Bruce Westerman

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of Professor Joseph Carter Corbin and his contributions to education in the state of Arkansas. Mr. Corbin was an educator, journalist, mathematician, and scholar. He became one of the most educated men of his day, earning an Artium Baccalaureus degree and two master's degrees from Ohio University. In 1872, Professor Corbin made the Natural State home for him and his family. He was then elected as the Superintendent of Public Instruction and President of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. Mr. Corbin recognized the need for teachers and laid the foundation for a teacher's college of the ``poorer class.'' Branch Normal College of the Arkansas Industrial University is what we now know as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Professor Corbin became the first African American superintendent of public education in Arkansas, and he had a profound impact on the school. He worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of Arkansas's black educators. His dedication to serving the people of Pine Bluff is most admirable, and his legacy shall not be forgotten. I want to thank Professor Corbin for making such a deep and lasting impact on his community, the 4th District of Arkansas, and our country. I hope his record of service will be an inspiration to all who follow in his footsteps. I am proud to recognize September 27, 2023, as Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Day in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, many people are familiar with the passage of scripture found in First Corinthians Chapter 13, verse 4, ``Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.'' However, fewer may remember verse 5 which states that love ``always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.'' When the apostle Paul was inspired to write these words so many years ago, I believe he had persevering and loving couples like Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside in mind. Since 2019, the Whitesides have been recognized as Arkansas' ``Longest Married Couple.'' This Sunday, September 24, 2023, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, they are being recognized for their 84th year of marriage. On what I am sure was a hot and humid Monday, July 24, 1939, 17-year- old Cleovis and 13-year-old Arwilda made a lifetime commitment to God and each other that has endured the test of time. The next year, Mrs. Whiteside delivered the first of their 12 children. In an interview last year, Mr. Whiteside, who was 100 at the time, stated, ``We've been together all this long time and I still love my wife. She still loves me, and we still get along just as good.'' Mrs. Whiteside added, ``I ran to him since I was nine years old and I've run first to God, then him ever since.'' We find within these 2 statements the foundation of a strong, Christ-centered marriage that inspires me and countless people, in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, and the entire state of Arkansas. At the end of the 13th chapter of Corinthians, Paul tells us that when all is complete, 3 things remain: ``faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.'' I offer my most sincere congratulations to Mr. Cleovis and Mrs. Arwilda Whiteside on their 84 years of marriage. I thank them for exemplifying the greatest gift of persevering love.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I rise today to recognize two individuals that have made significant contributions to our Nation's fish and wildlife conservation efforts, as well as America's longstanding outdoor traditions. These individuals are also the recipients of an award named after members of this body that have made lasting and significant contributions to our Nation's outdoor heritage. Richard Taylor ``Dick'' Schulze was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John L. and Grace (Taylor) Schulze in 1929. Schulze attended the University of Houston, Villanova University, and Temple University and served in the United States Army. Schulze was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1975, where he served for 18 years. As a result of his leadership and understanding of complex policy, Schulze rose to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, but his passion always remained with conservation. To satisfy this passion, Schulze also served on the Natural Resources Committee and was a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, two roles that positioned him to be a true leader for sportsmen and women across the country. Recognizing his passion and knowledge of conservation and the outdoors, President George H. W. Bush appointed Schulze to serve on the board of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Robert Lindsay Thomas was born in 1943 in Patterson, Georgia to James and Aline (Jones) Thomas. He attended Gordon Military Academy in Barnesville and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1966. After graduation, Thomas served in the Georgia Air National Guard and was in the 165th Tactical Airlift Group. Prior to his political career, Thomas worked as an investment banker and stockbroker until 1973, when he took over management of Grace Acres Farm in Screven, Georgia. Thomas is the father of three children and still resides in Georgia with his wife. Thomas served five terms in the United States House of Representatives during the 1980s and early 1990s. Following his political service, Thomas served as the director of state governmental affairs for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. He also served as the president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Thomas also served as a longtime board member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, serving as Board Chairman from 2010 to 2012. Today, Thomas can be found enjoying the outdoors on his family farm, particularly through fall deer hunting and turkey hunting in the spring. What makes these two individuals unique amongst the conservation community is that Schulze and Thomas were instrumental in the establishment and development of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, one of the largest bipartisan, bicameral caucuses in the United States Congress. Schulze, a Republican, and Thomas, a Democrat, banded together in support of sportsmen and women and conservation across the country, an issue that recognizes no political labels, to develop one of the most important entities for outdoorsmen and women in the country. Since being established in 1989, the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus has earned a reputation for its bipartisan effectiveness and for