Bill Shuster

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure be discharged from further consideration of the bill (S. 2377) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 200 West 2nd Street in Dayton, Ohio, as the ``Walter H. Rice Federal Building and United States Courthouse'', and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of the Bedford High School girls soccer team of Bedford, Pennsylvania. The Lady Bisons capped off an unbeaten season by bringing home the PIAA Class AA State championship on Saturday, November 17. This is a monumental accomplishment for the school. It is Bedford High School's first State championship in any sport. It is the first school from District 5 or 6 to win a State championship in their history. The Lady Bisons defeated the Lewisburg Green Dragons in overtime 1-0, finishing their season with a perfect record of 22-0. The Lady Bisons, coached by Jeff Thomas, were led to victory by their five seniors--Jenna Brown, Bailey Donaldson, Brooke Lankey, Hallie Sisk, and Amber Thomas--who scored the winning goal on a penalty kick just 52 seconds into overtime at Hersheypark Stadium. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate the players, the coaches, and the families of the Bedford High School girls soccer team on their Pennsylvania State championship. The passion, commitment, and teamwork shown by these young women will surely follow them in their future endeavors as well as inspire the Bedford community for years to come.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank all my members for the great support they have given me on both sides of the aisle to move a lot of bipartisan legislation. I want to thank them for that. I thank my subcommittee chairmen for their leadership in working with me. Finally, I thank my counterpart, the leader of the Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sometimes being a worthy foe, most of the time being a dependable and able ally. I thank him for all his work. I also thank him for the very, very thoughtful small going away gift that he gave me. I appreciate that greatly. Again, I finally thank him for all his effort and work. I have no say in who is going to be the next chairman of the committee, but I can tell you that nobody is more able and knowledgeable about the transportation and infrastructure world than Peter DeFazio. I wish him the best and look forward to seeing him down the road. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 140, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support S. 140, the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. It is a good bipartisan bill. I urge all my colleagues to vote for it. Finally, I would like to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle. On our side, especially, I thank the Coast Guard Subcommittee staff and John Rayfield, who heads up that staff, for his tremendous work. He just informed me that, under the subcommittee's jurisdiction, we will have authorized every single program under that committee's jurisdiction. Great work by John and his team on the subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the names of the staff on the committee. From Chairman Shuster's Staff: John Rayfield Bonnie Bruce Lt. Commander Luke Peterson Kevin Reig Maggie Chan Kathy Loden Brittany Smith Hannah Matesic Fred Miller Geoff Gosselin Chris Vieson From Ranking Member DeFazio's Staff: Dave Jansen Kathy Dedrick Alex Burkett From the Office of Legislative Counsel: Hank Savage Tom Dillon

