Glenn Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4245, introduced by our Maine colleagues, Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin, makes a commonsense adjustment to the Federal law to eliminate regulatory duplication. This bipartisan bill, as reported, protects fishermen, small businesses, and their fresh, domestically harvested seafood destined for export by exempting them from the duplicative U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspections and permits. During the legislative hearing on H.R. 4245, both sides of the aisle expressed concerns over these inspections, especially on sea urchin. In fact, one of our minority colleagues said it best when he called the inspections dramatic overkill. In addition, one witness discussed how Federal inspection delays have spoiled shipments that cost businesses thousands of dollars. This bill removes that Federal delay. I commend our Maine colleagues for working on a bipartisan basis to address this matter. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an exchange of letters with the chairmen of the House Ways and Means and the Foreign Affair Committees regarding this bill. We thank them for agreeing to help expedite consideration on this bill today. I urge the adoption of this commonsense measure. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, July 7, 2016. Hon. Kevin Brady, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: On December 10, 2015, the Committee on Natural Resources favorably reported as amended H.R. 4245, to exempt exportation of certain echinoderms and mollusks from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means and Foreign Affairs. My staff has forwarded the reported text to your committee for review. Based on this text, I ask that you allow the Committee on Ways and Means 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 Ways and Means 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 Natural Resources to memorialize our understanding, as well as in the Congressional Record. Thank you for your consideration of my request, and I look forward to further opportunities to work with you this Congress. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4245) to exempt importation and exportation of sea urchins and sea cucumbers from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank Mr. Katko for his leadership on this piece of legislation and for bringing this to our attention and bringing this process to the floor. I urge its support. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko), the author of this legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Fort Ontario is a military installation, located on the mouth of the Oswego River in New York, that was used during the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. The fort has a rich history of over 200 years of active military use and was destroyed and rebuilt on three separate occasions. At various points in history, it also served as a training post, as a hospital camp, and as an emergency refugee shelter. H.R. 4202, which was introduced by Congressman John Katko of New York, authorizes a special resource study to evaluate Fort Ontario's national significance and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System. I urge the adoption of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4202) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of Fort Ontario in the State of New York, as amended.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this is important infrastructure for this community in Colorado. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers on this piece of legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Since 1882, the town of Minturn, Colorado, has used Bolts Ditch to fill Bolts Lake, a place of recreation for the town and an important source of water for the surrounding community. When Congress passed the Colorado Wilderness Act in 1980, 450 feet of Bolts Ditch was inadvertently included in the Holy Cross Wilderness area, which led to questions about the town's ability to access this important infrastructure. After a discussion amongst stakeholders, the town agreed to seek a legislative solution to address this access issue. This bipartisan bill simply allows the Forest Service to issue a special use permit to the town of Minturn to allow nonmotorized access to maintain a headgate and water ditch in the Holy Cross Wilderness. This bill ensures the town will have access to Bolts Ditch for basic maintenance needs. H.R. 4510 was developed in consultation with the community and the Forest Service, and it enjoys support from a wide range of groups in the region. I urge the adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4510) to insure adequate use and access to the existing Bolts Ditch headgate and ditch segment within the Holy Cross Wilderness in Eagle County, Colorado, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), the author of bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Fort Frederica National Monument, located on St. Simons Island, Georgia, preserves the archaeological remnants of a fort established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe. Oglethorpe constructed the fort to protect the colony of Georgia from attack from the Spanish. The fort successfully fended off a Spanish attack in 1742 and confirmed Georgia as a British territory. H.R. 3480, introduced by Congressman Buddy Carter of Georgia, expands Fort Frederica by 21 acres. The St. Simons Land Trust currently owns the additional acreage and will steward the land until the National Park Service can acquire the property. This bipartisan bill is cosponsored by the entire Georgia delegation, and Congressman