Bruce Westerman

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, this is a commonsense amendment that will help ensure that the lands designated as wilderness in this package are not areas that are at high risk for catastrophic wildfire. One of the clear flaws of the package before us is the apparent arbitrary process that was taken in determining the areas to designate as wilderness. At the July 10 hearing that included the bills in today's package, the BLM and Forest Service conveyed findings that a significant number of the proposed wilderness additions are not suitable to be added to the wilderness system. It is critically important that wilderness designations are carefully applied due to their highly restrictive limitations and to make sure to take into account existing uses of the land that can be limited, including wildfire risk. The amount of public lands at high risk for catastrophic wildfire is truly sobering. Just last year, the chief of the Forest Service warned that a billion acres of land across America are at risk of catastrophic wildfire. This is especially true in the three States addressed in the legislation before us, all three of which rank in the top 10, nationally, for severe threat of wildfire: California, number 1; Colorado, number 3; and Washington, number 6. Mr. Chairman, I filed a bill today to plant a trillion trees. We can use forests to help mitigate atmospheric carbon. When we lock these forests away in wilderness areas, we are taking that off the table and actually adding to climate change by putting forests at risk of catastrophic wildfires that emit carbon. This is a commonsense amendment. We don't need to be putting these areas into wilderness areas and taking them off the table to use in fighting the mitigation of carbon. This amendment will make sure that we are not unwisely designating areas that have been identified at high risk of catastrophic wildfire. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I have had an opportunity to visit this beautiful part of the world that my colleague from Washington represents, and I know that he has the best interests of those beautiful forests and beautiful natural areas at heart, and it is because of this and because of this commonsense amendment that I can rise in support of it. Although I do not believe it goes far enough to address some of the legitimate concerns raised by local stakeholders, it is a great step in the right direction. Instead of simply removing proposed wild and scenic designations from State trust lands that are managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources to generate revenue for schools, counties, and other beneficiaries, the amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to work with the DNR to develop these cooperative management agreements to guide the management of those rivers. Now, overlaying DNR trust lands with wild and scenic designations subjects these trust lands to additional process, and I believe it will make it more difficult for DNR to propose timber harvest in these areas that could potentially cost school funding and other benefits. The savings language added in this amendment can only clarify what is required under Federal law. Nothing in the savings language alleviates DNR from potential added burdens under Washington State's Environmental Protection Act, potential litigation based on the wild and scenic overlays and adjacent wilderness, or precludes potential State litigation based on the new designations. This amendment also appears to recognize the tremendous burden this legislation will put on the Olympic National Forest. Under the Wild and Scenic Act, the Olympic will be required to prepare comprehensive river management plans for 19 new Wild and Scenic Rivers across 464 miles of river, all of that within 3 years. The amendment seeks to give the forest the potential for a 2-year extension, but the reality is the staff of this forest will be spending the next several years doing paperwork instead of proposing projects to restore forest, to replace culverts, or increase timber harvest, all things that have broad support. All the while, the Olympic National Forest is still living under a forest plan that hasn't been revised since 1994, when the Clinton Northwest Forest Plan was adopted. Most of the rivers proposed for the wild and scenic designation were not found to be suitable by the Forest Service. Currently, in the State of Washington, there are 197 miles of Wild and Scenic River. This legislation would more than quintuple the miles of Wild and Scenic River in Washington. So, Mr. Chair, while I wish this amendment went further, I congratulate my colleague and encourage him to continue working with stakeholders, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment which does make the underlying bill better. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, again, I encourage the adoption of this commonsense amendment; that we let the science rule; that we keep land available, our precious land and our precious resources to use in this fight to remove atmospheric carbon, to make the world a better place, and for environmental stewardship for the future. That is why I offered this amendment and why I encourage my colleagues to support it. