Bruce Westerman

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Cammack for her leadership on the DIGITAL Applications Act. This legislation will help get rural America online to support students, small businesses, farmers, ranchers, and families. It will help constituents in my home State of Arkansas, as well as Americans across the country, who live in remote areas near Federal lands. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1665, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I extend my most sincere congratulations to Hot Springs local Dub Ballard on his 100th birthday. Reaching such a remarkable milestone is an achievement in itself, but the life Dub has lived is especially worthy of recognition. Mr. Ballard was born into a time when a chuck roast cost 22 cents per pound. He has seen our Nation move and grow through times of hardship and progress, all while calling the Natural State his home. With grandparents who owned a local grocery store, a mother who churned butter and raised chickens to sell, and a family farm growing cotton and corn, Mr. Ballard inherited a family legacy deeply rooted in commitment to his community. This legacy followed him into his adult years. As a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Dub has led an exemplary life. From working on his family farm at age 6 to retiring from a long- tenured career with Coca-Cola at the young age of 98, Mr. Ballard is the definition of hard work and grit. As a valued member of The Church of the Open Door and Hot Springs' senior softball team, Dub has certainly left an indelible mark on his community. He represents the true values that built this Nation and continue to strengthen it today. May Dub's 100th birthday be a celebration of a life well-lived and a legacy that endures for generations to come.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6365) to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for an emergency exit on certain National Park Service land in the State of Virginia, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WESTERMAN. 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. 6365, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6365, the Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act, introduced by Representative John McGuire of Virginia. This bill accomplishes something very simple and very important. It directs the Department of the Interior to issue a narrow right-of-way so the Wintergreen community in Virginia can complete an emergency-only evacuation route. Wintergreen is a mountain community located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, with one road in and one road out. That single access point serves year-round residents, seasonal visitors, and first responders. Over the past decade, the community has grown from 150 to 500 residents, not including seasonal visitors, and the risk tied to having only one exit has grown along with it. In recent years, we have seen what happens when communities lack sufficient options to escape during emergencies. Fires in places like Paradise, California, and Lahaina, Hawaii, demonstrate how quickly evacuation routes can become overwhelmed and congested, endangering residents and first responders alike. For Wintergreen, this is not about building a new public road. The community is proposing a second, emergency-only route that follows an existing dirt path on National Park Service land. It would only require a short 30 feet of gravel to make the road useable for emergency vehicles. The community has already built the road on non-Federal land and has spent years working through the Federal process. The only remaining piece is a small segment on Federal land that cannot move forward under current National Park Service regulations. H.R. 6365 offers a straightforward solution by directing the Secretary of the Interior to issue this vital right-of-way after required reviews are completed and reported to Congress. This is a targeted fix to a real safety problem. Representative McGuire's legislation improves evacuation planning, helps first responders, and does so with very minimal impact to Federal land. Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative McGuire for his leadership on this issue and advocacy on behalf of his constituents. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. McGuire), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Representative McGuire for his leadership on the Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act. Again, the bill addresses a clear safety risk with a narrow 30-foot-wide easement and a practical solution. It allows a small emergency-only connection to move forward, while keeping environmental reviews and oversight in place. This will help keep every resident and tourist who appreciates the beauty of Wintergreen, Virginia, safe in the event of a natural disaster. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6365, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5910) to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian Tribes.

