Glenn Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this has been, once again, a really catastrophic wildfire season. In fact, we saw the loss of lives of individuals who serve our country in the United States Forest Service, and so we certainly keep them and their family members in our thoughts and prayers. It is time that we address this issue in terms of the expansive fires that we have seen. The administration has been very vocal for the need to provide more funding to combat more wildfires and also stop more fire-borrowing from the Forest Service budget. As a matter of fact, there was a press release yesterday regarding the administration's letter to Congress addressing the budget issue. I agree there needs to be a solution, but fixing the budget is not the final solution. However, addressing the fire-borrowing will not solve the problem alone. Mr. Speaker, in 1995, fighting wildfires consumed one-sixth of the Forest Service budget. In 2015, this August, it is consuming one-half, 50 percent, of the Forest Service budget. We have to address, though, the root cause of this problem, which is not just warmer temperatures, but it is largely the fuel load, the fire load, from the lack of active management, insufficient active management, in our national forests. It is also very important that the Forest Service have the ability to expediently treat national forest acres for forest health and wildfire prevention. The Agriculture Committee passed through the House H.R. 2647. I was very proud to be a cosponsor of that bill and managed that bill on the floor. It passed with bipartisan support. This bill is called the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015. This legislation is an earnest attempt to give the Forest Service more authority and much- needed flexibility to deal with these challenges of process, funding, litigation, necessary timber harvesting, and much-needed active management in our national forests. Now, the Obama administration strongly opposes this legislation despite, yesterday, in an Agriculture oversight hearing where we heard from the Under Secretary words like ``collaborative'' and the ``need for expedited NEPA,'' which is a national environmental assessment. It doesn't mean there is no assessment; it just does it in an efficient way. It provides what is necessary, not overregulation, providing more categorical exclusions to NEPA. Those were all things the Under Secretary said that this administration is supportive of. Well, Mr. Speaker, those are all things in this bill, and yet the administration, for whatever reason I have a hard time understanding, is opposed to this bill. One of the solutions here, obviously, is to do good, active timbering. I want to come back, Mr. Speaker, to those years, 1995, where one-sixth of the Forest Service budget was consumed for fighting wildfires--and that is a lot, one-sixth. That year, they generated 3.8 billion board-feet of timber. That was the harvesting that took place. Just 7 years prior to that, we were harvesting 12.7 billion board-feet. That was the high in recent decades, in 1987. As you can imagine, when you are doing that much harvesting, you are reducing the fuel load. You are reducing the risk. Fire needs oxygen, it needs fuel, and it needs some type of energy to ignite it. If you take away the fuel, any of those three triangles, as a long-time firefighter, I can tell you that is how you prevent fires. Yet today, August 2015, where we are spending one-half of the Forest Service budget, we are taking money out of timbering programs and multiuse programs, they are only producing 2.4 billion board-feet from our forests. Now, you look at what is the value of that? So you take the difference between where we were at a high of 12.7 billion board-feet-- and that wasn't at a sustainable rate; we were growing much more timber than what we were cutting even in 1987--so that is a difference of 10.3 billion board-feet. How do we put an economic value on that? Well, if you just look at what the most recent average is for board-foot of timber harvested in national forests, Mr. Speaker, and you calculate that difference, if we would be harvesting and active timbering, active management the way we should, just looking at that 1987 standard--which is well below what we potentially could be cutting--that is $169 billion in revenue coming into the Treasury of the United States. Our national forests are meant to be resources that provide for our Nation. With $169 billion, do you know what, I think we would have the resources to fight the fires. But if we were truly timbering where we should be, we wouldn't be having those fires. The U.S. Forest Service did recently announce that it has already surpassed its more than $1 billion budget for fighting wildfires and that it will have to transfer an additional $450 million from programs which benefit national forests across the Nation. This is the eighth time since 2002 that the service has had to transfer such funds because of wildfire costs. Such transfers take money directly out of timber harvesting and salvage logging, recreational activities, grants to States, and even funding for fire suppression. There is a better way to do things. I look forward to working with our Forest Service, and I encourage the Obama administration to support that. Mr. Speaker, I agree with many of my colleagues that these wildfires should be treated as natural disasters and the Forest Service needs budget flexibility. This is why I strongly support H.R. 167, the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act. Avoiding these funding transfers, keeping funding where it belongs, and increasing our harvest are critical first steps in getting our nation forests on track.