Bruce Westerman

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I again commend the gentlewoman for this legislation and thank my colleagues in the minority for helping us work on something that we could bring to the floor that is a commonsense bill that benefits all those involved. I think this is a good example of Congress doing what we should do, bringing forth commonsense legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 2252 is a practical and balanced approach to resolving a longstanding land management challenge in North Dakota. This legislation helps the State better manage trust lands that support schools and public institutions while also creating a pathway for greater Tribal land consolidation within reservation boundaries. I thank Representative Fedorchak for her leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support 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. 4684) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a special use permit with respect to the maintaining of a flagpole bearing the flag of the United States at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point, Utah, 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. 4684, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 4684, the Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2026, introduced by Representative Kennedy from Utah. This bill provides a simple, commonsense, and long-overdue fix that restores a longstanding patriotic tradition in Utah for generations to come. For more than two decades, a Scoutmaster named Robert Collins and his local Boy Scout troop hiked to the summit of Kyhv Peak Lookout Point to raise the American flag above the city of Provo, Utah. What began as a simple, patriotic gesture grew into a cherished community event. The annual raising of the American flag on this mountaintop has become not only a symbol of local pride for the Provo area but also a meaningful rite of passage for many young people in the community. Unfortunately, that tradition came to an abrupt end in 2022 when the U.S. Forest Service ordered the flag's prompt removal due to the absence of a special use permit for the flagpole. Overnight, a patriotic tradition that had brought a community together for 20 years was snuffed out by bureaucratic process. Since then, efforts to restore the tradition through administrative channels have moved slowly and without resolution. H.R. 4684 provides a straightforward solution. The bill directs the Forest Service to issue a 10-year special use permit for the seasonal placement of the American flag at Kyhv Peak and establishes a clear framework to allow the tradition to continue in perpetuity. Importantly, the legislation also waives all fees associated with the permit because you shouldn't have to pay to be patriotic. As our Nation celebrates 250 years of American independence, Congress should be encouraging patriotism and uplifting local traditions that bring communities together. This thoughtful legislation ensures that the Federal Government will no longer stand in the way of volunteers seeking to honor the American flag and show their love of country. I thank Representative Kennedy for his leadership on this effort and for his diligent work on the Committee on Natural Resources on behalf of his constituents. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4684, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Kennedy), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Kennedy for his leadership on the Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2026. This bill restores a meaningful community tradition, cuts through unnecessary red tape, and ensures that the American flag can continue flying over Provo in a way that respects both patriotism and responsible stewardship of our public lands. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4684, 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. 1352) to designate the General George C. Marshall House, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System, 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. 1352, 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. 1352, which would designate the General George C. Marshall House in Virginia as an affiliated area of the National Park System. General George C. Marshall was a war hero, statesman, master strategist, and one of the most important figures in modern American history. From his distinguished service in both World Wars to his prominent role in shaping postwar peace, he was the rare American whose service touched every dimension of national strength. He was immortalized through his namesake Marshall Plan, the monumental recovery effort to rebuild Western Europe after the Second World War, for which he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. In rare times of quiet during those pivotal years, General Marshall would retire to his home in Leesburg, Virginia, where he could humbly tend his gardens and ease his mind. Today, his estate remains an unusually intact window into his life, with the house and contents still in near-perfect condition. In 2005, the home and its gardens were open to the public as a museum. This bill recognizes George Marshall's legacy and ensures that Americans can continue to draw inspiration from his story by designating his home as an affiliated area of the National Park System. This designation conveys honor and recognition while keeping the management and fiscal responsibilities of the estate with the George C. Marshall International Center. This bill does not put the property under Federal management or add to the Federal estate. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, again, I commend both parties for working together to bring this legislation to the floor. I appreciate the gentleman from Virginia for sponsoring this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 1352 would designate the General George C. Marshall House as an affiliated area of the National Park System, improving national recognition while keeping the site privately managed without taxpayer support. This is an appropriate bill to consider during our Nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, as it bestows recognition to one of the most hardworking and pivotal Americans of the postwar era. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1352, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Thompson for yielding and for his excellent work on this farm bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment that is included in the amendments en bloc and also in support of the underlying bill text. My amendment would add biostimulants to the farm bill's demonstration project. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms that stimulate natural plant processes to enhance nutrient uptake and efficiency for crops. Trees are amazing organisms. They are made up of over 1,000 natural chemical compounds that include biostimulants. Like biochar, biostimulants have been used by farmers for decades but offer potentially new and exciting applications. Further research into these two areas can create a win-win for our fire-prone, overgrown national forests and for farmers across the country. Managing our forests is going to require new markets, and biostimulants offer the promise of a market-based solution that would make removal of low-value materials from our national forests more economical, while making our farmland more productive. In fact, during President Trump's first term, USDA estimated that biostimulants could become a $5 billion global market. By adding biostimulants to the biochar demonstration project, my amendment will provide more science and understanding that can support farmers, create jobs, and reduce the risks of catastrophic wildfire. This amendment does this by allowing biostimulants to be tested in demonstration projects across the country and by incentivizing new research into biostimulants. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my friend from Oregon, Mr. Bentz', amendment. This may be the most simple, straight-to-the- point, easy-to-understand amendment. It does one thing: It corrects the definition of woody biomass. Mr. Chairman, this amendment clarifies that woody biomass is biomass that comes from wood. Yes, Mr. Chair, you heard that right. Woody biomass is biomass that comes from wood, and this amendment would fix that definition. Mr. Chairman, only in the Federal Government would this clarification be required. For the love of trees everywhere and for basic human understanding, I encourage everyone to support this amendment.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1189, I call up the bill (H.R. 5587) to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive the requirement for a Federal drilling permit for certain activities, to exempt certain activities from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5587.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5587, the Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources Act, or the HEATS Act. This is an important bill to help add to the energy needs that our country has. We can do that very responsibly. We can do it in a smarter and more proactive way. I thank Representative Young Kim for being a leader on this issue and working with our committee to bring this bipartisan legislation to the floor. H.R. 5587, the HEATS Act, is a commonsense bill that would expedite the development of geothermal energy on non-Federal surface lands where the Federal subsurface estate is less than 50 percent. Currently, geothermal operators on non-Federal land are required to undergo a full Federal permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act if they intersect any quantity of Federal subsurface resources, even if the Federal mineral interest is minuscule. This process creates unnecessary delays for geothermal energy project developers, who must already comply with rigorous State-level permitting requirements. H.R. 5587 would address this issue by alleviating the need for the Bureau of Land Management to issue permits for geothermal wells on State and private lands where the Federal Government holds an ownership interest of less than 50 percent of the subsurface geothermal estate. Crucially, this bill upholds strong environmental standards by stipulating that Federal requirements may only be waived if operators receive drilling permits and comply with historic preservation laws on the State level. Notably, the bill would not impact the royalties paid to the Federal Government. Therefore, it will not reduce the Federal revenues generated by geothermal production. In fact, this legislation would actually increase Federal revenues by reducing the administrative responsibilities of Federal agencies and expediting the permitting process so that we can build more geothermal energy projects and do more development in that area. I want to emphasize the importance of this legislation. Again, energy demand is skyrocketing, and geothermal energy stands ready to meet the moment and bring gigawatts of new baseload power online. Out West, the Great Basin region encompasses swaths of California, Oregon, Utah, and most of Nevada. According to a recent study from the U.S. Geological Survey, this region alone hosts approximately 135 gigawatts of geothermal potential. To unleash geothermal energy's full potential, we must cut unnecessary red tape holding back key projects on these lands. By reducing duplicative Federal requirements on State and private lands, this bill will give developers the regulatory certainty needed to spur greater investment in geothermal exploration and production. Mr. Speaker, again, this is an opportunity to do something proactive, something that is common sense, and something that I think we can all be proud of in the future. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of similarities on both sides of the aisle, but there is a big difference. The similarities are that I think both sides of the aisle support geothermal energy. It is similar that we talk about inflation and high costs and how that affects Americans. The difference is, on this side of the aisle we actually pass policies that will help those things. On the other side of the aisle, they vote against those policies. We talk about the high cost of living. Republicans voted to give Americans a huge tax cut last year. All the Democrats voted against it. We talk about high healthcare costs. Republicans voted to send $50 billion to help with rural healthcare. All Democrats voted against it. Today, we are talking about geothermal energy and the opportunities that are there. We have an opportunity to help make that happen more. Republicans are supporting it. I believe some Democrats will actually support this legislation, but there is a difference between saying you want something to happen and actually voting to make it happen. I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), and I thank her for her work on geothermal energy.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have to ask the question: What is well balanced and what is fair about requiring a duplicative process? It is almost, from the minority's testimony, like there is no permitting that will happen. We are talking about a well that is drilled on State or private property close to Federal property. The surface disturbance is all on the State or private property. They have to go through the State permitting process, which is very rigorous. It is looking at the same things the Federal permitting process looks at. The argument not to pass this bill is that we want to put on a belt and suspenders. We want to make the developers go through the total duplicative process because the underground well that is thousands of feet below ground would be receiving thermal energy that is under the Federal estate and all of the historical preservation, all the NEPA, all the ESA, that has been looked at under the State permitting process. Again, the surface disturbance would not be on Federal land. You are only talking about the migration of thermal energy thousands of feet below ground, and we are saying it is reasonable and fair and a good process to make a developer go through double permitting and opening up Pandora's box for people who, for whatever reason, don't like geothermal energy will have all these Federal statutes and the broken permitting process to stop geothermal energy projects. If we are serious about producing more energy for this country, if we are serious about being energy independent, if we are serious about developing energy sources like geothermal energy, then this is a pragmatic, proactive way to make that happen. It removes duplicity, and it makes the process make sense. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, in closing, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5587. These reforms will both streamline the permitting process for geothermal energy projects and reduce agency workloads, which will allow BLM to focus on projects that actually have a majority Federal nexus. States, as I have already mentioned, have robust requirements in regulations for developing energy resources within their borders, so eliminating duplicative Federal-level bureaucracy will help stop the things that are impeding geothermal energy development. This quite simply is just common sense. Accelerating geothermal energy production and deployment is a win for our economy, a win for national security, and a win for American energy dominance. On this floor today and not too much longer, we are going to have an opportunity to vote for American energy, for American workers, for common sense, and for doing the right things. I have heard many times: I support this, but . . . There is always a but--but what about this or what about that. Today is an opportunity to actually vote for something good. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this good bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 112.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Jack Sternberg on his induction to the Arkansas Walk of Fame. The first oncologist in Arkansas, Dr. Sternberg is a pioneer of cancer care in our state. Fondly known by his patients as ``Dr. Jack,'' his dedication to serving the people of his community goes far beyond a white coat; it's rooted deeply in his heart. His true character has been evident through the impactful relationships he's built within the community he's served for so long. For decades, Dr. Jack's work has gone beyond clinical care to provide a more personal approach, guiding each patient and their family through an incredibly difficult chapter with tenderness and tailored care. He didn't just want to be their doctor; he wanted to be their friend. His compassionate heart led him to serve as a volunteer doctor for the VA after his retirement in 2006, acting as an overflow physician who quickly became a beloved figure at the clinic. Dr. Jack would likely also appreciate my mentioning how deeply his faith has impacted his life. Guided by his faith, his belief in God illuminates every corner of his life--from each patient he encountered to the pieces of literature he has written. I am proud to recognize Dr. Jack today for the lasting impact he has made not only in his own community but also throughout the entire state of Arkansas. His induction to the Arkansas Walk of Fame is a testament to the trust placed in him by his patients and community, establishing him as a champion for health and healing across the Natural State.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1115, I call up the bill (H.R. 556) to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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. 556.