Mr. WESTERMAN. 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. 5910, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5910, introduced by Representative Hageman of Wyoming, would amend the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize all federally recognized Indian Tribes to lease land held in trust for up to 99 years. Under current law, Indian trust lands may generally be leased for up to 25 years, with one additional 25-year renewal term. While Congress has repeatedly amended the act to authorize specific Tribes to enter 99-year leases, this authority is not uniformly available across Indian Country. As a result, Tribes must often seek separate legislation to obtain the same long-term leasing authority that others already possess. Lease terms of up to 99 years are frequently necessary to support major commercial development and secure private financing. Without long-term certainty, lenders and investors may be reluctant to commit capital to projects on trust land. H.R. 5910 addresses this issue by extending 99-year leasing authority to all federally recognized Tribes, eliminating the need for Tribe-by- Tribe amendments, while maintaining the Secretary of the Interior's approval requirement. This approach promotes parity, reduces administrative delays, and supports economic development in Tribal communities. I commend Ms. Hageman for advancing legislation that promotes consistency and opportunity across Indian Country, and I support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5910 ensures that all federally recognized Tribes have equal access to long-term leasing authority necessary for economic development and financing. By extending 99-year leasing authority across all of Indian Country, this bill promotes fairness, efficiency, and investment in Tribal communities. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hageman for her leadership on this issue. I urge the passage of H.R. 5910, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3903) to exchange non-Federal land held by the Chugach Alaska Corporation for certain Federal Land in the Chugach Region, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WESTERMAN. 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. 3903, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903, the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025, sponsored by Congressman Begich, would authorize the exchange of 231,000 subsurface acres currently held by the Chugach Alaska Corporation for approximately 65,374 acres of Federal land in the Chugach region. Following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, extensive conservation land acquisitions created split-estate ownership in which the Federal Government holds surface ownership while the Chugach Alaska Corporation holds subsurface ownership. The split-estate ownership precluded the Chugach Alaska Corporation from exercising its property rights, restricted shareholder economic opportunities, and complicated Federal land management by dividing subsurface and surface ownership. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 authorizes a negotiated exchange to consolidate Federal ownership of surface and subsurface estate, while conveying culturally significant, economically viable, and accessible lands to the Chugach Alaska Corporation. The bill will streamline Federal land management and reduce checkerboard land ownership while promoting self-determination and economic development for Alaska Natives. Ms. Sheri Buretta, chairman of the board of the Chugach Alaska Corporation, testified last year to the Committee on Natural Resources that this bill is ``. . . a solution rooted in fairness, parity, and respect. It is the fulfillment of a promise made half a century ago: that Alaska Native Corporations like Chugach would be able to use our lands as a foundation for economic growth and cultural preservation.'' She went on to say: ``For Alaska Native peoples, land is not a commodity--it is our identity, our history, and our future.'' I appreciate Ms. Buretta and the Chugach people for their work to address this matter. I also applaud Mr. Begich for working diligently with his constituents to develop and move this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor on this bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 aligns Federal surface and subsurface ownership of conservation lands while resolving a decades- old program by authorizing a land exchange between the Chugach Alaska Corporation and the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5419) to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan for ensuring timely review of communications use authorizations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on H.R. 5419, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act, introduced by Representative Kean. In today's economy, broadband is a necessity, not a luxury. An affordable connection to high-speed internet is critical, particularly for rural communities that rely on the internet for telehealth appointments, public safety updates, and online learning. Yet in too many rural and Tribal communities, reliable broadband is still costly, rare, or even nonexistent. Building networks across rural America presents many challenges due to low population density, vast distances, and rugged terrain. To reach these areas, broadband developers must install infrastructure on Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the U.S. Forest Service. Too often the Federal permitting process adds unnecessary costs and years of delay, sometimes taking 5 to 10 years to complete a single broadband project. That is because broadband providers seeking to connect households and businesses face layered permitting requirements, redundant reviews, and spotty coordination among Federal land management agencies when applying for broadband land-use authorizations. This uncertainty drives up costs and causes rural areas to lag behind urban and suburban areas in connectivity, exacerbating the digital divide. H.R. 5419 takes a practical approach to this problem. Representative Kean's legislation recognizes that funding alone cannot connect our rural communities when the permitting process is still broken. This bill focuses on fixing what is actually delaying broadband deployment by requiring agencies to identify and report on permitting bottlenecks, coordination deficiencies, and bureaucratic redundancies that impede the efficient processing of broadband land-use authorizations. This bill is an important first step in making the Federal Government a better partner in getting modern infrastructure to the communities that need it most. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kean for his leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5419, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, February 17, 2026. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 5419, the ``Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act.'' Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction. The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees, should it become necessary, and ask that you support such a request. We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 5419 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5419 is a bill that cuts red tape, streamlines approvals, and accelerates broadband access by addressing the permitting barriers that slow broadband development on Federal lands. By identifying areas to improve coordination, reduce onerous reviews, and strengthen the permitting processing at the Federal level, this bill will help close the digital divide that exists in rural and Tribal communities.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Representative Kean's legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 755) to amend the Energy Act of 2020 to include critical materials in the definition of critical mineral, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material to H.R. 755, the bill now under consideration.