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), who is the former chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and an advocate for the Coast Guard.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), who is the current chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation, the former chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, and the namesake of this bill.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), who is the chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to come to the floor tonight, not only with another Coast Guard reauthorization bill, but it will be the last bill I will pass and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will pass, as my chairmanship expires and I leave Congress here at the end of the year. So it is a proud moment for me. I am especially proud that S. 140 was named the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. This is a product of bicameral and bipartisan efforts. The Coast Guard is an armed service with a very difficult mission: to enforce all Federal laws on, under, and over the high seas in the jurisdiction of the United States. This bill supports the Coast Guard and its servicemembers by authorizing funding for fiscal year 2018 and 2019. The legislation includes three bills reported from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: the Coast Guard Improvement Reform Act of 2017; the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017; and the Federal Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 2017. The bill promotes commercial and recreational vessel safety, protects the environment, modernizes Coast Guard administration laws, and provides protection for American business in regard to foreign shipping alliances. Once again, it authorizes a heavy icebreaker to be purchased by the Coast Guard. We just hope the appropriators find the funding to do that for a much-needed icebreaker. The bill is named for our colleague, Frank LoBiondo, who previously served as chairman and ranking member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee during five different Congresses. His leadership on the subcommittee translated into many legislative victories for the Coast Guard and their hardworking Coast Guard members. So it is absolutely fitting to name this after Frank LoBiondo. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Reauthorization Act by voting ``yes'' on S. 140, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on S. 140.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the bill (S. 140) to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to clarify the use of amounts in the WMAT Settlement Fund.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Joseph C. Calio, Jr. of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a decorated World War II Hero who recently passed away peacefully at the age of 96. Mr. Calio was emblematic of the young soldiers who fought and won that great conflict, then humbly returned home to lead productive lives and raise solid families as part of our country's so-called ``Greatest Generation.'' Joe grew up in the deprivation of the Great Depression and was called to duty in World War II with the 95th Infantry Division of the United States Army. For his courage and valor in battle, he was honored with several awards including the Bronze Star Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Honorable Service Lapel Button. Upon returning back to Ohio, Joe served for 40 years as an Auxiliary Policeman in the town of Lyndhurst where he was also a longtime participant, quarter master, and post commander of a local VFW Post. Along the way, he and his late wife Susan raised four children--Mary Ann, Joseph C. III, Nicholas, and Susie--who blessed their lives with 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Sadly, we lose nearly 400 veterans per day, like Mr. Calio, who bravely served our great nation in World War II. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, less than 500,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in that War remain alive. We owe them a great debt of gratitude for their efforts, and shall never forget the sacrifices they made. So I am honored to help celebrate the noble and meaningful life of Joe Calio, as I believe his selfless dedication to country and community is something many of us can learn from in our own lives. The impact of his service is sure to continue through the achievements of his remarkable family who, while saddened by his passing, proudly carry on his distinguished legacy.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, since September 11, 2001, Congress has recognized that mass gatherings of people may require special protections from threats, including threats from unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Following the attacks that Tuesday morning, the FAA created temporary flight restrictions (TFR) over stadiums and other large gatherings, which Congress later codified. Today, TFRs are in place during NFL games, Major League Baseball games, NCAA Division One football games, and NASCAR Cup Series, Indy Car, and Champ Series races. These restrictions apply to all aircraft--commercial airliners, private aircraft, and UAS. In recent years, however, there have been increases in UAS operations over stadiums (and arenas) in violation of these restrictions. For example, in November 2017, a UAS dropped leaflets into Levi's Stadium during a San Francisco 49ers' football game. That same UAS operator then tried to repeat the stunt later that day at the Oakland Coliseum, but local law enforcement intervened and arrested him. Had this been a nefarious UAS operation, the harm could have been much worse since local law enforcement lack the authority and proven technology to take counter-UAS measures. During consideration of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-250), Congress and the Administration worked together to address the growing concern that UAS could be used to attack the United States and its citizens. Division H, ``Preventing Emerging Threats'' grants the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) limited and narrow authorities to protect the safety or security of a covered facility or asset as defined by the bill. Further, section 210G(k)(3)(C)(iii)(II) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by this Division, allows for the Secretary of DHS to work with state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials to mitigate threats from UAS ``upon request of the chief executive officer of the state or territory, to ensure protection of people and property at mass gatherings, that is limited to a specified timeframe and location, within available resources, and without delegating any authority under this section to State, local, territorial, or tribal law enforcement.'' I believe that this provision is narrow in its intention: that the federal government, acting through DHS, may provide assistance to state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials to protect mass gatherings from UAS operations that pose a threat to the safety or security of people in attendance. I also believe that this provision represents an opportunity for DHS to partner with state, local and tribal law enforcement officials on best practices to prevent an incident at stadiums or arenas at the request of a State. As Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I encourage DHS to seek input from sports organizations, local law enforcement agencies, and others on the use and deployment of the authorities provided in this legislation, including the development, testing, and use of countermeasures for unmanned aircraft systems. If DHS does enter into partnerships to protect stadiums or arenas, then the safety of the airspace must not be put in jeopardy. Any measures used by DHS to counter potential UAS threats must not interfere with the aviation safety, civilian aviation and aerospace operations, aircraft airworthiness, or the legal use of the airspace.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters of exchange which were to have been placed during consideration of S. 756 on July 25, 2018. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, July 10, 2018. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Bishop: On June 27, 2018, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure ordered reported with amendment S. 756, the Save Our Seas Act of 2017. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with an additional referral to the Committee on Natural Resources. I ask that you allow the Committee on Natural Resources to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Natural Resources represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as in the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Thank you for your consideration of my request. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1082) providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 302, with an amendment.

Mr. SHUSTER. 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 materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this will be one of the last Transportation and Infrastructure bills this House will consider this Congress and the last during my chairmanship. I am extremely proud to bring a bill to the floor that has bipartisan and bicameral support today. H.R. 302 includes the FAA Reauthorization Act, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, the National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act, and other priorities from multiple House committees. The FAA Reauthorization Act provides for 5 years of critical stability for our aviation programs and infrastructure. This is the first time since 1982 that we will be passing a 5-year bill. Again, as I said, it brings the stability and certainty to the aviation industry that it needs to produce and perform the way it needs to. This bill cuts red tape in the certification process, which means that our manufacturers of avionics and aviation airframes will be able to move forward faster, bringing those products to market faster, quicker, and more efficiently. It encourages American innovation and improves aviation safety, and it provides long-term funding to the Airport Improvement Program. Many Members' small- and medium-sized airports are going to benefit greatly by this. This bill also includes the Disaster Recovery Reform Act. It is the largest FEMA reform package since 2006 post-Katrina law. In particular, DRRA focuses on predisaster mitigation. Building better and building smarter before disasters strike is a wise use of our resources. This will save lives, will save money, and will bend the cost curve by spending a little bit of money up front to make sure these disasters don't have the devastating effects that they possibly could have. My mother used to say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is what this bill does. I want to thank the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and other committees who worked on this bill. I especially want to thank Chairmen LoBiondo and Barletta, Ranking Members DeFazio, Larsen, and Titus, and Senators Thune and Nelson for their hard work on this bill. I, finally, want to thank the staff of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the legislative counsel for working tirelessly for months and late nights, often on weekends, to complete this bill. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support today's legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, September 26, 2018. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Shuster: I write concerning the House Amendments to the Senate Amendments to H.R.302, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018''. I appreciate you working with me to include matters in the House Amendments that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security. Several provisions included in the House Amendments will go a long way to better protect Americans and our Homeland. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the House Amendments in the Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018''. I look forward to working with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on additional legislative initiatives this Congress. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), who is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), who is the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta), the chairman of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves), chairman of the Highway Subcommittee, a great ally and someone who understands the aviation industry and general aviation like nobody else in Congress.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), who truly is an expert when it comes to emergency management and disaster recovery.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis), a great friend and one of the hardest working members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.