Pete Stauber

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, in advance of the fifth annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Memorial March that is taking place in my hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, tomorrow, I rise to bring attention to the violence facing our Native American communities. Everyone has a right to live safely in their communities, but the murder rate of Native American women is currently 10 times the national average. More than half of Native American women have been sexually assaulted, and thousands of Native American women and girls have gone missing. This national crisis has been ignored for far too long, and it is time that Congress acts. That is why I cosponsored Savanna's Act, legislation that would better prepare Tribal law enforcement to respond to these crimes. I believe that this should be one of the easiest bills that we pass this year and call for its quick passage. Madam Speaker, I will be proud to march with our Native American communities this Friday and honor those we have lost. I believe that, together, we can bring justice to the missing and murdered indigenous Native American women and hold the individuals who commit these acts of violence accountable.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to a completely partisan bill in H.R. 2546, legislation that grows the reach of the Federal Government and strong-arms local stakeholders. To my colleagues in California and Colorado who are involuntarily affected by this legislation, I stand with you. Like them, I represent a vast district with significant Federal lands. Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District is the size of West Virginia. It features two national forests, a national park, a wild and scenic river, and a wilderness area. Like them, I have a colleague from an urban area in my State legislating in my district, as if they know what is best for our constituents and we don't. About a month ago, a colleague representing part of the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis-Saint Paul introduced a mineral withdrawal, putting over 235,000 acres off-limits. In northern Minnesota, the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools sharply rebuked this legislation, as the bill promises to deprive schools of millions of dollars in potential revenue. In Colorado, H.R. 2546 is opposed by Mesa, Garfield, and Montezuma Counties because of their concern about the impacts this expansion can have on their rural communities. What many in Washington, D.C., and Representatives of urban areas fail to recognize is how much this bill affects the daily lives of rural constituencies. For example, this bill will disallow proper forest management. Why not let our loggers clear the timber that leads to forest fires? It will disallow recreational activities like mountain biking. Why would we stop activities like that that help grow our local tourism industries? The National Guard Bureau is concerned about the high-altitude training in this area. Why would we impede the readiness of our military? Mr. Chairman, the trend of rejecting the input of local Members of Congress and local stakeholders is troubling. Whether it be in California, Colorado, or my great State of Minnesota, all our constituents ask for is to have a seat at the table and their voices heard. Please oppose this bill and send a message that locals affected by Washington, D.C., legislation need to be heard.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of the need for annual physicals through my participation in the Flannel Check Challenge. The goal of Flannel Check is simple: Wear flannel; schedule your annual physical screening; and cure diseases early. Some may ask, why flannel? The answer is that every individual disease has a color to raise awareness, like pink for breast cancer, light blue for prostate cancer, red for heart disease, and so on. Flannel and plaid patterns, which come in countless color combinations, create one identifiable pattern for all diseases. The unfortunate reality is that disease is all around, and the key to defeating any disease is by catching it early through annual physicals. However, only 20 to 25 percent of males and 60 to 65 percent of females go in for physicals every year. Madam Speaker, we must work together to raise awareness on this important issue. So I encourage everyone to participate in Flannel Check's challenge by wearing flannel and scheduling an annual physical today. Together, we can help save lives.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, so I rise today to renew my resolve to eradicate the horrific injustice that is human trafficking. Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery, as it strips individuals of their freedom and dignity. It has absolutely no place in our society. In my part of Minnesota, many of the women and children preyed upon by human traffickers are Native American. In fact, Minnesota currently ranks ninth in the Nation for missing and murdered indigenous women. As a Member of Congress, I believe we have a moral obligation and legislative duty to protect the most vulnerable. That is why I proudly support Savanna's Act, a bill that will empower Tribal law enforcement to address this devastating issue. I will also ensure that the recently created Federal task force on missing and murdered Native American women coordinates with State, local, and Tribal officials to more effectively solve unresolved cases and prevent similar violence. While these are steps in the right direction, our work is far from done. As a father, a former law enforcement officer, and a Member of Congress, I will not stop until human trafficking is eliminated and the criminals who have chosen to exploit others have been brought to justice.