Carter worked closely with Chairman Bishop to modify the bill before markup. I urge the adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his support of this piece of legislation, and I urge passage of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the opportunity to bring my legislation, the Cooperative Management of Mineral Rights Act of 2016, to the floor today. The Speaker's Task Force on Reducing Regulatory Burdens cited many examples from across the country of how our Nation's regulatory system is constricting both job growth and economic development. This legislation solves one such example in my district, where gross regulatory overreach by the U.S. Forest Service, in partnership with environmental groups, sought to halt American energy production in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This energy production has occurred for generations in the region through conventional methods and remains a staple industry throughout many communities in the region. More recently, responsible energy development in the Marcellus shale has occurred in my district, which has pushed the United States to lead the world in energy production. Just a few years ago, American families were forced to pay absurd energy prices and to look to foreign countries to meet our energy needs. Today, Pennsylvanian energy is reducing prices and meeting our Nation's demands, while also employing thousands of American workers. For years, the Forest Service had worked cooperatively on a balanced approach to ensure responsible energy development could occur in the Allegheny National Forest. This balanced approach was tossed aside when the Forest Service sought to put crippling new regulations into place on privately held mineral rights in my district. After years of litigation, the courts decisively ruled against the Forest Service's authority to implement such regulation. This legislation simply codifies what the courts have already ruled, restoring a balanced management approach to the Allegheny National Forest. Part of this balanced approach includes companies providing advance notice before commencing operations, which they have done for decades. While nothing in my bill circumvents this requirement, I was pleased to work with my colleague across the aisle, Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Ranking Member Alan Lowenthal, to accept his amendment to make this point crystal clear. Today the House ends just one example of Federal overreach that has put the well-being of many families in my district in jeopardy. It is my hope that the House can continue to roll back the red tape to generate greater American prosperity. I urge adoption of the measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, I was proud to join with a bipartisan group of my House colleagues yesterday in introducing H. Con. Res. 144, recognizing the 75th anniversary of the American Tree Farm System. The American Tree Farm System is operated by the American Forest Foundation. It is the largest and oldest sustainable forestry program for forest owners. The program was created in 1941 in order to engage and support landowners to ensure the health and safety of the forests, especially in facing wildfires in the Western States. This resolution commends the work of tree farmers and volunteers across the Nation who have participated in the program over the past 75 years, especially their investments in time, manpower, and personal funds to further sustainable forestry practices. Mr. Speaker, family forest owners own the largest share of forests in the United States. These forests provide for Americans well beyond their properties, as they help to maintain clean water, clean air, wood supply, wildlife habitat, jobs, and recreational opportunities. Programs such as the American Tree Farm System help these forest owners continue to steward our lands and protect those benefits.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of 60 years of dedicated service by Thomas ``Tom'' Allgeier to his community as a volunteer firefighter. Since 1956, Tom has volunteered to serve the citizens of Greene Township, Erie County, as a member of the Kuhl Hose Company. As a volunteer firefighter myself, I know how important people like Tom are to the communities they serve. Tom Allgeier joined the Kuhl Hose Company at the age of 18, when the company was in its early days. He has held many positions during his 60 years with the company, including fire chief, deputy chief, fire captain, first lieutenant, and EMT. He has also served in administrative roles for the department, from president to vice president and treasurer. He has chaired many fundraising committees and helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the department over the past six decades. Tom remains among the leaders in training, hours logged each year, both in weekly drills and attending classes to keep his training current. At 78 years old, Tom is still running emergency calls. I know I speak for countless members of his community in applauding Tom's hard work and his dedication.