Randy Weber

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5905, the bill under consideration.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5905) to authorize basic research programs in the Department of Energy Office of Science for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, as amended.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth. 153 years ago, General Gordon Granger and his Union troops rode into Galveston with an announcement that would change the course of history: ``The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are freed.'' These powerful words took Galveston, Texas, and our nation by storm. The remembrance of Juneteenth is of great national significance. It is a day of reflection that inspires each of us. We commemorate the heritage and achievements of the African American community. The strength and spirit displayed at each passing anniversary of Juneteenth is remarkable. We must never forget our nation's past. The evils and oppression of slavery have no place in society--not then and not now. We must remember the moments like Juneteenth, that changed our nation for the better. We must grow from here and strive to always celebrate life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--the unalienable rights that are the foundation of our nation.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019. I want to thank the gentleman from Idaho, Representative Mike Simpson, the chairman of the House Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee for bringing a pro-science bill to the floor that supports nuclear energy innovation. I strongly support division A of this legislation and appreciate the chairman's work on this bill. Over the past 4 years, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee championed legislation to provide the tools needed to develop advanced nuclear reactor technology in these United States. My bill, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, passed the House three times last Congress and, most recently, was included in H.R. 589, the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act, that passed the House in January of last year. A key part of this legislation authorizes DOE to construct a research reactor. This reactor, or versatile neutron source, is critical for the development of advanced reactor designs, materials, and nuclear fuels. Access to fast neutrons currently only available for civilian research in Russia is crucial for private sector development of next generation materials and fuels needed for advanced nuclear reactor technology. The versatile neutron source will also enable the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to verify data on new fuels, materials, and designs more efficiently, expediting regulatory approval for advanced nuclear reactors. Earlier this year, the House passed a second bill that authorizes specific funding from within the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy for the construction of that versatile neutron source. My bill, the Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act, included $100 million for this project in fiscal year 2019. While I am pleased to see the report for this legislation direct $65 million in funding for this facility, we must move forward on construction for the versatile neutron source as quickly as possible. My amendment is intended to increase funding for this vital project from within the Office of Nuclear Energy to match the House-passed authorization. Modeling and simulation can accelerate R&D, but nuclear energy research must be validated through a physical source like a research reactor. Building this open-access user facility in the DOE national lab system will facilitate nuclear energy research in the United States, which otherwise simply will not take place. We cannot afford to lose the ability to develop innovative nuclear technology right here at home. I want to again thank Chairman Simpson for his support of nuclear energy research and for prioritizing the research infrastructure that keeps America safe while keeping America globally competitive. I am prepared to withdraw my amendment and to continue working with the chairman to advance the House-passed authorization levels for this important project in conference if I can get assurance from him. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, I withdraw my amendment.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, my amendment deals with flood control levees and the way the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assessing and rating these vital community-based, flood-defense systems. The Corps has been developing levee risk ratings around the United States without the close involvement of local project sponsors, and this is unacceptable. What is more, the agency is trying to characterize ``flood risk to our communities'' without routinely offering viable solution alternatives or well-informed site-specific cost estimates for these solutions. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Levee Portfolio Report from March of this year, the agency indicates the following on page 28: `` . . . there may be reluctance to share risk information with the public when an immediate and viable risk management solution has not been identified.'' Reluctance? Reluctance indeed. The Corps has been developing a risk-rating tool called the Levee Safety Action Classification, or L-SAC. Local levee systems and affected communities are labeled as either very high risk, high risk, moderate risk, low risk, or very low risk for flood inundation. Thus far, 13 percent of the Corps' program levees are in the very high, the high, or the moderate risk categories. Notably, these systems are estimated to have 8 million people that live or work behind them. My own district includes such an area near Freeport, Texas, where nationally-significant manufacturing and R&D operations have occurred since 1940. These Corps ratings, which are to be widely broadcast to affected citizens, businesses, and community leaders, will have significant consequences for life safety and important secondary concerns like property values, economic development, zoning, and local governance. These ratings have been formulated without the sort of close local engagement that is required for successful flood