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week. Unfortunately, in the past several years, we have witnessed an increase in suicides among our Active-Duty members of the Armed Forces and our veterans populations. Prior to my tenure in Congress, I served nearly three decades addressing the mental health needs of individuals who have suffered life-changing disease and disability. This is an issue I remain passionate about, particularly when addressing the mental health of those who place their lives on the line in serving this great Nation. Mr. Speaker, I remain confident this body can do right by our servicemembers and veterans. A part of that is advancing the Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act, which is intended to improve suicide prevention by instituting a mental health assessment for all new military recruits, which will then be used as a baseline throughout their military careers. This was included in the 2016 National Defense Authorization. Our dedication to this cause is the least we can do for those who have sacrificed so much for their Nation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reject President Obama's Iranian nuclear deal, which would lift sanctions on the regime before delivering any proof that it is acting in good faith to curb its nuclear program. I continue to have concerns that this deal is dangerous and will simply delay Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. We should seek a strong deal to ensure that the current regime is never able to obtain a nuclear weapon. This is not what we have been delivered by the negotiators. Sanctions against the regime are the reason they came to the negotiating table. We should negotiate from a position of strength and not surrender to removing sanctions before there is proof of compliance. The President is attempting to sell the American public on a deal that provides billions of dollars that can be used to support Iran's clandestine activities, which will further destabilize the region. Any agreement must first advance our national security and the security of our allies. A clear indicator of future performance is always past performance. Unfortunately, Iran has a decades-long history of misrepresentation when it comes to its nuclear program.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of those lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is hard to believe that so many years have passed since the tragic events of 9/11, since the sadness and loss are so fresh for many throughout this Nation. The attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and my home State of Pennsylvania stand as the most cowardly and senseless acts of terrorism ever perpetrated against the United States and its citizens. My family and I continue to solemnly offer our thoughts and prayers for those who were impacted that day. We also salute those who came to aid, those who rushed into the World Trade Center before the towers fell, the first responders at the Pentagon, and the passengers who made the ultimate sacrifice, downing United Flight 93 in Somerset County before it could reach its intended destination. Among those who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City was Mary Ellen Tiesi. Mary Ellen was a native of Irvona, Clearfield County, and was working in the South Tower on that morning 14 years ago. Family members have said that, after the attack, Mary Ellen was exiting the stairs of the tower with a friend. She stopped to wait for her boss, who she knew had a heart condition. Her boss eventually took the elevator, but Mary Ellen continued down the stairs. She did not make it out of the building and was the only Clearfield County native to lose her life in the attacks in New York. Three years ago the Pennsylvania Route 53 bridge in Irvona was renamed in her memory. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the kindness Mary Ellen Tiesi showed for her coworker on one of the worst days our Nation has ever known. Let us never forget the thousands like Mary Ellen who truly embody the undying resolve of the American people.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Ridgway Rifle Club, which has been called the ``Silhouette Capital of the United States.'' This type of target practice involves shooting at steel targets at varying distances. While silhouette shooting has been around for 100 years, the Ridgway Rifle Club has the distinction of being the first club east of the Mississippi River to open this type of a shooting range, in the 1970s. The range has grown over the past 40 years to include silhouettes of all shapes and sizes. One of its most recent creations, the Varmint Bench Rest Silhouette, includes small targets that are placed 1,000 yards from the shooter. Mr. Speaker, the Ridgway Rifle Club's silhouette range is very popular, with more than 100 people attending matches each month. The range has even attracted national attention, and it was recently featured on the television program ``Shooting USA.'' I wish the club continued success in nurturing a love of target shooting, shooting sports, and its support of the Second Amendment in our communities and for future generations.