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentleman for his leadership with this amendment. This amendment is meant to address the overreach, a punitive approach that the EPA is taking, intervening itself within a process that the States are taking the leadership of cleaning up a treasure--the Chesapeake Bay. We are not talking about taking away funding. As chairman of the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, there are significant conservation dollars that go into cleaning watersheds. Watersheds are part of the jurisdiction of the subcommittee that I chair in this House on the Agriculture Committee. This amendment is identical to one approved by the House last year in consideration of the Interior appropriations bill, Mr. Speaker. I have been hearing since 2009 from my constituents, many of which own farms, about the significant challenges and the costs of the Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily load, or TMDL, mandate. These significant concerns also extend to the State and local governments because of the billions of dollars in direct costs and new regulatory burdens the TMDL imposes. The Agriculture Committee's Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, which I have the honor of chairing, has also listened to the concerns of stakeholders over the past few Congresses. While each and every one of these witnesses wholeheartedly supports the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, there remains great concern over the lack of consistent models, the heavy- handed approach of the TMDL, and the lack of needed flexibility while implementing the watershed implementation plans, or WIPS. This amendment is needed in order to allow for that flexibility at the State and local levels. Pennsylvania has been very innovative in our efforts to do our part with the bay restoration, and that restoration will continue into the future. However, rather than acting punitive, the EPA must work collaboratively with the States. I strongly support this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank my colleagues on the House Education and the Workforce Committee for their support last week in passing a reauthorization that I offered, the Carl D. Perkins Act, in the form of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. Now, I am proud to say that this bill passed unanimously out of committee, which is good news because a reauthorization is badly needed. It is no secret that our country continues to face significant economic challenges, and it is no surprise that many men and women are worried about their futures and their family's future. Last week a Gallup poll found that 54 percent--just 54 percent--of Americans believed today's young people will live a better life than their parents. As a father, I can say there is nothing a parent wants more for their children than a life that is better than their own. When you hear that only half of all Americans expect their children to have a brighter future than they did, it becomes clear that we need to do better. And we can do better, not just for our own kids, but for the neighbor who can't find a job, the friend from church who struggles to make ends meet, the family that has been trapped in poverty with no pathway out, or the high school student who struggles and has no hope or inspiration that he or she has what it takes to succeed. With the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, we have an opportunity today to advance reforms that will help these and many other Americans, especially young Americans, obtain the knowledge and skills that they need to break the cycle of poverty and to achieve a lifetime of success. This bill will modernize and improve current law to better reflect the challenges and realities facing students, workers, and employers. The bill will empower State and local leaders by simplifying the application process for receiving Federal funds and providing them more flexibility to use those resources to respond to the changing education and economic needs. These reforms will help State leaders focus on preparing students for the workforce--not duplicative or overly prescriptive Federal requirements--and enable them to determine the best way to do so. To increase transparency and accountability, H.R. 5587 streamlines performance measures to ensure secondary and post-secondary programs deliver results, helping students graduate, prepared to secure a good- paying job or further their education. The bill also includes measures to provide students, taxpayers, and State and local leaders the information that they need to hold CTE programs accountable for delivering those results. Finally, H.R. 5587 will reduce the Federal role in career and technical education and limiting opportunities for the Federal Government to intervene in State and local decisions and preventing political favoritism. This is a bipartisan bill, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their help in creating it. I look forward to seeing it on the floor of the United States House of Representatives hopefully in the near future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the selfless service of volunteer firefighters across Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, our Commonwealth, and the United States of America. Yesterday, as a 35-year veteran of my own community volunteer fire department, I joined with volunteer firefighters and actually one paid fire company from across the Fifth Congressional District in discussing their service and the challenges that they are facing. I was proud to be joined by more than 20 departments tasked with serving in communities and places such as Erie, Jefferson, Elk, McKean, Venango, Potter, and Clarion Counties. As a volunteer firefighter myself, I was very interested to hear about their concerns regarding funding, adequate training, and one of the biggest problems facing volunteer fire companies: declining enrollment and manpower. I look forward to working with each of these companies in the future to help address many of these issues. It is hard to overstate the importance of the volunteer men and women who put their lives on the line in order to protect their neighbors and their communities. I have the highest degree of respect for their service, and I look forward to continued cooperation in the future.