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the heartbreaking trend of violence troubling our Native American communities and recognize the Tribal leaders from my district who are taking a stand on this issue. Native American women in particular face a disproportionately high risk of violence. According to one study, the murder rate of Native American women is 10 times the national average. During my 23 years as a law enforcement officer in northern Minnesota, I heard far too many horror stories about trafficked or murdered Native American women. Too often, these cases go unresolved. These victims and their families deserve action. I was glad to hear that President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order establishing an interagency task force to review unsolved cases. I was especially pleased to see Fond du Lac council member Roger Smith, Fond du Lac chairman Kevin Dupuis, and Mille Lacs band chief Melanie Benjamin standing alongside our President in the Oval Office as he signed this executive order. I applaud Minnesota's Tribal leaders for standing united against this epidemic of violence, and I remain committed to supporting them in this critical mission.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Commander David Wheat, a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war from Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, who is about to celebrate his 80th birthday on December 16. David grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth before entering the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School and earning the commission of an ensign. In April 1965, he received his naval flight officer wings and was deployed to Vietnam, flying in an F-4B Phantom as a radar intercept officer. In October 1965, David was shot down and captured by enemy forces. He spent the next 7 years and 4 months as a prisoner of war in various camps, including the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Despite the cruel torture and inhumane conditions David endured at the hands of his captors, they were never able to rob him of his resilient American spirit. Following his release from prison, David vowed that he would be happy for the rest of his life. David went on to continue a life of service, reporting to pilot training and earning his naval aviation wings in 1975. Throughout his career, David flew various types of aircraft and retired after 20 years of honorable service. David also got married and started a family of his own. In my hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, we are incredibly proud to have a hero like Commander David Wheat living amongst us. David has been an active member of our community, supporting activities and fundraisers for various veterans organizations. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of every Minnesotan, I thank Commander Wheat for his brave service and wish him the happiest of birthdays. Taking a Stand Against Violence

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the critical need to pass the USMCA, a trade agreement for the 21st century. The USMCA would expand our markets, add $63 billion to the economy, and create 176,000 new jobs, with thousands of those jobs coming to Minnesota. When I am back in Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District meeting farmers, workers, and businessmen and -women alike, I am often asked why Congress has not yet passed the USMCA, even though it was signed by the President nearly a year ago. And my answer is this: If we voted on the USMCA today, it would pass the House with strong bipartisan support. Unfortunately, Democratic leadership's refusal to bring this critical trade agreement to the House floor for a vote continues, and uncertainty remains for millions of Americans. Pursuing partisan impeachment rather than clinching bipartisan wins for the American worker, is not what a majority of the American people sent us here to do. Enough is enough. I urge Democratic leadership to stop playing politics and join the rest of us in working for the American people. The time to pass the USMCA is now.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Jeremiah Heesaker and Theresa Miller of Ely, Minnesota, for their dedication to our Nation's veterans. Last week, in freezing cold temperatures, Jeremiah and Theresa led a small group of Minnesotans in laying wreaths decorated with American flags on top of 130 veteran graves in the Ely Cemetery. They laid all the wreaths out before Veterans Day weekend, hoping to bring happiness to all the families who would be visiting the grave of a loved one. For Jeremiah and Theresa, the care of our veterans is an issue close to their hearts. Jeremiah served in the Army in the 101st Airborne; Theresa's husband is also a veteran. Mr. Speaker, American heroes deserve to be treated in death with the same amount of respect and admiration that they earned in life. I am grateful to Jeremiah and Theresa for taking action to honor America's departed heroes and their families this Veterans Day. We must never forget those who have bravely served so that we can continue to live in the land of the free.