Pete Stauber

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I remind my friends on the other side of the aisle that the United States imports 46 percent of the copper we consume every year from foreign nations ourselves. The first step to reshoring and securing our mineral supply chain must be to allow and support domestic mining. H.R. 3195 does just that. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman), my good friend.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from California is right. The United States does produce a lot of copper, but it uses even more. In 2016, the United States was only 29 percent import reliant on copper. Eight years later that number has risen to 46 percent. This trend cannot continue. We must support our new domestic mines to meet our own demand. Mr. Speaker, I will also say that my colleague just referenced a Harvard study that was not peer-reviewed. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, my colleague from California just mentioned temporary jobs. When we first started mining iron ore 145 years ago, the American Rockefeller family thought they were going to be just temporary jobs as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, first off, they have never completed an environmental review. I will be very clear: There will never be mining in the Boundary Waters or the buffer zone around it. That was decided in 1978. This bill will not circumvent or shortchange environmental review in any way. We are not requiring any permits or mine plants be approved. We are simply requiring that they go through the review process the way any other project would move forward. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer), the majority whip.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, I want to reiterate the fact to the American people, there will be no mining in the Boundary Waters, and there will be no mining in the buffer zone around the Boundary Waters. That was settled in 1978. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), the Chair of the full Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and am prepared to close. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. The Biden administration's mining policy is: anywhere but America, any worker but the American worker. The Republicans refuse to allow child slave labor to happen. We refuse to allow this great country to purchase minerals mined by child slave labor in Congo. We will not turn a blind eye to the atrocities and the slave labor happening in Congo where this administration wants to purchase its minerals. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3195. The bottom line is you can't be a proponent of national security, a proponent of reducing global emissions, and a proponent of fair labor, and yet be against domestic mining at the same time. Congress voted to spend billions of dollars on building out transmission and increasing renewable energy development, all of which require enormous amounts of copper, nickel, cobalt, and other minerals that can be sourced right here in the United States of America in my home State of Minnesota. Issuing directives to pursue renewable energy development while at the same time denying access to the minerals needed to domestically manufacture the products simply does not make sense. The International Energy Agency estimates that achieving net zero by 2050 would require six times more mines than are currently operating today. While the U.S. is blessed with abundant mineral resources within our borders, domestic, primary mine production of critical minerals-- those defined by USGS as essential for our economic and national security--decreased by almost 25 percent from 2022 to 2023, forcing the U.S. to look elsewhere to source these materials. We cannot totally rely on our allies to access these vital resources. China currently dominates global production for over half the materials on the critical minerals list. Biden's mining policy of anywhere but America, any worker but American must be stopped. We can mine these minerals domestically under the best labor and environmental standards in the world. We know this all too well in northern Minnesota, where mining is our past, our present, and our future. If we get the politics out of the way, our mining future will be bright. Minnesotans know how to do it. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for this bill from the National Mining Association, Jobs for Minnesotans, Mining Minnesota, Up North Jobs, Range Association of Municipalities and Schools. I also include the project labor agreement between Twin Metals Minnesota and Iron Range Building and Construction Trades Council. Washington, DC, April 29, 2024. Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries: On behalf of the National Mining Association (NMA), I am writing to express our strong support for the Superior National Forest Restoration Act (H.R. 3195). Ensuring access to our federal lands for responsible mineral exploration and development is critical to securing the essential materials necessary for nearly every sector of our economy. Northern Minnesota is a place of tremendous natural beauty and is also blessed with worldclass mineral deposits including copper, nickel and essential metals that are vital for U.S. economic and national security priorities. In fact, this area contains the largest undeveloped deposits of nickel, copper and platinum metals in the world. Despite these abundant resources, the U.S. continues to be increasingly reliant on foreign sources of metals and minerals, including from geopolitical adversaries that do not share our values when it comes to environmental, labor and safety standards. The Biden administration's