hazard mitigation. Moreover, according to the Corps itself, the ratings are not accompanied by viable solution alternatives and cost estimates for these solutions. We can and must do better than this. My amendment enhances the Corps' L-SAC risk tool. It should not only assess levee system locations, conditions, and failure consequences from a Federal perspective, but also include affected levee owners and operators in communities in a completely integrated way to assess, communicate, and mitigate the full range of flood risks. Only then will we progressively improve the L-SAC scores and, more importantly, improve local safety conditions with viable long-term economic solutions. This amendment does not remove Corps risk assessment and communication duties that were assigned by the Congress in the 2007 WRDA. To the contrary, it supplements these duties by assuring, A, that individual levee system L-SAC ratings are transparent; and, B, that they play a meaningful role in expanding options and improving life safety outcomes. This is a nonpartisan, meritorious proposal with national application. It increases transparency and it improves both risk communication and actual risk mitigation. Finally, considering the scarcity of available taxpayer resources necessary for actual infrastructure improvements, my amendment also cuts some fat. For example, number one, it foregoes reestablishment of the Committee on Levee Safety. That committee produced a draft report in January 2009, and later updated, that formed the basis of the 2014 WRDA, which, by and large, has not been executed. Number two, the amendment eliminates the unfilled position of ``Administrator of the Levee Safety Program'' and accompanying authorization for ``such staff as necessary.'' The Chief of Engineers, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, eight Corps Division Commanders, 38 Corps District Commanders, multiple agency programmatic chiefs, and existing staff would seem sufficient to me to execute appropriate levee-related policy authorized by Congress. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, with that in mind, from the gentleman from Louisiana, if we can work together on this in attempting to address this. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time, and I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite the entire Texas delegation to be up here with me, and if you are a Member from a district that has had a school shooting, would you please come stand with us. Mr. Speaker, on Friday morning, at 7:30, evil reared its ugly head in a little community, what I call a salt-of-the-Earth community, Santa Fe, Texas, and 10 people tragically lost their lives. I would ask all Members to please stand. We lost two teachers on that day: Cynthia Tisdale and Glenda Ann Perkins. We lost students Kimberly Vaughan, Shana Fisher, Angelique Ramirez, Christian Riley Garcia, Jared Black, Sabika Sheikh, Christopher Jake Stone, and Aaron Kyle McLeod, lives that should have never been ended. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a moment of silence.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in support of America's nuclear energy industry. Today, America leads the world in nuclear energy production and technological advancement. However, the industry faces unique challenges that prevent us from reaching our full potential when it comes to nuclear energy. So I thank Mr. Shimkus for hosting this Special Order which gives us a chance to shed light on some of these issues. Over in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's Energy Subcommittee, we talk a lot about nuclear energy R&D as critical for the United States' national security and energy dominance. Through our numerous meetings over the course of several years, we have put forth multiple bills which will implement long-term R&D investments that will spur American competitiveness and keep us at the forefront of nuclear energy technology. We will need waste sites. My bill, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, actually provides important policy direction for the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy. First, it provides DOE with statutory directions to leverage its supercomputing infrastructure for modeling and simulation capabilities to develop advanced fission and fusion reactors. Second, this legislation provides DOE with statutory direction to use its authority to enable the national labs to partner with the private sector to construct and operate reactor prototypes at DOE sites and to leverage expertise from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Because nuclear reactors are so expensive and so highly regulated, designing first-of-a-kind reactors requires a blend of creative freedom for engineers testing new designs but assurance of safety throughout that process. DOE sites, particularly the DOE national laboratories, can provide a unique environment that safely allows for this kind of creative testing and development for advanced nuclear technology. Finally, the bill lays out a clear timeline and statutory guidance for DOE to complete a research reactor that will allow for materials and fuels R&D to take place right here in the United States. Currently, this type of research, which requires access to fast neutrons, is only accessible for civilian use in Russia. While modeling and simulation can accelerate R&D, this research must ultimately be validated through a physical source. The versatile neutron source in this bill will enable this vital research. Last month, my bill, which contains funding for this important research reactor, the Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act, passed this House unanimously. While we at the Science Committee have been working hard on developing the infrastructure for nuclear research and development, I am thankful Mr. Shimkus is finding a long-term solution to our current challenges with spent nuclear waste. His bill takes an important step forward in authorizing private and interim storage of spent nuclear fuel, while still allowing the Federal Government to responsibly develop a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel. I applaud Mr. Shimkus and the Energy and Commerce Committee's bipartisan effort to find a productive, constructive answer to this pressing issue. Together, we will ensure that America's nuclear energy continues to lead the world.