Mike Simpson

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the gentleman. Madam Speaker, I rise to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes) and the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy). I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Gerald L. Beck for more than 38 years of service to educating Idahoans and on the occasion of his retirement from his current position as President of the College of Southern Idaho (CSI). During his time at CSI, Dr. Beck has been a strong advocate for promoting academic excellence in Southeastern Idaho as well as supporting economic development in the local community. Through Dr. Beck's work prior to joining CSI--which included starting a small business and working two regional managerial positions--Dr. Beck gained the experience necessary to begin a long and successful career educating those who now contribute to the economic development of Idaho Perhaps the most meaningful impact Dr. Beck has made is his role as an educator and administrator. Dr. Beck started his career at CSI as a technical instructor and went on to hold positions as the Coordinator of the Trade and Industrial Division, the Dean of Continuing Education/ Summer School, and the Executive Vice President/Chief Academic Officer. In his time at CSI Dr. Beck was able to integrate the higher education curriculum to support economic growth in southeast Idaho which created a mutually successful relationship between the college and local community. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank Dr. Beck for his service and commitment to higher education in Idaho I wish him well in the next chapter of his life alongside his wife Barbara, children, and grandchildren.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to seek and improve the quality of knowledge in the medical sciences, and to apply that knowledge in a meaningful way. The NIH fulfills this mission by maintaining high standards of scientific integrity, public accountability, and social responsibility. The NIH also enriches many colleges and universities across the country, because, though many Americans are not aware, a large portion of the budget is sent out to all fifty states in the form of extramural research grants. Through these grants, better education yields higher return on public investment in medical research. Thanks in part to research performed by the NIH, the life expectancy of a baby born in the United States is now 79--which is three decades longer than one born in 1900. Not only are we living longer, but our quality of life is improving. According to the NIH, the proportion of elderly with chronic disabilities has dropped by almost one third over the last 25 years. Research and development in the medical field is the key to curing not only cancer, but also a host of other diseases that impact millions of Americans. For citizens who suffer from pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest major cancers, such funding is not just necessary, it's urgent. It is critical that Congress do whatever is possible to support pancreatic cancer research at the NIH and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In meetings with my constituents who have shared their stories about pancreatic cancer, it has been clear that we could do more to find a cure for this disease. It is crucial that we, Members of the United States Congress, continue to support the NIH and its subsidiary, the NCI, by providing sustained and predictable funding. In these times of record debts and deficits and reduced budgets, it remains important that Congress continue to prioritize what is most important. The NIH is truly a national treasure. It is a light that we must not let fade.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Nicholas Cavarocchi Sr., a tireless advocate for oral health research, on the occasion of his retirement from CRD Associates and as the principal consultant for the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) after 33 years. Throughout his career, Nick has worked on every facet of health policy, from organizing an industry/patient coalition that led to the creation of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases at the National Institutes of Health to co-founding the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, the preeminent advocacy voice for supporting biomedical research. As a former senior health advisor to the House Appropriations Committee he worked to sustain NIH and Public Health Service programs that improve the health and well-being of millions of Americans. As the lead consultant for the AADR, Nick worked to educate members of Congress about the value and importance of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Throughout the past 33 years much progress has been made as a result of NIDCR supported research, which helped reduce the burden of oral disease and led to better oral health for tens of millions of Americans. Through AADR, Nick helped to mobilize thousands of oral health researchers throughout the country, encouraging them to reach out to members of Congress and tell us about the tremendous strides that have already been made and the promise dental research holds for further advances against oral disease and other disorders. Mr. Speaker, this month a longtime champion for oral health, and a friend, is closing a chapter and opening a new one. I wish Nick all the best in his retirement and in this new phase of his life.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, 521 years ago, an explorer named Christopher Columbus sailed west from Europe in an attempt to find a new route to the East Indies. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas, and as the story goes, he named the local inhabitants ``Indians.'' I note the irony that today has been designated Columbus Day, and here we are debating a bill to reopen key parts of the government so the United States can honor the treaty obligations our forefathers made to the American Indians--the first Americans. The bill before us today is a good thing because it gives us an opportunity to continue to highlight the poverty and other hardships that exist today in Indian Country as a result of the long, complicated, and difficult history of relations between the United States Government and more than 500 other sovereign nations that were here long before we were. So while we recognize and honor Columbus for his impact on our own Nation's history, let us also recognize and honor the first Americans for their proud history and the sacrifices they made, and continue to make, for this great Nation. That is why I would encourage everybody to vote for this bill. Frankly, I hope this bill isn't necessary. I hope that we can find a resolution to the differences that exist between Republicans and Democrats and that we can reopen all the government, as Mr. Moran