Randy Weber

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today to honor Rick Perry in his final days as Secretary of the Department of Energy. It makes sense that those lined up to speak would be from our shared home State, the great State of Texas. We have served with him. We have benefited from Rick's leadership. We call him friend. Much can be said and will be said of Rick Perry in these next few weeks. As already mentioned, Rick is a fifth generation Texan, an Aggie, Air Force pilot, state representative, agricultural commissioner, lieutenant governor, longest serving Texas Governor, Secretary of Energy. He will be rightfully lauded for a life well given to public service. In every stage of his life, Rick Perry sought to do the best for Texas and for the people of this Nation. As a state representative, he was one of the most effective legislators pushing for more strict budgeting. As Agricultural Commissioner, Perry showed his skill at sales and started what would be a lifelong career as the number one top salesman for the great State of Texas. As Governor, Rick helped make Texas a destination for business and industry and for families and people. There is a reason why we still see an average influx of people, a thousand a day in our great State. As Secretary of Energy, we continue to see the benefits of Rick Perry's unabashed love of Texas and these United States. Thanks to his leadership, the United States is now the largest energy producer in the world with a greatly expanded footprint in the international market. Still, my favorite story which defines the man that is Rick Perry is one told by a former rival turned friend, and that would be Senator Rick Santorum. Former Senator and Presidential candidate Rick Santorum told of the regular frantic note taking of candidates while they were on the debate stage, all except for Rick Perry. Instead, Rick recounted, Perry only wrote one note. It was when Rick Santorum told about the health difficulties his beloved daughter, Bella, had faced from her birth. Following the debate, Rick said the two men spoke and Rick said as he looked over Perry's shoulder at the single note written, it had three words: ``Pray for Bella.'' That, Mr. Speaker, is a man of faith, compassion, and integrity. It speaks to his character. It speaks to his effectiveness. It speaks to his dedication to public service and to his love of this great country. I am grateful for having served under Governor Perry in the State house for 4 years and with Secretary Perry in the Department of Energy. The great State of Texas and our Nation are better for his service. As Rick Perry moves away from public life, his leadership will be missed, but the legacy he leaves behind will endure. I thank my friend, Governor Perry, for all he has done. I thank Anita for loaning Texas and then America a true Texas treasure, a true statesman, and a truly fine individual. Rick and Anita both deserve a rich time together. Blessings to them both and please enjoy the private life.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of 17-year-old Cole Gordon, an active and beloved community member who tragically passed away on September 22, 2019, in a car accident. Cole was a lifelong resident of Friendswood, Texas, and would have been a graduate of Friendswood High School class of 2020. He was planning on attending Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas, to pursue a degree in agribusiness. Cole was a member and 3-year officer of the Friendswood FFA, Future Farmers of America. He interned the last two summers on the Lackey Livestock farm and volunteered with the Lighthouse Charity Team, right by the side of his dad, Scott. Cole had earned many ribbons, banners, and buckles showing livestock all over Texas, and even at the World Pork Expo in Iowa. He had great plans to ``go big'' for his senior year, raising six pigs for stock shows all over the Nation. But it is his incredible dedication to service that will never be forgotten. Before Cole gained his passion for livestock, he spent most of his time volunteering. He volunteered with the Friendswood Fire, Police, and Emergency Medical Services Departments, along with the Rotary Club of Galveston, the Galveston County Emergency Response Team, and the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce. The Rotary Club stated that Cole ``exemplified the creed of service above self in serving 9 years of volunteerism with the Rotary Club Galveston.'' His service throughout his entire life supported nearly 750 charitable events, helping to serve approximately 500,000 people. Mr. Speaker, Cole made a lasting impact on the 14th Congressional District of Texas. He has not and will not ever be forgotten. Today, we honor and we recognize the extraordinary life and service of Cole Easton Gordon.