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Chair, I rise today with my colleagues in opposition to this harmful legislation. Today, the other side of the aisle is kowtowing to the wealthy and elite environmental lobby by ignoring science and facts and legislating over the needs of rural communities. This heavy-handed Federal approach ignores potential revenues generated from State trust lands that would flow to schools and our local communities. I feel like we are living in the movie ``Groundhog Day'' sometimes. Time and time again, locals who live on these lands, who work in the area, who raise their families there, who represent these districts are supportive of these projects. Those who often know nothing about the local projects, the economy, or the environment are the ones who are inserting themselves in opposition. This illustrates the vast divide between the realities for local communities and the visions of environmentalists. What these visions tend to ignore is that the choice is a binary one. We either get these minerals needed for our everyday life, renewable energy, and national security from right here in the United States, or we import them from places like Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Chinese-owned mines in Africa. Do these countries have the same standards in place as we do to protect the environment? Madam Chair, the answer is no. Do these foreign mines hire workers with high-wage salaries? Madam Chair, the answer is no. Are these mines required to comply with a regulatory agency like the Mine Safety and Health Administration? Madam Chair, the answer is no. Do Russia and China have our best national security interests in mind? Madam Chair, the answer is no. Therefore, this legislation is baffling. Our enemies abroad could not have written a better bill to benefit their economies and national security goals while simultaneously damaging ours. Instead of arbitrarily deciding that mining is wrong, Madam Chair, let's look at the facts. One, it is unsustainable and irresponsible to continue our reliance on foreign adversaries for our minerals. Two, mining and a pristine environment are not mutually exclusive. Madam Chair, I encourage anybody in this body to come to northern Minnesota and view our reclaimed mines, which are home to the cleanest drinking water in the State of Minnesota. Or, how about visiting the Hermit Mine in Arizona. This was a functional uranium mine in the 1980s. It is now fully reclaimed with a pristine landscape. We need these minerals. Let's stand up against antiscience scare tactics and vote against this bill and in support of good jobs, renewable energy, and national security for our country.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, Veterans Day is right around the corner. In anticipation of this important holiday, I rise to recognize a veteran from my district whose service and patriotism has our whole community rallying around him. Stan Cvar is a World War II Navy veteran who always flies the American flag outside his home in Hibbing, Minnesota. Unfortunately, back in September, someone stole Stan's American flag from his property. Stan was devastated, as the flag was not just a symbol of the Nation he risked his life to serve but a treasured gift from his son. The fact that someone stole a cherished American flag from a member of the Greatest Generation was deeply upsetting to many in the northland, myself included. Next week, I will have the chance to personally deliver a flag that was flown over the United States Capitol to Stan and his family. It will be an honor to meet this American hero and offer him a token of our gratitude. Madam Speaker, as Veterans Day approaches, let us all remember that after everything our veterans have done for us, we must always ensure that we are standing up for them.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I want to thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for their great leadership on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I am pleased to rise in support of my bipartisan legislation that improves the safety of air travel. I would also like to thank my colleague, Mr. DeSaulnier, for his support and leadership on this legislation as well. Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, are extremely important to safety in our skies. NOTAMs are critical as they relay safety information to pilots that allow them to understand the possible hazards and conditions of airports and runways before actually getting to the destination. The current system simply is not working as well as it should. NOTAMs are often buried in lengthy reports conflating important safety information with more common alerts. These inefficiencies have the potential to create life-threatening situations. My bill creates a task force at the FAA with important input from safety experts and industry professionals to address what changes need to be made to NOTAMs to make air travel even safer than it already is. Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on future legislation that directly helps the American people, and I urge support for my bipartisan bill, the Notice to Airmen Improvement Act.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Roger Swor, a paramedic from my district who has dedicated his life to providing exceptional emergency medical care. Roger is now the longest-serving street paramedic in Minnesota and was recently honored by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for achieving 40 years of National EMS Certification. This is a distinction held by very few EMS professionals. Roger has answered tens of thousands of 911 calls in his career. He has done everything from holding dying crash victims in his arms to delivering babies. As described by his nephew, Adam, who served many shifts alongside his uncle, ``Roger is universally regarded as the paramedic you want to see when you are in trouble.'' On behalf of Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, I congratulate Roger on his recent achievement and thank him for his professional service. Paramedic Roger Swor, you are the best of the best.