Bruce Westerman

Mr. WESTERMAN

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. 6021, 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. 6021, the Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Clarification Act, sponsored by Representative Begich of Alaska. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects more than 900 species of migratory birds and plays an important role in conserving these species. However, the law also created challenges for Alaska Native communities whose longstanding cultural traditions include using migratory bird feathers and other nonedible bird parts in traditional handicrafts and artwork. In 2012, Alaska Native artist Archie Cavanaugh faced Federal charges after attempting to sell traditional artwork containing flicker and raven feathers. He faced up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, but a settlement was reached in which he agreed to pay a $2,000 fine. H.R. 6021 addresses this unfairness by directing appropriate updates to the Migratory Bird Treaty with Japan and any subsequent revisions to domestic regulations that may be necessary to clarify that authentic Alaska Native handicrafts containing nonedible bird parts may be sold and shipped, provided those parts were not taken in a wasteful or illegal manner. I commend Representative Begich for his work with the Alaska Native communities to preserve their cultural traditions while maintaining important protections for birds. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6021, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Begich for his hard work in representing his constituents and advancing this important legislation, like he has done on so many pieces of legislation this Congress. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6021, 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. 8121) to designate the Christiansted Bandstand at the Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as the ``Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand'', 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. 8121, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), the lead sponsor of the bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative McClintock for his leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8454, 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. 741) to elevate the position of Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, 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 to include extraneous material on H.R. 741, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 741 is a straightforward bill to strengthen Indian health leadership within the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill redesignates the Director of the Indian Health Service as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within HHS. The Federal Government has longstanding responsibilities for Indian healthcare rooted in the Federal trust responsibility. The Indian Health Service is the principal Federal entity responsible for providing health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Indian health issues do not begin and end at IHS. Many of these issues require coordination across HHS, including healthcare access, workforce recruitment and retention, behavioral health, public health, and health infrastructure. H.R. 741 will help that coordination by elevating IHS' senior within the Department. This bill is narrowly tailored. The IHS director is already appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, so H.R. 741 does not create a new Senate-confirmed appointment. It does not create a new program or change how IHS delivers healthcare. Instead, this bill makes a senior-level structural change to better coordinate health issues across the Department. This is a practical and reasonable step. When Indian health issues cut across IHS, the senior official responsible for Indian health should be positioned to work across HHS. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 741, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, August 24, 2026. Hon. Brett Guthrie, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Guthrie: I write regarding H.R. 741, the ``Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025,'' which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on May 14, 2026. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Energy and Commerce will not formally consider H.R. 741 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein. I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 741. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton) and the ranking member for working with us on this legislation. I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 741, 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 (S. 240) to amend the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to make improvements to that Act, 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 to add extraneous material on S. 240, 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 S. 240, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, sponsored by Senator Daines from Montana and championed in the House by Representative Downing of Montana. This bill ensures the Crow Tribe has the tools and flexibility it needs to implement its longstanding water rights settlement. The underlying 2010 settlement ratified the water rights compact between the Crow Tribe and the State of Montana and authorized major investments in water infrastructure on the Crow Reservation. This legislation does not change funding levels or the existing water rights settlement. Instead, it updates the settlement to better reflect the Tribe's needs today. The original settlement required the Bureau of Reclamation to build a Federal water project to serve the Crow Reservation. This bill converts this project-based settlement to a fund-based settlement, authorizing the Crow Tribe to manage project construction within existing Federal funding levels. The bill ensures there is no ongoing Federal operation and maintenance requirement upon completion. The bill also extends the Tribe's exclusive right to develop hydropower at the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam through 2030. Taken together, these provisions give the Crow Tribe greater flexibility to invest in water infrastructure, improve irrigation, and pursue economic development opportunities, while maintaining the commitments made in the original settlement. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing), the lead sponsor of the House companion to this bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Daines and Representative Downing for their leadership on this important issue, and I thank the minority for working with us on it. I urge the passage of S. 240, 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. 2406) to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to address sexual harassment and sexual assault involving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WESTERMAN. 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. 2406, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2406, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025. The Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act required NOAA to develop a policy to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment within its workforce. In 2021, the Government Accountability Office found that while NOAA has made progress, more work remains. H.R. 2406 expands coverage of NOAA's sexual harassment prevention and response policy to include observers and the voting members and staff of the regional fishery management councils. It also expands existing reporting requirements and requires additional transparency in cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment. This legislation will advance the protection of NOAA's workforce. I appreciate the minority working with us on this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2406, 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 (S. 550) to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 550, the bill now under consideration.