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, there are a couple of things that I would like to point out here. First off, I am having a hard time understanding the logic. I appreciate the gentlewoman trying to explain what these potential wilderness areas are, but in the debate on the last amendment, the gentlewoman pointed out that we shouldn't be ceding any power to the executive branch, which designating something a potential wilderness area would cede all that power to the executive branch to determine if that could be a wilderness area in the future. There is a process to designate a wilderness area. It is called a wilderness study area. We have done that all across the country. I have seen it done in my State, and there are certain criteria that you have to meet when you are in a wilderness study area to be designated wilderness. Congress can change the law if they want to. They can violate the Wilderness Protection Act that was put in place, but that is not a wise thing to do. For instance, there is an area in my State that is in a wilderness study area that has beautiful trees on it, but those trees are loblolly pine trees. They are nonnative to that site. So you could put that into a wilderness area, but by definition, you can't have nonnative tree species on that site. Those are the kinds of things that the agencies look for when they go through a wilderness study program and when they propose to designate areas as wilderness. Just haphazardly doing it, putting it in areas where it shouldn't be, and designating potential wilderness is leaving the science out it, and it is making it all about politics. Mr. Chair, again, I encourage my colleagues to be rational and to vote for this simple amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, this strikes all the potential wilderness designations proposed in this package, which is a very vague and ambiguous designation that gives broad discretion to the relevant land management agencies to designate these areas as wilderness at a later time. As I previously mentioned during debate on the last amendment, one of the clear flaws of the package before us is the apparent arbitrary process that was taken in determining the areas to designate as wilderness. This shortcoming, unfortunately, extends to the potential wilderness designations in the bill as well. Official testimony from the land management agencies raised concerns about many of these suspect designations not possessing appropriate wilderness characteristics. For example, in the Washington portion of this package, many of the 5,000 acres set to become potential wilderness are largely near roads and include large amounts of previously harvested stands of timber. These are clearly roads that the proponents of this bill want to close. However, this is the wrong way to do that. Locking up vast swaths of land is a bad way to manage Federal land. And I reiterate, if we want to do something about atmospheric carbon and use our forest as a tool, locking them up where we can't touch them is not the way to do that. We should be investing in sustainable, proactive measures that balance both resource stewardship and local input. This amendment will remove some of the ambiguity from this package and will allow local communities to continue to benefit from lands and roads in these areas. Mr. Chair, it is for those reasons I again urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, if we are allowing management in an area, then, by definition, it shouldn't be a wilderness area. If our plan is to put the fire out when it starts and it could possibly do damage to property or life, that is not a very good plan. We shouldn't be putting areas into wilderness that is close to wildland-urban interfaces, that is close to where people live, and taking management completely off the table. I have wilderness areas in my district and in my State, and they are managed as wilderness areas, which means they are not managed at all. Again, this is common sense. Listen to the experts. If this area is not suitable to be in a wilderness area, we shouldn't be designating it a wilderness area. I encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to look at the science. I urge my colleagues to look at the law, look at what wilderness area means. It means untrampled by man. It means man has a hands-off approach to it. Wilderness areas can be resilient to fire if they are designated appropriately, but when we have the experts at the BLM and the Forest Service saying these lands are not suitable for wilderness areas, when these areas are close to roads, when they are close to homes and property, we are treading on dangerous ground here. We are not applying the science. We are not applying the opinions of the experts. We are just saying we want to randomly call something wilderness area and think that, randomly, our approach is going to be suppression. If our idea of management is suppression, we are losing ground. We should be doing things to prevent fire. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And if our plan is we are just going to roll the dice but we can put the fire out when these wilderness areas catch on fire, I think we are sending the wrong message and we are making bad policy. So, again, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment that is common sense and that will do good in the long run. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Thomas May on receiving the University of Arkansas System President's Medal for Service. This award is given by the school's president and cabinet to recognize those who have committed to helping the UA System through their time, knowledge, and philanthropy. Tommy May has long been a resident of the Fourth Congressional District and was previously the president and CEO of Simmons Bank. Mr. May is also the only person in Arkansas history to have served as both chairman of the board and acting president of the University of Arkansas System. His contributions to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have led to growth, development, and successes at both institutions. Mr. May is a dedicated leader, and his service shows how much wise stewardship can accomplish in the lives of others. Tommy has been an inspiration to many as he continues to serve others and make a difference in many lives, all while dealing with ALS in his own life. I take this time to congratulate Tommy May once again on this tremendous honor and thank him for his tremendous courage and service to our district and our State.