self-sabotage of domestic mineral supply chains through mineral withdrawals, restrictions and duplicative permitting processes is completely out of step with the dramatic increase in minerals production that is needed in the coming decades to keep up with new technologies, infrastructure and manufacturing needs, let alone the administration's energy transition goals. Instead of ceding our nation's mineral supply chain security to other countries, the U.S. should utilize its world-class environmental standards to produce needed minerals while protecting our environment. H.R. 3195 supports responsible mineral exploration and development in an area specifically designated and set aside by Congress and the U.S. Forest Service for such activities. The administration's anti-mining actions continue a dangerous trend of politicizing domestic mineral supply chains first initiated in the waning days of the Obama administration. Continuing to pursue dangerous policies that lock up federal lands with high mineral potential will both kill future mineral development in this region and deny the hard-working men and women of Northern Minnesota the opportunity of high- paying jobs--all, while eliminating significant revenues for Minnesota's rural communities that come from these projects in the form of taxes and royalties. These revenues support local schools and important regional development projects. Currently, less than half of the mineral needs of U.S. manufacturing are met by domestically mined minerals. H.R. 3195 will help change this alarming trajectory by ensuring access to one of our nation's important mineral deposits. The NMA urges passage of this important legislation and continued trust of our nation's strong environmental regulations and system of due process to strengthen a reliable and stable domestic mineral supply chain for the future. Sincerely, Rich Nolan.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I want to just rebut my colleague from California. He put up a picture, a devastating picture, alleging that Republicans would do that to an animal. I utterly reject that type of behavior on the House floor, and he knows better. I thank my colleague from Colorado for bringing H.R. 764, the Trust the Science Act, to the House floor for consideration. This legislation would have an enormously positive impact on my State of Minnesota where the gray wolf population has more than recovered. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources estimates Minnesota's gray wolf population to be roughly around 2,700, which greatly exceeds the Endangered Species Act recovery goal for the State. However, many experts, hunters, and farmers with boots on the ground estimate the real number to be anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000. The majority of Minnesota's gray wolf population resides in the district I represent in northern Minnesota, placing the burden directly on the people I represent. In the meetings I have held throughout my district, I am constantly hearing from my constituents who are fed up with the dramatic rise in the wolf population. Whether it is the hunters who have been reporting low deer numbers, farmers and ranchers who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of livestock, or grief-stricken families whose pets have been killed by a gray wolf, the overall consensus is that something needs to change. Administration after administration have attempted to delist this species, only to have well-funded activist groups come out of the woodwork to challenge these efforts with litigation. Most recently, an activist judge in California, living hundreds of miles away from gray wolf country, ordered the Biden administration to relist the gray wolf. The Trust the Science Act would delist the gray wolf in the lower 48 States and ensure this action is not subject to judicial review, eliminating the constant back-and-forth that we have seen play out in the courts over the years. Contrary to what some may argue, this bill does not throw out protections for the gray wolf. It simply turns management of the species over to wildlife managers in each of the individual States. States then will be able to enact fit-for-purpose protections for the specific needs of the species in each respective State. As the title of this bill appropriately conveys, we need to trust the best available science, which considers the gray wolf to be an Endangered Species Act success story. We cannot continue to allow activist judges and radical environmentalists to weaponize the Endangered Species Act at the expense of other species and the communities we represent. Mr. Speaker, Minnesotans treasure wildlife. While we celebrate the recovery of the gray wolf, we also believe it should be our right to responsibly manage our State's population. It is time to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list once and for all. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Trust the Science Act so we can get Federal bureaucracy out of the way and finally allow State agencies to create wolf management plans that meet the unique circumstances and conditions in each State. The people we represent think that we should also do that.