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the accomplishments of Ernie Pellow, a man who dedicated his life and career to his community of Franklin and to its region's housing industry. Mr. Pellow was recently awarded the Pennsylvania Builders Association's Distinguished Achievement Award, which has only been given to a handful of that organization's members over the past two decades. Madam Speaker, Ernie's accomplishments are extensive. He is the founder of Builder Services, Incorporated, and the creator of the Home Builders Show in Venango County. He has also received numerous awards, including Builder of the Year in 1996 and the Executive Office Service Award from the Pennsylvania State Senate. Perhaps more importantly than all of this, Madam Speaker, Ernie Pellow served his Nation bravely and, since then, has participated in more than 1,000 Honor Guard events. Now, I am one of the many elected officials who have relied on Ernie's advice and support in the area of home construction. I congratulate him on this award and his continued service to his community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, July 26, we marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The passage of this landmark legislation signified a commitment to eliminating barriers faced by millions of individuals with differing levels of disability. It required businesses, buildings, transportation, and other services to accommodate those living with disabilities and guaranteed equal opportunities for workers with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, 25 years later it is apparent that we have made tremendous strides in upholding the intent of this vastly important civil rights law. Today countless Americans are empowered to shape their own lives and plan their own futures as they experience their daily obstacles decreasing over time. While we have so much to celebrate, there is always more progress to be made. This Congress I introduced the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act with the goal of eliminating a current prohibition on a person with a disability to create his or her own special needs trust. This long overdue legislative fix was recently passed by the Senate Finance Committee, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to guide this and similar measures through the legislative processes here in the House.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, recently I visited the Tionesta Research Natural Area of the Allegheny National Forest. This old-growth area is home to many 600-year-old hemlock trees. During this visit, Mr. Speaker, I spoke to forestry officials about efforts to fight the woolly adelgid. I even applied a treatment designed to combat the invasive insect to one of these massive trees. Mr. Speaker, many States are involved in the effort to fight the adelgid, which originated in Japan and was first found in the United States in the early 1950s. It can kill a hemlock tree within a few years after it becomes infested. In 2012, I teamed with Federal researchers and those from my alma mater, Penn State University, at a forum I hosted to discuss efforts to save our State tree, the Eastern Hemlock. As the chairman of the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, I am proud Pennsylvanians are among those leading the way in fighting this disease and protecting our forests and the economic stimulus that these forests provide both through timber and through tourism, making sure that these magnificent trees which have stood for centuries will stand tall for future generations. Special Needs Trust Fairness Act

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, responsible use and recycle of coal ash has the ability to reduce waste, provide construction materials, and keep utility costs low. This past April the EPA released yet another rule aimed at coal by mandating new standards for the disposal and storage of coal combustion residuals. As a result of this proposal, the House considered and passed H.R. 1734, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015. This legislation codifies the base standards of EPA's final proposed rule, while also giving flexibility to the States to implement. Specifically, H.R. 1734 will allow States to create and enforce their own coal ash recycling permit programs. It also sets up enforceable State permit programs while utilizing the EPA's minimum requirements and will protect 316,000 jobs. Mr. Speaker, States also have the option to make their requirements more stringent than the EPA's final rule if they choose. I strongly support and was happy to vote for H.R. 1734 and the responsible use of coal and coal ash. Pennsylvania Hemlocks and the Woolly Adelgid

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, since 1983, tens of thousands of students have participated in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, or CBYX, program with Germany. This program allows young professionals from both the United States and Germany to spend a year abroad to intern and study a different culture while living with a host family. During their experience, students from both countries develop a better understanding of foreign cultures and expand their knowledge and leadership potential exponentially. This fellowship provides extensive language training, strong courses of study at foreign universities, and the opportunity to be fully immersed in another culture, thereby culminating in a very unique experience. Members of the German-Bundestag hold this program in especially high esteem as they hand select their nominees and build very strong personal relationships with them. While Members of the United States Congress are not as involved in the selection process of American participants, the American equivalent would include the prestige that congressional nominations for military academies carry. Over the years, this program has shown tremendous success in fostering a stronger relationship between the United States and Germany, which is why I was particularly disappointed to see the Department of State cut its funding by half in 2015. These reductions of CBYX came despite Congress' continued bipartisan support over this program for decades. To prevent the collapse of this program altogether, Germany graciously closed the gap in 2015 by authorizing additional funds to