenant, he received F-4 weapons system formal training at George Air Force Base, California, graduating in December 1972. He immediately deployed to Vietnam as a squadron weapons systems officer at Udom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. In November 1973, he was assigned as a squadron weapons systems officer at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. While assigned at Holloman, he met his future wife, Shari, who was also serving at Holloman as a Nurse. Major General Sayler joined the Idaho Air National Guard in 1977 where he has served in numerous positions of increasing responsibility and command until he was designated the Fighter Wing Commander. Upon promotion to Brigadier General in 2004, he was assigned as the Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the Idaho Air National Guard. In January 2010, Governor Otter appointed him to serve as the Adjutant General and Commanding General of the Idaho National Guard. Major General Sayler's service to Idaho as the Adjutant General has been extraordinary. The forceful guidance, as well as-outstanding and dedicated efforts of General Sayler are significantly displayed by the strategic direction of all National Guard forces and emergency managers in the State of Idaho. He led the organization through weapons platform changes, unit conversions, and disaster assistance, always posturing the Idaho Military Division for continued viable, relevant future missions that fit both our nation and Idaho's needs. Under his leadership, the Idaho National Guard has provided outstanding support during recent state activations in support of wildland firefighting and statewide flood operations. He provided the same remarkable support when the Idaho troops deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and Combined Joint Task Force-- Horn of Africa. Additionally, his leadership during the 116th National Training Center (NTC) rotation facilitated superior operational results. He was the driving force behind formulating and implementing National Guard Youth ChalleNGe and STARBASE programs for the State of Idaho. He worked tirelessly promoting programs for Idaho youth providing alternative paths to success. Furthermore, the overall readiness of the 124th Fighter Wing gave credence to the outstanding mission results and professionalism they showed in their recent Southwest Asia deployment. General Sayler has placed command emphasis on preparing and taking care of deployed Idaho Guard members. His unparalleled support of Family Support, Yellow Ribbon, and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve programs has greatly benefitted the individuals who have recently returned from deployment and the families who welcomed them home. General Sayler authored the first joint consultation agreement with the sovereign tribes of Idaho, recognized at the national level by both the Army and Air National Guard as the baseline for Government-to- Government Tribal Consultation. General Sayler is an outstanding and highly respected officer recognized nationally for his many contributions to mission accomplishment during 45 years of dedicated service to our nation, the United States Air Force, and the great State of Idaho. It is a great honor to congratulate General Sayler on his remarkable career of achievement that will leave a lasting legacy to the State of Idaho. General Sayler represents the best of the many talented people in the Idaho National Guard whose knowledge and skill have been essential to keeping our nation and the State of Idaho strong and secure. I thank General Sayler for his service to our nation, and congratulate him on his many accomplishments and retirement.