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of the Agency Accountability Act. I will start by thanking the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey) for his support with this legislation. I can think of no better way to start off National Small Business Week than by passing legislation to ensure the Federal contracting system has a fair playing field for even the smallest of our businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the innovators, the job creators, and the driving force behind economic growth. In Minnesota, small businesses account for over 99 percent of all businesses and employ over half of the workforce. The very least that we can do is to ensure that small businesses have every opportunity to contract with the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, the Federal Government. Right now, Federal agencies set goals for awarding contracts to small businesses, but meeting those goals is often treated like a suggestion and not a requirement. The result? Too many agencies fall short, leaving billions of dollars out of reach of American small business owners. My bill, the Agency Accountability Act, changes the game. It shines a spotlight on agency performance by requiring public testimony for failures. Agency heads will answer directly to Congress for missing goals, explaining why they haven't prioritized small businesses and what they will do to fix it. This isn't just about finger-pointing. It is about finding solutions. Public scrutiny, paired with mandated reporting on scoreboard performance, will expose systemic roadblocks and identify best practices. Our small businesses are more than just economic engines. They are the embodiment of the American spirit, equipped with creativity, resilience, and a fierce determination to succeed. This bill gives them a fighting chance, a seat at the table, and the opportunity to prove themselves on the national stage. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Agency Accountability Act.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6492, the EXPLORE Act, which I am proud to cosponsor. You know, Minnesotans are fishermen and -women. We hunt, we hike, we snowmobile, we ski, we ATV--you name it. Simply put, Minnesotans know how to recreate. More importantly, Minnesotans are some of the greatest conservationists in the world. Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District is blessed to be home to the Chippewa in Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and the Grand Portage National Monument. Minnesotans not only want to enjoy these treasures themselves, but they want their children and their children's children to enjoy everything God has offered our great State. Maintaining our public lands is just a part of our way of life in northern Minnesota, and I am proud to support legislation that will ensure our public lands remain accessible wonders for everyone, including the rest of the world. The EXPLORE Act will, in short, ensure all Americans can reap the benefits of the great outdoors. It does so by requiring our Federal land managers to ensure our vehicular use trails are properly maintained, providing safe, quality shooting range access on our National Forest and BLM lands, and expanding and enabling access for our Nation's Active-Duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Mr. Speaker, this is really good legislation that serves the American people. I thank my good friends, Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Grijalva, and other Members on the Committee on Natural Resources for their work on this bill. This is a good, bipartisan piece of legislation, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chair, our permitting system is a great burden to our Nation. It delays infrastructure projects indefinitely, stops us from bringing energy sources online, and deters investments in our communities. Let's make no mistake, permitting is holding back America. H.R. 7023, the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act, seeks to unleash the American economy. It is a package of commonsense reforms that will reduce regulatory burdens, establish certainty, and increase transparency in our permitting system. This bill will, in turn, create opportunities for home builders, farmers, loggers, and small business owners alike, enticing them to invest in projects that help our local economies grow and our rural communities flourish. I highlight section 5 of H.R. 7023. Section 5 is the language of my bill, the Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act. Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act allows the EPA to veto a dredge and fill permit. However, the EPA has taken it upon itself to proactively reject the permits and retroactively take away permits. In a country of due process, it seems absurd that a Federal agency can dictate whether a project is good or bad before an application is even filed. If we reject ideas before they mature, we crush any chance of ingenuity, growth, and progress in this country. Do innovators no longer deserve the opportunity to make their case and share their creative solutions? Further, the ability to take away permits when projects are well underway is outrageous, a constant threat that the government will waltz in and shut down years of hard work--talk about creating an unwelcoming atmosphere for our job creators. This section of H.R. 7023 is not a dramatic departure from the status quo. It is clarifying a timeframe. When an application is pending, the EPA can make a determination whether or not to veto. It does not change the process, nor does it take away the EPA's right to veto. It just makes things clearer for those who want to bring projects online and help unleash the American economy. It returns our process to one that is science-and fact-based, rather than politically motivated. Mr. Chair, I thank Congressman Rouzer for his work on this package of reforms.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. 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.R. 1121.