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Mitchell for yielding. Mr. Speaker, tonight, the Texas delegation comes before the American people to say that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is working. It is making a positive impact on our paychecks and our lives. This bill is making a big difference--not just crumbs--it is making a big difference. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan once said: `` . . . whenever we lower the tax rates, our Nation is better off.'' President Reagan was on to something. Mr. Speaker, in just over 2 months--listen to these astounding statistics--in just over 2 months, 350 companies have announced more than $3 billion worth of bonuses. That benefits over 4 million Americans. The success of this bill spans from coast to coast and across all industries, both large and small, and across Democrat and Republican, I might add, Mr. Speaker. During the week, I hear the success of this bill as companies make their various announcements. Then, on the weekends, when I am back home and out in the district, I have people coming up to me, telling me about the great things this bill is doing for them, their families, and their businesses. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is making a big difference. Everyone has a story to share. Paychecks are bigger. There are more opportunities. Student loans don't seem as daunting. A new car seems within reach. Sports equipment for their children is reasonable. That family vacation they have been saving for now is on the verge of reality. Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of small businesses in the 14th District of Texas. I used to be one of them, as Mr. Mitchell alluded to. Those small businesses support the community in more ways than one. One, in particular, in my district has announced benefits from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and that is Hawkins Lease Service in Alvin, Texas. Jay and Adrienne Hawkins are great friends, great business people, and great patriots. Jay let me know the other day that they recently gave each of their employees a $1,000 bonus. Let me repeat that: it is $1,000. If I remember correctly, Jay said they have 120 employees. Now--do the math--that is $120,000 put back into this economy, Mr. Speaker. That is far from crumbs. If you ask me, that will make a huge difference. ExxonMobil announced they were expanding their Permian Basin project. This expansion alone will create thousands of jobs, strengthen the economy, and bolster energy security, and national security, I might add. The Permian Basin is a bit of a drive away from us on the coast, but the increased production will provide low-cost supply and feedstocks to their operations throughout the State, including ExxonMobil's plant in our very own district, in Beaumont, Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you that there was something my dad taught me: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I will tell you what, he also taught me: if it is broke, you better fix it, and fix it we did. My hat is off to Kevin Brady--what a great job he did--also, to Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Walters for heading up this Special Order. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Brady for shepherding this bill through. We couldn't have done this without him. I also thank Congressman Mitchell and Congresswoman Walters for hosting this tax reform Special Order.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. It is my distinct honor now to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Knight).

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4376 authorizes critical investments in research infrastructure at our national labs and universities and will ensure the next big discoveries in physical sciences, manufacturing, medicine, and energy can happen right here in these United States. I want to thank, again, the sponsors of this bill and also thank the researchers and stakeholders that provided feedback as we developed this legislation. I certainly want to thank Congressman Knight from California. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4376, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4376, the Department of Energy Research Infrastructure Act of 2018. H.R. 4376 will support the research infrastructure needed to conduct leading basic energy science and nuclear physics research initiatives here in the U.S. by authorizing upgrades in construction of major user facilities at the Department of Energy, DOE, national labs and universities. The Advanced Light Source, ALS, at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is a specialized particle accelerator that generates bright beams of X-ray light for scientific research. The proposed upgrade to this facility will ensure that DOE can maintain ALS' status as a world- class X-ray facility and allow scientists to study the structure and behavior of materials at extremely small scales. The Linac Coherent Light Source, LCLS, is the world's first hard X- ray, free-electron laser. The upgrade to this facility located at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University will provide a major jump in imaging capability and will enable researchers to perform groundbreaking experiments in chemistry, in materials, in biology, and in energy. The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University is a one-of-a-kind linear accelerator facility that will allow researchers to study rare isotopes and their properties. This facility will support research that expands our understanding of atomic structures and could facilitate discoveries in medicine and even in physics. H.R. 4376 reaffirms the Federal Government's key role in basic science research. My home State of Texas has long been a world leader in advanced science and technology, and it is home to millions of entrepreneurs eager to take advantage of the best research facilities in the world. These user facility upgrades will give the private sector the tools they need to develop breakthrough technologies in medicine, manufacturing, and energy. Investing in this research infrastructure will also help train the next generation of researchers in chemistry, physics, and materials science. Here in Congress, it is our responsibility to take the long-term view and be patient, making smart investments that can lead to the next big discovery. This bill funds the research infrastructure necessary to make those very discoveries possible. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Lamar Smith, Representative Dan Lipinski, Energy Vice Chairman Steve Knight, and Representative Randy Hultgren for joining me as original cosponsors of this very important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), who is the very honorable chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. We are going to lose Chairman Smith, and we ought to start researching now to replace him.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4376) to direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out certain upgrades to research equipment and the construction of a research user facility, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the full Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4378, the Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act of 2018. Over the past 3 years, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee has held hearings, met with stakeholders, and worked extensively with our colleagues in the Senate to draft the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, the precursor to today's bill. This comprehensive, bipartisan authorization bill directed the Department of Energy--DOE--to invest in supercomputing capabilities, created a framework for DOE to partner with the private sector to host prototype development for advanced reactors, and laid out a clear timeline and parameters for the DOE to build that research reactor. Mr. Speaker, this bill passed the House three times last Congress, and passed the House again in January as a part of H.R. 589, known as the DOE Research and Innovation Act. The research reactor, or Versatile Neutron Source, authorized in that bill, Mr. Speaker, is crucial for the development of advanced reactor designs, materials, and nuclear fuels. This type of research requires access to fast neutrons, which are currently only available for civilian research in Russia. While modeling and simulation can accelerate R&D, nuclear energy research must be validated through a physical source, Mr. Speaker, like a reactor. The bill which we will consider today, H.R. 4378, the Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act, authorizes specific funding from within the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy for the construction of that versatile neutron source. Building this open-access user facility in the DOE national lab system will facilitate nuclear energy research in the United States. The access to fast neutrons that this reactor provides can support private sector development of the next generation materials and fuels needed for advanced nuclear reactor technology. The versatile neutron source will also enable the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to verify data on new fuels, materials, and designs more efficiently, which will expedite regulatory approval for those advanced nuclear reactors. Without this user facility, Mr. Speaker, this research simply will not take place, and we cannot afford to lose the ability to develop an innovative nuclear technology right here at home. This bill will also help maintain America's capability to influence security and proliferation standards around the world by maintaining cutting-edge nuclear science. Mr. Speaker, as more developing nations look to nuclear energy to grow their economies, our role in protecting nuclear technology grows. By building this user facility, we will fortify the U.S. commitment to safely advancing nuclear energy. H.R. 4378 is a commonsense bill. It will maintain American leadership in nuclear power. I want to thank Ranking Member Johnson and Chairman Smith for cosponsoring this important legislation and for their leadership in advocating for nuclear energy research and development. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with my fellow Texans to guide research that will keep America not only safe, but globally competitive. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4378, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4378) to direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the construction of a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Hultgren for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4377, the Accelerating American Leadership in Science Act of 2018. This legislation authorizes very important upgrades to DOE photon and neutron sources at two national labs. In addition, it funds the construction of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility, the first international high-energy physics facility located in the United States of America. Over 1,000 scientists from 30 countries are already collaborating on this project. Let me repeat that: over 1,000 scientists from 30 countries are already collaborating on this very important project. Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleague, Congressman Hultgren, for introducing this important legislation and for his continued support of the national labs.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Congressman Marshall's bill coming up today. I rise, Mr. Speaker, in support of H.R. 4675, the Low-Dose Radiation Research Act of 2018. This legislation authorizes a research program on the health effects of low-dose radiation within the Department of Energy's Office of Science. Currently, key functions of the United States nuclear and medical industries are guided by assumption-based radiation dose limits and protections. In order to best serve our Nation's energy, medical, and defense needs, we need foundational research in radiology and biology to directly define the impact of low doses of radiation. The United States should not rely on a ``best approximation'' when it comes to our nuclear regulatory policies. Mr. Speaker, today we have an opportunity to ensure that we as a nation are doing everything we can to make certain that the regulations, the guidelines, and the protections that we put in place are grounded in sound science. Again, I want to thank Congressman Marshall for introducing this important legislation.