negate the funding cuts that the U.S. had implemented. However, they maintained this was not something that they would be able to continue, and without the U.S. restoring funding, the continuation of this program was in jeopardy. To further emphasize the significance of CBYX, German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted her disappointment in the funding cuts to President Obama during her visit to the United States in 2015. During those deliberations, she said: We were not pleased . . . because we very much value this partnership program. And I believe that all of those who participated as young people have also had unforgettable experiences. Especially now, 25 years after German unification, we want to continue this program. Given the fact that there are no longer as many American soldiers experiencing Germany as in the past, it is even more important that young people learn as much as possible from one another. In fact, the State Department's own U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy countered the cutbacks during its 2014 annual report. In it, the Commission is quoted as saying: We believe that it is against our interest to invest less in our relations with the German public at a critical time when facing dual threats from Russia and countering violent extremism in Europe, while also trying to secure the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement with the European Union . . . the cutback of U.S. investment in the Congress-Bundestag exchange also sends a strong message to the German public and government that the U.S. does not value the relationship with a critical ally whose public is increasingly skeptical of the United States. In response, the House German-American Caucus and those concerned about the prospect of the CBYX program being placed at a disadvantage, voiced our frustrations with both Secretary Kerry and our House colleagues to raise awareness and demand the restoration of full funding for CBYX. I was pleased that this effort amassed bipartisan support throughout the House. Further, the House Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies conveyed their concern in June 2015 by adding the following language: This program is integral for the continuation of a strong relationship between the United States and Germany . . . the committee does not support the proposed program reduction. Ultimately, the committee included language to restore funding for fiscal year 2016. While this was good news, the root of the problem still fell within the State Department's lack of support. On July 17, 2015, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, John Emerson, contacted the German Bundestag to emphasize the vital importance of this program and relayed the State Department's reversal on this issue and their decision to restore full funding for CBYX. As co-chairman of the Congressional German-American Caucus, I was ecstatic to hear this news, and I am pleased that the United States is holding up our end in strengthening ties with our great European ally. Many thanks to the nonprofit exchange organizations here in the U.S. who administer CBYX, such as Cultural Vistas, AFS, Youth for Understanding, CIEE, ASSE, FLAG, and Nacel Open Door. They are important partners in the success of the CBYX program. I would also like to thank my co-chair from across the aisle, Congressman Keating, for the great efforts he showed throughout this process as well. This is a great step forward towards continuing our participation in this program and educating our future leaders through such an important fellowship.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in 1831, a tradition was started in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, which would go on to become a staple of the summertime agriculture expos. This August 9, the Huntingdon County Fair is celebrating its 125th fair, located at their 69-acre site, which has evolved over the decades to boast hundreds of agricultural exhibits. Ranging from equine shows to wine tasting, the Huntingdon County Fair provides areas of interest for almost everyone. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I am proud to rise today to congratulate the people of Huntingdon County and those countless volunteers and community members who have made this time-honored event a Pennsylvania tradition, including the parents and friends of 4-H, FAA youth members, and the Huntingdon County Agricultural Association. Here's to wishing them 125 more successful fairs for the next generation and generations to come.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues of our responsibility to preserve and strengthen the Medicare Program for future generations. Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its annual Medicare trustees report, an update on the long-term solvency and effectiveness of this vastly important health insurance program. While the report projected that the trust fund that finances Medicare's hospital insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2030, it also cautioned that a high number of Medicare beneficiaries could see their Medicare part B premiums sharply increase in January of 2016. As a former healthcare professional and nursing home administrator, I understand the importance of providing access to quality care at a realistic cost. One of the ways we can make Medicare services more affordable is by targeting waste and abuse within the program. With this in mind, I have consistently worked with my colleagues to introduce and support legislation aimed at reducing fraud and increasing administrative effectiveness. I look forward to continuing these efforts and urge my colleagues to join me in finding new ways to safeguard and sustain Medicare.