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Shalisha Thomas on being named a recipient of the 2019-2020 Milken Educator Award. Described as ``the Oscars of Teaching,'' this honor is awarded to 40 educators nationally, and Ms. Thomas is the only winner from the State of Arkansas. According to the Milken Family. Foundation, Ms. Thomas was given this distinct honor for her efforts to encourage her students through art. Having received a degree in art education from the University of Arkansas in 2012, Ms. Thomas is also a valuable asset to the young people of the Pine Bluff community in her ability to encourage a high academic standard, build meaningful student-teacher relationships, and set students up for success in all aspects of life. Ms. Thomas' work is a shining example of the power of an educator in the lives of young people and the power of service to a surrounding community. I take this time to applaud her on her award and her further successes, and to thank her for her exceptional representation of Arkansas and Fourth District educators.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Thomas Sinclair of Garland County for his recent victory at the Arkansas State Spelling Bee. He will be moving on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May 2020. Thomas is ten years old and is a fifth grader at Jessieville Elementary School. After placing 11th in last year's state bee, he finished last week as the state's top speller among 50 students in third through eighth grades from around the State of Arkansas. Seeing the story of Thomas' perseverance from last year and during this year's competition, I am reminded of the resilience of much of the Fourth District of Arkansas. His is an outstanding example of everything that academic excellence and hard work can accomplish. I know that he will represent the Fourth District and the State of Arkansas well on the national stage. I wish him well in his future studies and in his efforts at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate J. Thomas May for receiving the University of Arkansas System President's Medal for Service. This award is given by the school's president and cabinet to recognize those who have ``demonstrated a distinguished and sustained commitment to helping the UA System carry out its mission to the state through their time, knowledge, and philanthropy.'' Mr. May has long been a resident of the Fourth Congressional district and was previously the president and CEO of Simmons Bank. May is also the only person in Arkansas history to have served as both Chairman of the Board and Acting President of the University of Arkansas System. His contributions to the University of Arkansas for Medical Science and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have led to growth, development and successes at both institutions. His life is an example of servant leadership and one of what wise stewardship and grace can accomplish in the lives of others. I and the rest of the Fourth District of Arkansas are proud to call Mr. May one of our own. I take this time to congratulate him once again on this tremendous honor and to thank him for his service to our district and our state.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Ken Armstrong for his years of dedicated service to the Boy Scouts of America, specifically Troop ONE in Hot Springs, Arkansas. First Presbyterian Church of Hot Springs chartered Troop ONE in 1923, making it the oldest continuously chartered chapter in the State of Arkansas. Mr. Armstrong's own career with Troop ONE began in 1994 and continued for another 25 years after he was named Scoutmaster for the troop in 1998. He will be retiring on February 9, 2020 after 21 years as the Scoutmaster for Troop ONE. With more than 40 years of service as both a youth scout and as a Scoutmaster in Arkansas and Texas, Mr. Armstrong was also awarded the Silver Beaver Award last year in recognition of his lifelong service in leadership. He remains a respected mentor and resource to countless young people in the Fourth District. I'd like to thank Mr. Armstrong for his years of dedicated service and for his commitment to ensuring a brighter future for young people of the Fourth District of Arkansas.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the incredible legacy of Coach Marc Stringer of White Hall, Arkansas. A longtime coach of basketball and football at White Hall High School, Mr. Stringer lost his battle with cancer several days ago. Coach Stringer and his family have been longtime residents of Arkansas' Fourth District, and their story serves as a testimony of service to our fellow man and of dedication to seeing future generations succeed. Coach Stringer coached for nine years, battling cancer for the last three. According to the faculty and students of White Hall School District, Coach Stringer was a ``good coach, but an even better person.'' His dedication to students showed not only in his coaching ability, but also in his creation of Endure the Dirt Adventure Race and Personal Pep Rally, which awards scholarships to students whose families are facing a battle with cancer. Coach Stringer was also awarded the Norm Stewart Legacy Award in 2018 at the Coaches vs. Cancer Program and the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association PGC Transformational Coach Award for his perseverance throughout his health struggles. I'm honored to recognize Coach Stringer's servant leadership and his legacy of endurance in adversity. My prayers are with his family as they mourn his loss.