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. In his famous 1961 speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas, President John F. Kennedy challenged the Nation to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. President Kennedy spoke these now famous words: ``We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.'' President Kennedy understood the importance of American leadership in space. He added: ``Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new, terrifying theater of war.'' Military professionals will tell you that whoever occupies the high ground in a conflict has the upper hand. Folks, there is no higher ground than space. America must remain the leader in space. It is just that simple. In 1969, the crew of Apollo 11 fulfilled that very mission to put a man on the Moon. Today, we honor not only the astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, but all of the great NASA men and women who worked tirelessly to make the Apollo 11 mission a success. We have learned about the hidden figures of the Apollo program, those behind the scenes. Here are some more. At the height of the Apollo program, according to one estimate, 1 in 50 Americans were working on some aspect of the program. This included some 400,000-plus full-time employees. The astronauts knew their lives depended on these people, most of whom they never knew nor would they ever meet, that were performing difficult tasks on a very demanding schedule. Over 530 million people around the globe watched the telecast of Armstrong's first steps from 250,000 miles away. Not only did Apollo 11 show the world what America can achieve, but it displayed a beautifully unique ability of human space exploration, its capacity to stimulate, to inspire, and to cause people to reach deep inside to find the very best they had to offer. American greatness is a compilation of these things. On that day, we spread our message of American greatness around the globe. Fifty years ago, the politics of a volatile world order compelled us to the challenge of space competition. The world has changed, and in today's uncertainty, one thing remains certain: the importance of American preeminence in space. Now, we turn our focus to a new challenge. We will send Americans back to the Moon's surface by 2024, only this time, to stay. It has been a long time since man walked on the Moon. In 2024, we will make history once again when the first woman walks on the Moon. With our great NASA's lead, the private and public sectors are coming together to accomplish this great and very difficult task. Through their partnerships, American excellence is leveraged across the board. We are building sustainable, reusable systems that will not only take us to the Moon but leapfrog us to Mars. Our great NASA is bringing Democrats and Republicans together in what I call American togetherism. Thank God for NASA.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, for the love of God and this country, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today, so help us, God.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, I think Mr. Lamb is going to have a statement here coming up, and I thank Chairman Lamb in advance for his remarks. He has a jam-up amendment. Nuclear energy has been one of my top priorities during my time on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. America has a long history of leadership in nuclear science. It is critical that we maintain that leadership, but our existing fleet of reactors is aging. Many of our nuclear plants are nearing the end of their 40-year licenses and must reapply with the NRC to continue operation. While license renewals are important to ensure nuclear safety, the process requires robust analysis, planning, and science- and technology-based solutions to modernize nuclear plants. Fortunately, the DOE is carrying out this critical R&D through its Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program. This program funds research in materials, modeling, and system analytics to support extending the operating life of the existing fleet. By developing a science-based approach to understanding and predicting the ways materials and nuclear plants behave over time, DOE can help plant operators find ways to safely operate existing systems while mitigating potential damage to reactor components. DOE also funds R&D to support plant modernization efforts. This includes developing ways to safely incorporate digital controls into existing plant designs to help improve reactor efficiency, as well as efforts to help existing plants operate with more flexibility. I believe advanced reactor designs are the future of emissions-free power around our world, but we cannot afford to throw away decades of investment in the safe, reliable, clean power produced by our existing light-water nuclear power plants. Through research to safely extend the life of our existing nuclear fleet, DOE can ensure we maximize this clean energy source. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Lamb in advance for working with me on this amendment, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it once he does his fabulous presentation.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Chair, I want to thank Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson, and now I want to say thank you to my colleague, who has got an excellent amendment, and I applaud it very much. I want to say to all of my colleagues: Support it. It is a great amendment, and we look forward to passing it.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 3056, an emergency supplemental to provide critically needed funding for the humanitarian crisis at the border, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

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