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as a subcommittee chair of the Committee on Agriculture, I am committed to safe and affordable food. In recent years, there has been increased interest in where our food comes from and how it is grown. In my view, this movement is long overdue, as far too many Americans are removed from the family farm for several generations. Agriculture is the backbone of rural America, and its success is critical for local economies and to deliver a product every American needs on a daily basis. With a growing world demand for food and less Americans engaged in farming, science and innovation have become essential components of agriculture and remain paramount to meet increased demands. Aside from tractors, combines, and physical technology, innovation also extends to biotechnology. Biotech ensures that America will always have the safest, most abundant, and affordable food supply. As world populations continue to increase, producing more food on less land will be an ongoing challenge, but one that can be addressed through advances in biotechnology. With this in mind, there has been an ongoing debate and much attention to what have been dubbed GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, seeds or crops. Despite the alarmist claims of some, GM products, GM seeds, have provided great benefits to farmers, ranchers, food producers, and consumers. For instance, some varieties of GM seeds have been engineered to host genetic traits that resist certain types of insects, molds or diseases that destroy crops or, in other cases, GM seeds allow for longer growing seasons or greater crop yields. GM crops have had an enormously positive impact on farmers, ranchers, and food producers. GM seeds have also had a positive environmental impact because they have reduced the need for large-scale sprays or open-range distribution of pesticides or insecticides. While some continue to question the safety of consuming GM seeds, the overwhelming consensus among the various credible scientific organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences, the World Health Organization, and the American Medical Association, remains. Quite simply, there is no sound scientific evidence that such crops or foods are harmful to human health or the environment. In fact, a January 2015 study from the Pew Research Center found that 88 percent of surveyed scientists believe that GM seeds or crops are perfectly safe for human consumption. However, one of the real challenges that has developed regarding GM foods is the lack of a fair and consistent regulatory structure. Recently several States have made attempts to mandate all GM foods are labeled as genetically modified organisms. As a result, a patchwork of different State laws have begun to emerge over the labeling requirements of GM foods. Now, this is already causing confusion as to how such labeling standards would directly apply to farmers, ranchers, food processors and, yes, also regulators. This patchwork of State laws could also create some constitutional questions, should such laws affect interstate commerce and trade. Nearly 80 percent of the food produced in the United States contains some kind of GM product, and the implications of a State-by-State labeling requirement would be vast. This week, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, in an effort to address this confusion. Because there are so many myths surrounding this debate, let's start with what the bill does. This legislation is squarely centered on State labeling efforts. While the bill does preclude States from enacting their own GM labeling laws, it also creates a Federal framework for premarket review and labeling of GM foods; or, in other words, the legislation requires the FDA to conduct a review of any and all new plant or seed varieties before such products are commercially available. The bill would also require standards for defining whether a product is of the ``GM'' or ``natural.'' The legislation does not prohibit States from outright banning GM crops or writing new relevant laws, but what the bill will do is give farmers, ranchers, and food producers much-needed certainty by establishing a unified and clear regulatory process. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 1599, I rise in support of the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on it.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in 2010, the southern segment of the Keystone pipeline system began operating, carrying crude oil from Oklahoma to Illinois and Texas. According to multiple news outlets, this existing southern segment of the Keystone system just pumped its one billionth barrel of oil. The Federal approval process only took 2 years to complete, and there have been no incidents as a result of this infrastructure. Yet, here we are 5 years later and the Keystone XL pipeline, which would connect Canada and the United States, still remains unapproved after 7 long years of repetitive reviews. Approval of the Keystone XL pipeline will provide American families with new job opportunities and a reliable source of North American energy in the safest, most efficient way possible. As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, I rise today to once again urge the President to approve the Keystone XL. This southern portion of the Keystone pipeline has proven to be a safe and effective way to transport oil, and the northern segment into Canada will provide the same benefits.