just stated is necessary. I agree with him fully. We need to get the government open again, and we need to address the issue of the debt ceiling. It is heartening to know that leadership in the Senate, and hopefully in the House and the White House, is having some quality time together and that maybe we can come to a resolution before more dire things happen and we can get this government open, but I don't know that that is going to happen. In the absence of not knowing that that is going to happen, wouldn't it be wise to have at least some of these bills that fund some key elements of our government ready to go in the Senate so that we can open some areas that I think have bipartisan agreement that need to be funded and need to continue? I said in my opening statement Saturday that Indian issues have been bipartisan on our committee. They have been supported by both Republicans and Democrats whether it was under Mr. Dicks' leadership when he was chairman, Mr. Moran's leadership when he was chairman, or under my leadership. It has been a bipartisan issue to try to meet our treaty obligations and the moral responsibilities we have to the first Americans--American Indians. I want people in Indian Country to know that regardless of the vote on this resolution, whether people vote for it or against it, that bipartisanship will continue. We will continue to work together to try to make sure we address these critical needs in our Nation and our treaty and moral obligations we have. With that, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), a valued member of our subcommittee and an advocate for Indian issues.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order that the instructions contained in the motion violate clause 7 of rule XVI, which requires that an amendment be germane to the bill under consideration. As the Chair most recently ruled on October 11, 2013, the instructions contain a special order of business within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules, and, therefore, the amendment is not germane to the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I insist on my point of order.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the appeal on the table.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's motion.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Daines).

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), a valued member of our subcommittee and probably the largest advocate for Indian issues in Congress.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings), the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of this important legislation to continue funding for the Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Indian Education and for the Indian Health Service. This bill focuses on education, law enforcement, health care, and many other vital services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Mr. Speaker, long ago, the Federal Government made treaty commitments to American Indians, who, in return, ceded the vast lands that make up the United States today. Visit just about any Indian reservation today, and you will quickly realize that the Federal Government hasn't even come close to living up to its end of the bargain. My colleagues on the subcommittee who are on both sides of the aisle and my predecessors before me, Mr. Moran and Mr. Dicks, who chaired this committee, have been working hard over the past several years to address the critical needs and challenges in Indian country. Even in declining budget environments, on a bipartisan basis, our committee continues to make funding for Indian country a priority. That is why I doubt my friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle will oppose the merits of this bill. They might oppose the strategy of getting here, but they probably won't oppose the merits of the bill. It is something on which we agree on a bipartisan basis. For the past 11 days, the House has been attempting to reopen parts of the government without further delay and without trying to extract any further concessions from the Senate or the President. Mr. Speaker, you can't go wrong by trying to do the right thing. Right here, right now, those of us who care about Indian country have been given an opportunity to do the right thing. Let's not waste this opportunity by pointing fingers and arguing over everything other than the topic at hand. The topic at hand is Indian health, Indian education and the BIA. This is the hand we have been dealt. Let's do the right thing. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.J. Res. 80, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 371, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 80) making continuing appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SIMPSON. I yield for a parliamentary inquiry. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 528, Making continuing appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), who represents what may be one of the most beautiful places in this country, Yosemite National Park.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I am now happy to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I am disgusted that the gentleman from California would actually use the word ``jihad'' on the floor of the House. We should all reject his comments and he should be censured, but I won't call for it. I'm the last speaker, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, most people might not realize that Mr. Moran from Virginia and I are pretty good friends and we share a lot relative to our Interior Subcommittee. But I will tell you, what it reminds me of, when I'm listening to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, is if you say something long enough and often enough, maybe you will get the American people to believe it. Nobody over here voted to shut down the government. In fact, every time we passed a bill and sent it to the Senate, it was to keep the government operating. Did it include more than that? Yes, it did. And it was rejected by the Senate. So we sent them another one with another offer. They rejected it. We keep sending them things. Finally, what we said to them is: Let's go to conference and work out our differences. But no, they won't even sit and talk to us. So the distinguished minority whip from Maryland says: Let's do this; pass our idea, do it my way, and then we'll negotiate. Well, that's just backwards. We need to go to conference and settle our differences and get a bill out here that keeps the government operating. That's what everyone here wants to do. It is not a Republican shutdown. It is a Democratic ``my way or the highway.'' You agree with us or we will shut the government down. That's exactly what the minority party has done here. I would encourage my Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. I object.