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Bruce Stender for his exceptional contributions to the State of Minnesota as an educator, businessman, and community leader. From 1975 to 1981, Bruce worked as the first lay President of the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest president of any Catholic college in the United States. Following his tenure at St. Scholastica, Bruce joined Labovitz Enterprises, serving 25 years as president and CEO. His hard work and success eventually earned him title of Businessperson of the Year in 2005 from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Labovitz School of Business and Economics. Committed to the betterment of his community, Bruce has also served on a number of healthcare, business, and statewide boards. Mr. Speaker, this next month, the College of St. Scholastica will publicly honor Bruce's illustrious career through the naming of the Stender School of Business and Technology. The naming of this department after Bruce will ensure generations to come will remember his service and generosity. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to see Bruce receive this recognition, and cannot think of a better way to celebrate his life's work.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Young for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to this Democratic messaging bill, H.R. 1146, a harmful attempt to undermine responsible energy development. Throughout the history of our country, we have observed a pattern of politicians in Washington and the East and West Coasts legislating based on what they think is best for the folks in the rest of the country. As we have listened to debate today, we can clearly see that this Washingtonian habit is alive and well. My good friends on the other side of this issue think they know better than the Alaska Natives living within ANWR; they think they know better than those who would benefit from job growth; they think they know better than the unions; and they think they know better than the people closest to the project. I urge my colleagues to take a step back and look at the unsettling trend that is occurring throughout this country of outsiders with a tenuous grip on the truth imposing their will on the people really impacted by these local projects. For instance, in my home State of Minnesota, the same thing is happening with the replacement of Line 3. People from the Twin Cities who are unimpacted by this project are launching efforts right here in this Chamber to stop the replacement and stop the job growth and economic development that would accompany it. Instead of putting our laborers, operating engineers, teamsters, and construction workers to work, they support legislation that is undermining these jobs. These projects are meant to develop our natural resources to ensure our energy independence and not reduce our reliance on foreign and hostile nations to this country. We responsibly develop our energy with the strongest environmental standards and labor standards in the world. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. Let's listen to those affected directly by these projects and do what is right.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude for the St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad, located in northern Minnesota, and their quick response to an emergency that took place in my district a little over a month ago. At the end of July, a group of Girl Scouts traveled to northern Minnesota to experience the beauty and magnificence of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Their trip unexpectedly hit a rough patch when severe thunderstorms rolled in and lightning struck close to their campsite. A few of the girls reported feeling something from the ground, potentially a ground current, and needing precautionary medical attention. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is very remote, making any rescue attempt more complex and rigorous. Nevertheless, the St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad members immediately sprang into action, navigating five portages by motorboat and then canoe, escorting the girls back to safety. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful that the Northland has such a capable and well-trained group of individuals dedicated to the safety of our neighbors and visitors. Due to their hard work over the years, many emergencies have been averted and lives have been saved.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable woman named Mary Ruth Pardue. Mary's life serves as an example of what it means to be a true American patriot, public servant, and caregiver. Mary became a registered nurse after receiving a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Virginia Nursing College. Shortly after the United States entered World War II, Mary joined the United States Army Nurse Corps and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. She served our country courageously in the North African and Italian campaigns as a trauma and surgical nurse. When a soldier received a terrible injury, Mary was often the first person on the scene, ready to provide first-rate care. Mary's bravery and compassion did not go unnoticed. She was awarded a Bronze Star for her actions in protecting her patients while under fire from hostile forces in northern Italy. Madam Speaker, Mary recently passed away in Duluth, Minnesota shortly after her 100th birthday. Her devotion to her country and to the health of our citizens will never be forgotten. My prayers and condolences go out to her family and loved ones.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Chabot for yielding. Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 2345, the Clarifying the Small Business Runway Extension Act, is a bill that does exactly what it says: makes clear the intent of the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018. The Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 was simple, straightforward, and unambiguous. It simply extended the Small Business Administration's receipts-based size calculation from a 3-year average to 5 years. Recognizing the significance of this bill for small businesses, the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 easily passed through both the House and Senate and became law on December 17, 2018. Within 4 days of the law's passage, the SBA stalled its implementation, issuing an information notice that effectively contradicted the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 by maintaining the 3-year calculation until the agency could go through the rulemaking process. Coincidentally, or perhaps because of the pressure exerted by Congress and the public, the SBA issued its proposed rule for the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 mere days before Chairman Golden and I held a hearing in the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure to hold the SBA accountable for its delay. Unfortunately, the proposed rule still maintains the current 3- year standard in SBA regulations. During this hearing, we highlighted how this conflict in law versus SBA regulation imposes significant, real-world challenges for small businesses that may be teetering on the edge between small and other- than-small business status. The need for clarity was a constant and recurring theme, and this bill provides that clarity. First, H.R. 2345 makes clear that the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 does, in fact, apply to the SBA and, therefore, should have become effective on the date it was signed into law. Thus, businesses relying on the 5-year average to remain in their small business status were correct in their assessment and may continue to hold this status. Second, the bill requires the Small Business Administration to develop a transition plan for small businesses and Federal agencies as they shift to the 5-year rule. The transition plan shall include a buffer period in which firms that benefit from the old 3-year calculation may continue to rely on that formula for a set amount of time as they prepare for the eventual shift to the 5-year average calculation. In short, H.R. 2345 restates the intent of Congress as written in the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 and adopts solutions that will create a smooth transition for all parties involved. This will allow more businesses to retain access to SBA benefits, including loans and contracts, that have allowed our small businesses to grow, thrive, and greatly contribute to our economy. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Golden for his leadership on this act. It was and is a privilege to work with him on the Small Business Committee. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2345, the Clarifying the Small Business Runway Extension Act.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Timothy McDonald and Deb Schott, who both tragically perished in a helicopter crash at the Brainerd airport last month. Both Timothy and Deb dedicated their lives to helping others. Timothy was a medical pilot for North Memorial's Air Care Unit and had previously served in the United States Army. He did two tours in Iraq. Deb was an emergency flight nurse for North Memorial's Air Care Unit. She had worked in the medical field since she was 19 years old. Timothy and Deb both had outstanding reputations in their respective fields and were both beloved by their coworkers. My thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones. Madam Speaker, our first responders are often the first on the scene, ready to help in times of crisis. We must never take the work they do or the sacrifices they make for granted.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman and ranking member for including my amendments in these en bloc amendments. Mr. Chair, my amendment is simple. It requires the Secretary of the Navy to create a report regarding the feasibility of doing maintenance work on naval vessels at shipyards other than shipyards in the vessel's home port. Currently, the Navy has a tremendous maintenance backlog, but under current law, there are certain restrictions that limit where naval vessels can undertake maintenance repair. Unless these restrictions are lifted, the Navy's backlog will only increase exponentially. At the same time, there are fully qualified shipyards in the rest of the United States, including the Great Lakes region, Gulf Coast, and Alaska, that can perform repair work for certain types of naval vessels. Yards such as Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wisconsin, have the capacity and skills to do this work. They just need the chance. I know Fraser Shipyards and others are dedicated to the national security mission of the United States and would be an efficient and competent service provider, and I am certain Fraser Shipyards and others within the Great Lakes do not stand alone in this process. Although these vessels may not be homeported in these regions of the country, it should be within the Secretary's discretion to decide what types of vessels could be sent to such shipyards to help with the Navy's maintenance backlog. This could include noncombatant vessels, vessels with minimal crews, or other vessels that only need limited periods of time in shipyards for the repair work. The opportunity to create additional geographic repair centers presents the United States Navy an opportunity to diversify their industrial base, create resiliency, and improve our military readiness. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Congressman Duffy and Congressman Cox for cosponsoring this amendment, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support the en bloc amendment.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today ahead of a public hearing set to be held in my congressional district by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the proposed delisting of the gray wolf. The gray wolf has recovered. In fact, back in 2013, the Obama administration delisted the gray wolf for precisely the same reason we are today: because of science. Yet the gray wolf remains listed, and without a State-developed management plan in place, the population in northeastern Minnesota is growing at an uncontrollable rate. Within the Duluth city limits, which is the largest city in Minnesota's Eighth District, a Labrador retriever was recently attacked by wolves while its owner was just a few feet away. Attacks on cattle owned by farmers trying to make ends meet continue to be all too common. Madam Speaker, my State's Department of Natural Resources will effectively manage the species once the Federal Government moves itself out of the way. I am incredibly grateful to Interior Secretary Bernhardt and the Fish and Wildlife Service for choosing to hold this forum in the heart of gray wolf country. No one knows this issue better than those living in northeast Minnesota.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I voted AYE on Roll Call number 378 when I intended to vote NO.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, if this unanimous consent cannot be entertained, I urge the Speaker and the majority leader to----

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. I thought my final amendment was a no-brainer, Madam Speaker. It would have increased the Forest Products Timber Sale program by a little more than $6 million. Because it is in the National Forest System, it would have no negative budgetary effect. The Forest Products Timber Sale program provides needed resources for Forest Service personnel. It allows them to research, recycle forest products, and find new ways to market them. Meanwhile, an increase to this program means getting our loggers out in the woods and creating jobs for our communities. This would have directly benefited both Superior and Chippewa National Forests. It would have allowed our loggers and our Forest Service personnel to handle local environmental challenges like ensuring fallen trees do not contribute to forest fires. My amendments would have directly benefited the small, rural communities in northern Minnesota. Unfortunately, powerful politicians used the system to their advantage by rejecting my amendments and preventing even an open debate on the issues.

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Woodall for yielding to me today. Madam Speaker, I offered four amendments to improve this bill and benefit northeastern Minnesota, but, like last week, all four were rejected. They were not rejected on the merits, of course, but they were rejected in the Rules Committee before even being debated on the floor. Two of my amendments would have removed onerous studies put in place by seasoned politicians from the Twin Cities and Washington, D.C. These studies in the committee report language are simply designed to delay important job-creating mining projects in my district. Unfortunately, these politicians play politics with the consequence of killing jobs because, to them, our livelihood and these mining projects are nothing more than some faraway idea in a faraway land. Their well-funded interest groups oppose these jobs, so they attempt to move the goalposts, lay down more red tape, require more studies, and make it impossible--or at least attempt to make it impossible--to permit. I say this: we can do both. We can mine and keep our environment pristine and clean. However, to my constituents, these projects are a reality. These good-paying jobs will put food on the table, and they will put gas in our car and clothes on the backs of our children. These jobs will allow us to work, recreate, play, and raise a family in northern Minnesota. These projects not only mean good-paying, union-protected mining jobs in cutting-edge industry, these projects can mean a larger property tax base, increased enrollment in our schools, and a population growth in our communities. These mining projects are a big part of our economic engine, yet Washington, D.C., and Twin City politicians can sneak language into a committee report to undermine a fair process, while arbitrarily rejecting my amendments. Another amendment I introduced would have ensured no funding is available to list the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act. As I testified last night at the Rules Committee, the gray wolf has recovered. Even the Obama administration attempted to remove it from the Endangered Species Act in 2013. In northern Minnesota, wolf attacks on cattle and domestic pets are becoming far too common, burdening our farmers who already are struggling. One small northern Minnesota county alone accounted for 21 confirmed wolf attacks on cattle, and local officials expect the number to be much higher, as many cattle that simply go missing are likely wolf attacks. Because the gray wolf is listed as Federally endangered, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is unable to control them. Our local experts, who truly understand the problem, have their hands tied because politicians in this town, Washington, D.C., think they know best. But they do not.