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, evidence has been made public that the largest abortion provider in America has been actively engaged in the illegal and horrific practice of trafficking of fetal body parts. Planned Parenthood performs over 300,000 abortions annually. This organization financially gains from the destruction of innocent, unborn children and now has been shown to profit from the selling of children's organs to fetal tissue brokers. Those who defend Planned Parenthood and these evil practices argue these clinics simultaneously provide access to other needed health services. Well, Mr. Speaker, one does not justify the other. Throughout the United States, there is no shortage of faith-based health service providers that, unlike Planned Parenthood, honor, respect, and care for all women and unborn children. They do not prey on vulnerable individuals for profit. Mr. Speaker, I have joined my colleagues, calling for an investigation into the trafficking of fetal tissue and activities of abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, companies that broker fetal tissue, and any incentives created by National Institutes of Health funding for research using body parts of unborn children.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. This week, the JDRF Children's Congress took place here in our Nation's Capital. Delegates from across the country visited my colleagues and me to help us understand what life is like with type 1 diabetes and why research to fund life-changing therapies until a cure can be found is so critical. As part of this important event, I had the honor of meeting Madyson Huston, an eighth-grader at Fort LeBoeuf Middle School located in my district. Madyson was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 2 years ago and has since become a tremendous advocate for JDRF. I admire her courageous spirit and willingness to fight for a cure. I was encouraged by the recent passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and advocates like Madyson to advance similar initiatives that will improve the lives and health of Americans.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, President Obama announced that the final framework for a nuclear deal with Iran had been reached. While I am supportive of a strong deal that would prevent the nuclear armament of Iran and thereby easing tensions with our ally Israel, no deal is better than a bad deal. One provision of particular concern has been the relief of congressional sanctions that were implemented years ago. By authorizing sanction relief, the Iranian Government will have billions of dollars at their disposal to use for the same secretive activities that we have grown accustomed to seeing them support. As such, hundreds of Members on both sides of the aisle have expressed their opposition to a deal that does not appropriately address the shortfall of transparency or cooperation that Iran has demonstrated repeatedly. Merely threatening them with snapback sanctions does not go far enough to institute a level of accountability, nor does it prove to be a viable option once sanction relief has been in motion. Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, I have joined with a significant majority of both Democrats and Republicans communicating expectations to the President on behalf of the American people for any negotiated deal with Iran. I am very concerned these expectations have not been met in this announced proposed deal. The deal should never provide Iran a pathway to a bomb. This deal does not prevent that but, rather, prolongs the time until Iran develops nuclear weapons. To achieve security and peace, this agreement must be long-lasting. Any deal that allows Iran to access conventional weapons in 5 years and ballistic missiles in 8 years is anything but long-term, anything but peaceful, anything but appropriate. Relief of sanctions should be earned by full compliance, access, and transparency regarding the Iranian nuclear program. Sanction relief loaded up-front is unacceptable. This deal fails that requirement. Sanction relief will only provide a financial stimulus to fund the world's number one exporter of terrorism--Iran. During this 60-day congressional review period, I encourage all of my colleagues and the American people to take a very detailed look at this agreement and determine whether it is a good deal for America.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, over 125,000 people flocked to Pennsylvania's Fifth District to attend the 49th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, affectionately known as Arts Fest. Every July, people gather in State College, Pennsylvania, to enjoy works of art, live music, and great foods. Arts Fest is home to one the Nation's premier outdoor fine art and craft shows, and hosts over 300 exhibitors. Now, these artists, ranging from international talent to local artists, display a wide variety of art that fits any and all interests. Live musical performances also take place throughout the weekend at a number of venues. Arts Fest strives to instill an interest and appreciation of the arts in the area's youth through performances for young people by young people. Mr. Speaker, as co-chairman of the Congressional Art Competition, I rise in strong support of the arts, and it is my honor to recognize all the volunteers and the staff who did such a great job of putting on this year's Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Switzerland's Vice President and Federal Councilor, Johann Schneider-Ammann, signed a joint declaration that will provide a framework for cooperation between our two countries in areas such as work-based training, pathways to career development, and the expansion of existing programs into new industry sectors. This notable agreement comes just 1 month after a similar signing with Germany that was largely focused on apprenticeships and vocational education and training. As co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus, I applaud these international partnerships and recognize their role in helping us to close our Nation's skills gap. The skilled trades are the hardest jobs to fill in the United States, with recent data citing 550,000 jobs open in the trade and transportation sectors and 246,000 jobs open in manufacturing. Working with our allies to address this issue will undoubtedly benefit our economy and allow us to remain globally competitive. I am confident in our ability to make continued progress in the area of workforce development and am grateful for the assistance of our international partners.