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if this unanimous consent cannot be entertained, I urge the Speaker and the majority leader to immediately schedule the born-alive bill.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, former Galveston County Sheriff Joe Max Taylor passed away on Monday, February 11, 2019. Sheriff Taylor was a veteran, husband and father who dedicated his life to public service. His colleagues describe him as an innovator, mentor and a skilled politician. The Sheriff served Galveston County for 54 years, 19 of those years he served as sheriff. Sheriff Joe Max Taylor's legacy is one filled with a deep love for his Galveston community. During his career, he assisted in growing the sheriff's office from nineteen deputies to more than 300 deputies. He was also instrumental in helping form the mental health division and the auto crimes task force. Those who knew Sheriff Taylor know he was more than a sheriff, he was someone who did so much for our community. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey, a champion for pro-life, Mr. Chris Smith. Madam Speaker, I am a father of three. I am a grandfather of eight. As I often say when I speak to groups that children are an extraordinary gift. As Mr. Fortenberry said, women are gifts; the children they carry within them are gifts. Why don't we appreciate them more? I often tell kids that children are the only thing God can make adults with. If we don't give Him a ready supply, you don't want Him to run out. And they always chuckle, but I always remind them that they are created in the image of Almighty God. Look to the Bible in Jeremiah 1 and you will see the quote: ``Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a profit to the nations.'' Children are known by God when they are in the womb of the mother. It is just that simple. Our great Nation has carried respect for life from the very moment of our founding. Our forefathers noted that we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights. You heard Ms. Virginia Foxx talk about them. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is promised to each of us in our Constitution, in our Declaration of Independence; not given to us by the Constitution or by the Declaration, but given to us by Almighty God. So long as those babies have a chance to live, they can experience those rights: the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to the pursuit of happiness. Everyone hearing my voice has that right and was given that right. Shouldn't they be given those same rights? Without the right to life, we are a Nation without the pursuit of happiness, without liberty. The Supreme Court erred mightily in this decision January 22, 1973. We should be a Nation of law, a Nation of rights, a Nation of life, and yet we seem to struggle with that proposition. Lord help us. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for his diligence in this.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6227, the National Quantum Initiative Act, I wish to commend Chairman Smith on his six years at the helm of the Science Committee, and on his 32 years of dedicated service to the people of Texas' 21st Congressional District. It has been an honor to work with him. Because of his steadfast leadership, this bill is on its way to becoming law. I thank Chairman Smith. This bill coordinates a federal program to accelerate quantum research and development for the economic and national security of the United States. Quantum technology is a field positioned to fundamentally change the way we move and process data. Theoretically, quantum computing could allow for the solutions to exponentially large problems--things that cannot be accomplished by even the fastest supercomputers today. It could allow us to visualize the structures of complex chemicals and materials, to model highly detailed flows of potential mass evacuations with precise accuracy, and to quantify subatomic interactions on the cutting edge of nuclear research. Quantum computing may also have profound implications for cybersecurity technology. Should China and Russia beat us to achieving quantum encryption, our current security encryption measures would be rendered obsolete. It is imperative that the U.S. maintain its leadership in this field. In order to achieve this kind of revolutionary improvement in technology, we need foundational knowledge in the advanced computing and materials science required to construct quantum systems. The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is the leading federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and funds robust quantum technology research. At Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) allows scientists to run simulations of quantum architectures. At Argonne National Lab's Center for Nanoscale Materials, researchers study atomic-scale materials in order to engineer the characteristics of quantum information systems. And at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, scientists are applying their experience in high energy physics to the study of quantum materials. Earlier this year, I invited several of my colleagues to join me on a visit to Argonne and Fermi labs, and we had the privilege of speaking with the scientists conducting this groundbreaking research. Support for basic research in computer science and for computational partnerships between industry, academia, and the national labs is necessary to develop the technology needed for future commercial quantum systems. For these reasons, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6227.