its unparalleled ability to advance policies of interest to sportsmen and women. The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus brings together members with a shared passion for our outdoor traditions to work together to protect and advance hunting, fishing, and professional wildlife management. Mr. Speaker, as the Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I am proud to continue the legacy of Mr. Schulze and Mr. Thomas in support of hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooters across the Nation. In recognition of Schulze and Thomas' leadership in Congress and their innovative commitment to sportsmen and women through the establishment of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, they have been chosen as this year's recipients of the Dingell-Young Sportsmen's Legacy Award by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, a well- deserved recognition to individuals who have shown such dedication to their country and to America's outdoor heritage. Named in recognition of the Dingell family--Congressmen John D. Dingell, Sr. and John D. Dingell, Jr.--and the late Congressman Don Young, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation created the Dingell- Young Sportsmen's Legacy Award to recognize the extraordinary individual and collaborative leadership of the Dingell family and Congressman Young, and their long-standing dedication to the advancement of conservation policy and our outdoor hunting and angling traditions. Like them, Schulze and Thomas' contributions to our outdoor traditions relied upon a unique commitment to bipartisan collaboration and a shared passion for hunting, fishing, and conservation. With their shared dedication and the vital role they played in establishing the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, the Dingell-Young Sportsmen's Legacy Award is a fitting tribute for Schulze and Thomas. I want to thank these innovative leaders for their contributions and dedication to America's outdoor heritage and for founding the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, something that I am truly proud to lead today in a bipartisan fashion, just as Mr. Schulze and Mr. Thomas envisioned. I would like to congratulate them for the well-deserved recognition as the recipients of the Dingell-Young Sportsmen's Legacy Award, the top award offered by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation.

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. 3389, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3389) to require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an evaluation with respect to the use of the container aerial firefighting system (CAFFS), and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, the magnitude of our forest health crises demands an all-hands-on-deck approach that utilizes all of the tools in the toolbox. The Good Neighbor Authority has proven to be an exceptional tool when used by the States. We need to improve and expand on that with H.R. 1450 by including Tribes and counties. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I must say it is an honor to work with a colleague like Chairman Thompson who cares so much about forest health, and I appreciate the ranking member in the minority for supporting this bill as well, as it did pass unanimously out of both committees. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support Congressman Fulcher's bill, the Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act. This legislation would greatly enhance the collaborative stewardship of our Federal lands with Tribal and county partners. This is a bipartisan effort that passed out of the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees unanimously, and it is my hope that we can pass this thoughtful proposal in a similar fashion here on the House floor today. The Federal Government owns roughly 640 million acres, an astonishing 28 percent of the entire country. States, Tribes, and counties all have a very clear interest in how these lands are managed. When Federal lands are mismanaged, it is those closest to the lands that are most impacted. There is no clearer example of this reality than the forest health and wildfire crisis affecting vast swaths of Federal lands. Fire knows no boundaries between managed land and unmanaged lands. It knows no jurisdictional boundaries. As Federal land managers struggle to address this worsening problem, Congress developed the Good Neighbor Authority to empower States to assist in active forest management efforts on Federal lands. Under the Good Neighbor Authority, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management had the ability to authorize States to undertake restoration projects such as hazardous fuel reduction, habitat improvement, and road restoration on Federal lands within their borders. By all accounts, this program for States has been very successful. Since 2014, over 490 projects have begun in 38 States. Just last year, approximately 274 million board feet of timber was sold under Good Neighbor agreements. The 2018 farm bill extended Good Neighbor Authority to counties and Tribes in the hopes that even more active forest management could be accomplished. Unfortunately, the participation of counties and Tribes has been limited. Current law does not give Tribes and counties the same authority that States have benefited from to retain timber receipts for use on additional restoration work. This reality removes a substantial incentive for counties and Tribes to pursue Good Neighbor projects, and the numbers have shown this to be true. There are currently only six counties and five Tribes that have entered into Good Neighbor agreements. H.R. 1450 offers a solution to this dilemma by extending the authority to retain timber receipts from Good Neighbor projects to counties and Tribes to fund additional restoration projects, bringing them into parity with the treatment that States currently receive. In addition to providing important parity, this bill will also improve cross-boundary work by allowing restoration projects to occur on non-Federal lands. As I mentioned earlier, wildfires know no boundaries. Good Neighbor Authority has unquestionably been a successful program that has not yet reached its full potential. I believe that Congressman Fulcher's bill will improve this program and pave the way for Tribes and counties to partner on much-needed forest management efforts. Fully empowering counties and Tribes to utilize this authority will reduce wildfire risks and improve the health of our Federal lands for generations to come. I applaud Congressman Fulcher for his leadership on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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. 