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, moments ago with my support, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act. This bipartisan bill will bring our national healthcare system up to speed in the 21st century by taking advantage of the latest science and expediting the availability of safe and more effective treatments for all Americans. Mr. Speaker, today there are more than 10,000 known diseases and conditions, but the United States of America only has cures and treatments for roughly 500 of them. Diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's will take the lives of roughly 1.8 million people this year in the United States alone. This 21st Century Cures Act will help change that, and it is an important step toward helping save the lives of our love ones. Having served for nearly 30 years in the healthcare field, I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing this legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, July 7, the Obama administration once again ignored a deadline for the Iranian Nuclear Agreement while failing to set a new date to conclude discussions on what could prove to be some of the most important diplomatic negotiations of our lifetimes. In March of 2015, I joined 367 Members of the House in sending a letter to President Obama requesting that any agreement would be provided adequate congressional oversight and approval. This was a bipartisan effort because both Democrats and Republicans alike recognized the magnitude of the challenges we face in confronting the possibility of a nuclear Iran. The United States must promote an agreement that first and foremost advances our national security and the security of our allies in the region. A clear indicator of future performance has always been past performance. Unfortunately, Iran has a decades-long history of obfuscation when it comes to their nuclear program. Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that negotiations do not result in simply delaying Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon for just a few short years but, rather, a strong deal that would prevent the current regime from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. Mr. Speaker, as talks continue into the weekend, I am hopeful that negotiators will remember that no deal is better than a bad deal.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I actually rise in support of this amendment as chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry of the Committee on Agriculture. It is consistent with the U.S. Forest Service's recognition of the important role that advanced wood products can play, particularly in building construction. New and innovative technologies are yielding building products that are greener, stronger, fire resistant, and even safer in response to earthquakes than nonwood alternatives. The bottom line is, when it comes to good, healthy forest management, it is just not some of the barriers we are dealing with today in terms of harvesting; it is also about driving the market and increasing the value. It is a three-legged stool for healthy forests. I am very pleased with the underlying bill. I think that is helping on step one. I think this amendment helps us in terms of pushing the market value and the value of timber, and it is certainly consistent with many of the steps that we took within the farm bill in terms of research for advanced wood products. I just am very pleased to support this amendment.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. I want to thank the ranking member from the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee for bringing this amendment forward. This amendment obviously allows the Forest Service to create a pilot program that would execute contracts with tribes to perform administrative, management, and other functions of the program for the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004. Allowing the Forest Service to execute contracts would recognize the government-to-government relationship that tribes have with the Federal Government, and it would be in line with the intent of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of working with tribes as partners. I certainly would encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank all my colleagues, Ranking Member Peterson, who all spoke on this very important bill. H.R. 2647 is a commonsense, bipartisan solution to start fixing a broken system. Right now, miles of red tape and constant litigation, usually from groups that refuse to come to the table, are preventing our forests from receiving the active management they desperately need. This leads to more catastrophic wildfires and more money diverted from other priorities to fight fires. This legislation will aid in reversing this cycle. It gives the agencies more flexibility to manage our Federal lands, which protects wildlife habitat and surrounding watersheds, spurs growth in the rural economy, and saves time and saves money. I want to thank Mr. Westerman for his leadership on this, Chairman Conaway, Chairman Bishop, Ranking Member Peterson. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Zinke).