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, George Herbert Walker Bush asked all of us to be light in this world, to be gracious, to be diligent, and to be honest. And then he led the way by example. His patriotism was innate. It was his guiding light, Mr. Speaker. And Barbara was his soulmate, his compass, and part of his true north. Mr. Speaker, George H.W. Bush was one of our last great statesmen, a member of the Greatest Generation. His love for his Nation was bested only by his love for his family. This enduring love for both is how we will long remember George H.W. Bush, Mr. Speaker, and, oh, that we would emulate him. President Bush could walk into a room and make everyone feel like they belonged. He was the epitome of the true Southern gentleman, even though he wasn't born in the South. The South did adopt him, however, I might add, Mr. Speaker. His mannerisms and his convictions gained him respect far and wide--worldwide, in fact. This great and good man brought us together and led the way, once again, in that, during our time of mourning his passing, his example quieted some of the divisiveness that is on display all too often, Mr. Speaker. We have a lot to learn from his mission and his life. Oh, that we would emulate him in that. Last week, George H.W. Bush arrived at his final, kindest, gentlest resting place with Barbara and Robin. He is home. Mission accomplished, Mr. President. George Herbert Walker Bush, Mr. Speaker, is worth emulating. Oh, that we would all do so.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6398, the Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act. The DOE and VA national research program, housed within the agencies' Big Data Science Initiative, is called the Million Veterans Program- Computational Health Analytics for Medical Precision to Improve Outcomes Now, or MVP-CHAMPION. This initiative utilizes DOE's unique capabilities in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced computing by providing VA researchers access to DOE's research facilities and scientific expertise while the DOE receives access to a massive collection of data from the VA. Through the MVP program, VA patients volunteer genomic and healthcare data that is transferred into the secure enclave at Oak Ridge National Lab. Part of the data includes the deepest levels of DNA sequencing, which allows for high quality genomic research. With such a rich and expansive dataset, the VA MVP program provides an incredible opportunity to use DOE'S next-generation computing capabilities to solve complex healthcare challenges facing our veterans. For the DOE, this application of computer science tools could transform basic and early-stage research. DOE's core mission areas are full of complex, big data challenges like physics, environmental systems, combustion, and nuclear weapons modeling. DOE is also working to enhance its expertise in biosciences and materials design. Experience working with big datasets and applications in data science, Mr. Speaker, has the potential to improve computational science methods for any big data problem. With the next generation of supercomputers, including the exascale computing systems DOE is expected to fill by 2021, DOE will be able to tackle even bigger challenges. Mr. Speaker, increasing computing power will expand DOE's capabilities and improve the quality of computational tools for any big dataset or any complex problem. Ultimately, the goal of MVP-CHAMPION is for the DOE national laboratories to provide the VA with useful information to improve healthcare services for our veterans. The access to the breadth, depth, and complexity of the VA dataset will also advance the next generation of data science tools. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the DOE is the right partner for this important research. I want to encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6227, the National Quantum Initiative Act. H.R. 6227 coordinates a Federal program to accelerate quantum research and development for the economic and national security of the United States. Quantum technology is a field positioned to fundamentally change the way we move and process data. Theoretically, quantum computing could allow for the solutions to exponentially large problems, things that cannot be accomplished by even the fastest supercomputers today. It could allow us, Mr. Speaker, to visualize the structures of complex chemicals and materials, to model highly detailed flows of potential mass evacuations with precise accuracy--with hurricanes abounding today, that is very, very important for us--and to quantify subatomic interactions on the cutting edge of nuclear research. Quantum computing may also have profound implications for cybersecurity technology. And the gentlewoman from Texas alluded to this: Should China and Russia beat us to achieving quantum encryption, our current security encryption measures would be rendered obsolete. You heard Chairman Smith, in his remarks, say that we could possibly decode their encryptions in a matter of seconds, if not minutes. It is absolutely imperative, Mr. Speaker, that the U.S. maintain its leadership in this field. In order to achieve this kind of revolutionary improvement in technology, we need foundational knowledge in the advanced computing and materials science required to construct those quantum systems. The Department of Energy, the DOE, Office of Science is the leading Federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and robust quantum technology research. At Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, NERSC, allows scientists to run simulations of quantum architectures. At Argonne National Laboratory's Center for Nanoscale Materials, researchers study atomic-scale materials in order to engineer the characteristics of quantum information systems; and at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, scientists are applying their experience in high-energy physics to the study of quantum materials. Earlier this year, I was privileged to invite several of my colleagues to join me on a visit to Argonne and Fermi labs, and we had the privilege of speaking with those very scientists conducting this groundbreaking research. It really is breathtaking and really is ground-shattering, if you ask me, in what it is going to do for science. Support for basic research in computer science and for computational partnerships between industry, academia, and the national labs is absolutely necessary to develop the technology needed for future commercial quantum systems. For these reasons, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6227.