1450, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1450) to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to modify the treatment of revenue from timber sale contracts and certain payments made by counties to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior under good neighbor agreements, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands and the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1567) to require that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior submit accurate reports regarding hazardous fuels reduction activities, 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 include extraneous material on H.R. 1567, as amended, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Representative Tiffany's legislation, H.R. 1567, the Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions, or ACRES Act. This is a commonsense, good governance bill that will bring sorely needed transparency and accountability to the misleading way our Federal land managers are tracking and reporting hazardous fuel treatments. We remain in the midst of a historic catastrophic wildfire crisis that has devoured an average of 7 million acres every year for the last two decades. This alarming figure is more than double the annual losses seen during the 1990s. This worsening problem is directly linked to insufficient forest management, which has created a dangerous build-up of hazardous fuels in our forest. Despite the clear need to confront this crisis head on, Federal land management agencies like the Forest Service are still failing to increase the pace and scale of their treatments. Even more concerning is the recent investigative reporting by NBC News that found that the Forest Service is overreporting the number of acres they treat annually by over 20 percent. This happens because the Forest Service will count the same piece of land toward its risk reduction goals multiple times if different treatments, such as prescribed thinning and burning, are completed on that land. In some extreme cases, the Forest Service counted the same parcel of land 30 times, meaning the agency reported to Congress that they reduced hazardous fuels on 30 acres when, in fact, only one acre had received treatment. This problem gets worse if treatments can span several years. For example, NBC News found an example of a hazardous fuels reduction project in southern California that lasted for 5 years. The Forest Service reported that they treated 744 acres of land when, in fact, only 173 acres had been treated. If the Forest Service were treating at the order of magnitude that they need to be treating, these numbers wouldn't matter, but I think inflating the numbers is just a way to try to cover up the inadequate management that is happening. Instead of talking about hundreds of acres, we need to be talking about thousands and tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of acres that are being treated. This kind of reporting means that the Forest Service suggested to Congress and the public that they are doing as much as four times more work than they had actually accomplished. This is absolutely unacceptable, particularly in an area where wildfire risk and the risk to communities is extremely high. This legislation simply requires the Forest Service to submit data to Congress annually that details their hazardous fuels reduction work by only counting each individual acre once even if multiple treatments were performed. This exact idea has been supported in reports from the Government Accountability Office and USDA's Office of Inspector General. The fact that we need to pass legislation to tell the Forest Service to count the way that we all learned how to count should show us just how deep this problem runs within our agencies when it comes to confronting our catastrophic wildfire crisis. By holding Federal land managers accountable for their actual work, the work that they are doing on the ground to help improve forest health and to make our Nation's forests safer for all of us, we are required to do this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Tiffany for bringing this bill forward. I ask that we support this bill strongly, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, September 5, 2023. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 1567, the ``Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions Act'', or the ``ACRES 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. 1567 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 have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

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 H.R. 3324, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Huffman and Mr. LaMalfa for bringing this legislation forward. I think this could actually be a model that could be expanded on across the country so that recreation fees collected in a certain area could be retained and used to reinvest back into that area to provide Americans more access to our public lands. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3324. This is a good bipartisan effort being led by Representatives Huffman and LaMalfa and will help to improve recreation opportunities to their constituents in northern California. This bill extends the authority of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to collect and retain existing marina fees for the purpose of enhancing recreation opportunities and improving access at the Whiskeytown- Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, which is located within Congressmen LaMalfa and Huffman's districts. The Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area encompasses large reservoirs and abundant mountain terrain. This area is very popular with hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists. The authority to collect and retain marina fees expired in 2019 but has been temporarily extended through appropriations legislation. The marina fees retained by the Forest Service are spent on recreation enhancement projects such as boat ramp improvements, lake cleanup efforts, maintaining recreational facilities, and improving access for visitors with disabilities. The Forest Service also provides educational programs with these funds. This bill would not increase or otherwise affect the price of the current marina fees. H.R. 3324 simply continues a current authority that has yielded positive results for families who enjoy visiting this idyllic destination. I commend Representatives Huffman and LaMalfa for their collaborative work on this effort. Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.