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1085, I call up the bill (H.R. 1121) to prohibit a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1121, the Protecting American Energy Production Act. H.R. 1121, introduced by Congressman Duncan, would prevent any President from issuing a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing while also establishing a sense of Congress that States should regulate the practice on State and private land. Hydraulic fracturing has been around for almost 100 years. The practice, combined with recent technological improvements and the advent of horizontal drilling, has propelled the United States to global energy superpower status. This surge in supply has contributed to lower energy prices for consumers, stimulating economic growth, and improving the quality of life for all Americans. In truth, a ban on hydraulic fracturing would cripple the American economy while surrendering world energy leadership to Russia, Iran, and China. Federal efforts to regulate fracking, which is currently adequately regulated by the States, could have an equally devastating impact. The 2005 Energy Policy Act clarified that Congress never intended the Federal Government to regulate fracking under the Safe Drinking Water Act. In the Obama administration, the Bureau of Land Management attempted to regulate the practice for Federal lands and minerals, but the courts threw out that effort. In the decision, the judge clearly stated, ``Congress has not delegated to the Department of the Interior the authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing. The BLM's effort to do so through the fracking rule is in excess of its statutory authority and contrary to law.'' Currently, States regulate fracking, and each has comprehensive laws and regulations to provide for safe operations, to protect drinking water sources, and to have trained personnel effectively regulating oil and gas exploration and production. In addition to preventing the President from implementing a unilateral fracking ban, this bill would also express a sense of Congress that States should maintain regulatory authority over fracking on State and private lands. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 1121, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, one of the things my good friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle have stated is that the Big Oil and Gas companies are making record profits, and these bills are essentially tax cuts for Big Oil. That couldn't be further from the truth. This President's anti-energy agenda has driven up energy prices for all Americans, which also has created greater revenues for Big Oil companies. If Democrats are really concerned about energy prices, the best thing they can do is mirror the energy dominance policies of the previous administration. Doing so would create abundance, driving down energy prices for all Americans. Producers with no more than $5 million in retail sales of oil and gas in a year account for 83 percent of America's oil production, 90 percent of its natural gas, and natural gas liquids production. These are small businesses, Mr. Speaker, often locally and independently owned with a handful of employees, but collectively they support 4.5 million American jobs. Our Republican energy bills help ensure small businesses can continue to operate on Federal lands. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say that this bill, H.R. 1121, is unnecessary, as the President has not proposed a hydraulic fracturing moratorium. They say it sets a dangerous precedent for limiting the authority of the President and the Secretary of the Interior to manage energy resources on Federal lands. The fact is, this President, on the campaign trail, said: ``No more, no new fracking.'' This was candidate Biden. We know from what he has done in his first 3-plus years in office, don't necessarily listen to his words, watch his actions. He has done it on mining. He said we were going to mine domestically for our critical minerals. Once he became President, he changed his tune. Now he wants memorandums of understanding with other countries that are adversarial to the United States. After years of disastrous energy policies by this President, we know we cannot take him for just his word, which is exactly why this bill is necessary. This is especially true, Mr. Speaker, given that the Obama administration's Bureau of Land Management tried to regulate fracking. The courts ultimately stopped this effort. In the decision, U.S. District Court Judge Skavdahl clearly stated: ``Congress has not delegated to the Department of the Interior the authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing. The BLM's effort to do so through the Fracking Rule is in excess of its statutory authority and contrary to law.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, my good friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle make statements that fracking is mostly unregulated and the practice can consume millions of gallons of water. They say this is industry first and that the Republicans look to take away and protect public health and combat the climate crisis. That couldn't be further from the truth. Absolutely couldn't be further from the truth. According to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, member States each have comprehensive laws and regulations to ensure safe operations and protect drinking water sources. They have trained personnel to effectively regulate oil and gas exploration and production. Mr. Speaker, even President Obama's own EPA found that fracking has no widespread systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States of America. No evidence has arisen that this practice is dangerous, and to say anything else is simply fear-mongering to the American people and pandering to the radical left that would rather have us rely on Iran, Russia, and Venezuela for our energy needs. Mr. Speaker, one last thing. This President took the sanctions off Iran. Iran is now making $90 billion because those sanctions were taken off. Who do you think is funding the war against Israel? Iran, the top sponsor of terrorism. He took the sanctions off. When we produce here in the United States of America, it is a win- win, Mr. Speaker. It is the safest, and the cleanest. It employs American technology, American resources, provides American jobs. It helps American families, American communities. We do it better than anybody else. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have continuously said that oil production on Federal lands is at an all- time high. The fact of the matter is that the production is occurring on lands leased by the Trump administration and previous administrations. I guess my colleagues now support the policies of the Trump administration as best they are trying to take credit for them. My good friend, Ranking Member McGovern, made this point in the Rules Committee just yesterday. After mentioning that America is a top energy producer, he said: ``Let me be very clear. I am not highlighting these facts because I like them. I find it very troubling that we are producing so much oil. . . . '' How very sad it is to hear that from my colleagues. Why are they so ashamed that we produce energy here in America? Would they rather us be dependent on Russia, Iran, or Venezuela for oil and natural gas in the same way Democratic policies have made us dependent on China for critical minerals? We should celebrate American energy independence where, again, we do it cleaner and safer than anybody else in the world with the best labor standards. Mr. Speaker, let's celebrate the opportunity. Let's be happy the good Lord blessed the United States with these rich minerals and this opportunity to become energy independent and critical mineral dominant. My friends and neighbors, I want the technology here in the United States. I do not want this country to depend on foreign adversarial nations for our livelihood. We have learned so much during COVID, Mr. Speaker. We cannot rely on adversarial nations for our energy any longer, nor should our allies. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STAUBER

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act. H.R. 6009, introduced by Congresswoman Boebert, would nullify the Bureau of Land Management's proposed onshore oil and gas leasing regulations. While on the campaign trail, then-candidate Joe Biden said during a primary debate: ``No more drilling on Federal lands.'' That was candidate Biden. The BLM's proposed regulations attempt to accomplish President Biden's campaign promise by limiting onshore leasing, reducing flexibility, and increasing fees. The regulations propose eliminating nationwide bonds while increasing individual bonding requirements 15-fold and statewide bonding requirements 20-fold. The BLM's stated rationale for doing this is to protect taxpayers from having to clean up orphaned wells. One would think that there is an orphaned well crisis on BLM lands, given the significant cost increases the rule proposes. However, the opposite is true, Mr. Speaker. According to the Department of the Interior, there are only 37 orphaned wells on BLM lands, and the Department has used bonds to plug wells on Federal lands just 40 times over this last decade. The proposed regulations would also be extremely harmful to small businesses. Tom Kropatsch, the Wyoming State oil and gas supervisor, said: ``The bonding provisions will impact hundreds of small businesses in Wyoming, resulting in lost royalties, taxes, and other revenues to local and State government, and likely will create orphaned wells, not protect against them.'' While he is speaking of his home State of Wyoming, the impacts would be the same in energy-producing regions nationwide. The regulations also introduce new and vague preference criteria for evaluating onshore oil and gas leasing. The criteria seemingly intended to avoid conflict in areas with ``sensitive cultural, wildlife, and recreation resources.'' Don't be fooled. The criteria, which could be applied to any parcel of land, are meant to lock up lands from resource development and shut down future oil and gas production. President Biden is once again proactively taking steps to increase energy prices, reduce American energy production, and ultimately diminish our national security. To continue using Wyoming as a case study, in 2022 and 2023, the Wyoming BLM had initially offered to sell 830 parcels covering 954,281 acres. However, through successive rounds of an environmental review that incorporated considerations of these preference criteria, the Wyoming BLM deferred 462 parcels encompassing 586,000 acres. That is 61 percent of the acreage that should have otherwise been available that was ultimately deferred due to these new criteria--and the regulations aren't even final yet. BLM's proposed onshore oil and gas leasing regulations are an attack on domestic energy production that will further lock up our Federal lands and eliminate access to our natural resources. We will not stand idly by as the Biden administration increases our reliance on foreign adversarial nations. It diminishes our national security and inflates already unaffordable energy prices. H.R. 6009 acknowledges the BLM statutory mission of managing our Federal lands for multiple use, including energy and mineral development. It will keep our country safe by ensuring continued domestic energy production. It will benefit American families, American communities, American jobs, and our small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.