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 589, the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act. H.R. 589 provides policy direction to the Department of Energy on basic science research and coordination, and implements important reforms to DOE national laboratory management that will modernize the research pipeline. This legislation gives Congress the opportunity to enact energy research and development policy that prioritizes critical programs at the Department of Energy. From advanced scientific computing to nuclear physics to fusion energy science, focusing on basic research at our national labs provides the best opportunity for U.S. economic growth and technology innovation. Significant investments, Mr. Speaker, in basic science research by foreign countries like China, as has been alluded to, threatens America's global standing as the leader in scientific knowledge. To maintain our competitive advantage as a world leader in science, we must continue to support the research and research infrastructure that will lead to the next generation of energy technologies. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Johnson and many of my Science Committee colleagues for cosponsoring this very important legislation. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with members of this committee to guide research that will help America compete around the world and be the leader around the world. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 589.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 97) to enable civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy technologies by private and public institutions, to expand theoretical and practical knowledge of nuclear physics, chemistry, and materials science, and for other purposes.

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 S. 97, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in support of S. 97, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act. I want to thank Senator Crapo, Senator Whitehouse, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Booker, as well as Ranking Member Johnson and Chairman Smith for cosponsoring this important legislation, and for their years of leadership in advocating for nuclear energy research and development. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside my Senate counterparts to prioritize fundamental research that will support nuclear innovation and keep America safe, independent, and most importantly, globally competitive. I also want to thank my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee who have worked alongside of me with advancing this legislation. The Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, which I introduced in the 114th Congress and the 115th Congress, provides updated statutory direction to the Department of Energy's nuclear research activities to ensure that fundamental research is prioritized and precious resources are not wasted. Mr. Speaker, this bill lays out a clear set of parameters and a definite timeline for DOE to complete an advanced research reactor facility, which is a crucial part of ensuring innovative materials and nuclear fuels R&D can take place right here in the United States instead of overseas. While modeling and simulation can accelerate R&D, nuclear energy research must be validated through direct experimentation in the lab. This type of research requires access to a source of fast neutrons, and today, these are only available for civilian research in Russia. The versatile neutron source authorized in this bill will provide the United States with this vital capability. S. 97 also directs DOE to partner with industry to construct and operate reactor prototypes at DOE national labs. Mr. Speaker, our national labs provide a very unique environment that safely allows for creative testing and development for advanced nuclear technology without a burdensome regulatory process that can slow progress to a crawl. In order to maintain our nuclear capabilities, the United States must continue developing cutting-edge technology right here at home. Without the direction provided in this bill, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to rely on foreign research. We will fall further and further behind. We will lose the ability to develop innovative nuclear technology and be left importing next-generation reactor designs from overseas. This is unacceptable. S. 97 will maintain America's ability to influence security and proliferation standards around the world as more developing nations look to nuclear energy to grow their economies. The language in this bill is the product of many Science, Space, and Technology Committee engagements with relevant stakeholders and nuclear research and development. Mr. Speaker, last Congress this language passed the House three times as a standalone bill, with the House amendment to S. 2012 and in the NDAA, each with overwhelming bipartisan support. This language also has a history of strong support in the Senate. It passed as an amendment in the Senate during the 114th Congress and again as a standalone bill this Congress. S. 97 is vital to ensure that this important research and development is carried out. We cannot afford to miss the economic opportunity provided by next-generation nuclear technology. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 97, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. S. 97 is vital to ensuring America's leadership in nuclear research and development. By harnessing the expertise and unique capabilities of our Nation's national labs, universities, and entrepreneurs, American industry can take the lead in developing groundbreaking advanced nuclear technology for the next generation. I especially thank my colleagues in the Senate and on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee who have worked hard to get this legislation passed: Senators Crapo, Whitehouse, Murkowski, and Booker, and, of course, Ranking Member Johnson and Chairman Smith, as well as my other colleagues. I also thank the dozens of researchers and stakeholders who provided critical feedback over the past several years as we have been developing this legislation. 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. 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. 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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5905, the Department of Energy Science and Innovation Act of 2018. This legislation authorizes the Department of Energy's Office of Science programs for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. It also authorizes upgrades and new construction of major user facilities at the Department of Energy national labs and universities. Over the past 4 years, the Energy Subcommittee has met with stakeholders, held hearings, and worked extensively with our colleagues to draft the language included in today's legislation. During this comprehensive process, we spoke with DOE officials, directors of DOE national labs, academia, and industry representatives about the right priorities for these Office of Science programs. The result was a series of bills that the Science, Space, and Technology Committee has advanced through the House this Congress, including H.R. 589, H.R. 4376, H.R. 4377, and H.R. 4675. The legislation we will consider today combines these bills to form a bipartisan authorization of the department's basic science research. This includes more than $6 billion in fundamental research and discovery science, largely performed at DOE national laboratories and user facilities around the country. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit a number of these facilities at Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory with several of my Science, Space, and Technology Committee colleagues. We got to see firsthand the incredible work that those researchers do for our country and for the world. From advanced scientific computing to nuclear physics to fusion energy science, focusing on basic research at our national labs provides the best opportunity for U.S. economic growth and technology innovation. H.R. 5905 authorizes funding for critical infrastructure projects at these national labs. In the Basic Energy Sciences program, it authorizes upgrades to world-leading X-ray light source facilities around the country, like the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory and the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. These facilities give American scientists the tools they need to study the structure and behavior of both physical and biological materials, enabling innovation in many fields, including creating new materials for industrial as well as pharmaceutical use. This legislation also authorizes the construction of new DOE research facilities for physics and high-energy physics. This includes construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB, at Michigan State University, which will enable critical nuclear physics research across a wide breadth of fields, ranging from astrophysics to medicine, and eventually the construction of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility at Fermilab, an internationally coordinated project to build the world's highest intensity neutrino beam. The research at this facility will help shed light on the universe and its origins. This bill, Mr. Speaker, also specifically authorizes basic research in fields that are critical to U.S. dominance in science and technology. It authorizes research in exascale computing, electricity storage, and fusion energy sciences. It establishes a DOE exascale computing program, a low-dose radiation research program, and programs for managing our Energy Frontier Research Centers and Bioenergy Research Centers, while also ensuring that we fulfill our commitments to the ITER project for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Significant investments in basic science research by foreign countries like China threaten America's global standing as the leader in scientific knowledge. To maintain our competitive advantage as a world leader in science, we must continue to support the research and research infrastructure that will lead to next generation technologies. H.R. 5905 is a commonsense bill that will maintain American leadership in science. I want to thank Chairman Smith, Representative Lofgren, Vice Chairman Lucas, and many of my Science, Space, and Technology Committee colleagues for cosponsoring this important legislation. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the members of this committee to gather research that will help America compete around the world. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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