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the thousands of Vietnam war veterans who served our country but are unable to receive the VA benefits they earned and were promised. When Mr. Bill Rhodes from Mena, Arkansas, first reached out to my office several years ago, his case seemed simple. He just needed our assistance in filing a benefits claim with the VA. But we soon learned he wasn't eligible because the VA didn't extend the presumption of Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand during the Vietnam war. Mr. Rhodes isn't a unique case. There are thousands of other veterans across the country who put their lives on the line during the Vietnam war. They made it home safely, only to learn years later that exposure to Agent Orange was making them sick. Military personnel involved with the storage and transportation of Agent Orange suffered the worst rates of exposure. The average concentration of the toxic chemical was 13 times the recommended rate for domestic use. Despite constant reassurance that it was safe and harmless to handle during the war, veterans began reporting symptoms of lymphoma, leukemia, respiratory cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, and other diseases. Thanks to the passage of the Blue Water Navy Act last year, we are finally seeing progress as of January 1. Veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam are finally able to receive benefits for their exposure. This bill also included language I introduced that extends benefits to children born with spina bifida as a result of their parent's exposure to toxic herbicides. The Blue Water Navy Act is a big win for many veterans, but our work is not finished. Mr. Horace Wynn, another Vietnam veteran in our district, reached out this past year regarding his diagnosis and its relation to Agent Orange. Mr. Wynn's advocacy is why I introduced the bipartisan Keeping Our Promises Act, which would make an additional nine medical conditions eligible for benefits that stem from Agent Orange exposure. I also reintroduced a bill from the 115th Congress, H.R. 2201, that would allow Vietnam-era veterans who served in Thailand to apply for benefits based on exposure to Agent Orange. This bill is a direct result of my conversations with Mr. Rhodes, and Arkansas Senator John Boozman has introduced the same legislation in the Senate. Veteran organizations across the country are mailing letters of support in orange envelopes to their elected Representatives, urging them to support these lifesaving bills. The least we can do is listen. But we should do more. We must pass these bills for our Nation's veterans. They deserve it. Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to serve their country. In return, we promised that we would provide assistance for their medical bills and benefits. It is past time we keep those promises. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to join me in getting these bills passed and signed into law.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 722, the Miracle Mountain Designation Act. This bill would designate a mountain near Elk Ridge, Utah, as Miracle Mountain to recognize the providential events that took place in early September 2018 during the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires. These massive wildfires burned roughly 120,000 acres in Utah. The fires and their smoke were visible to the majority of Utah's residents in the greater Salt Lake City area. Two northern Utah cities located in Congressman Curtis' district, Elk Ridge and Woodland Hills, narrowly escaped these fires barreling towards their communities. Evacuations were ordered for these communities, and families were forced to abandon their homes and pray for the best. Swift winds and severe drought conditions fueled the fire which was on a direct path towards these small towns. On September 13, a miracle happened. As the fire reached the base of a lone mountain standing between the fire and Elk Ridge, the winds inexplicably shifted, and the fires were thrown off their deadly path. These communities were miraculously spared. Since the fire, the unnamed peak has been referred to as Miracle Mountain by many Utahns. Two weeks ago, Elk Ridge Mayor Ty Ellis testified before the Natural Resources Committee about the miracle he had witnessed. At the hearing, Mayor Ellis stated: ``As I drove towards that mountain, I said to myself, it truly is a miracle that that mountain remains green, and behind it is nothing but ash.'' Mayor Ellis reached out to Congressman Curtis soon after the fire had been contained to see if the peak could be named ``Miracle Mountain.'' We are all grateful to the courageous Federal, State, and local firefighters who worked tirelessly to battle the blaze. Naming the peak Miracle Mountain is a fitting acknowledgement of divine intervention and a gesture of gratitude to all those who came together to save these towns and help those who were forced to evacuate. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. During debate on this legislation in committee, a number of our Members expressed concerns on the merits of the settlement achieved under S. 216. Ultimately, this bill authorizes a settlement to the Spokane Tribe for damages as a result of the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. As stated in the findings section of the legislation, after construction of the dam, the Federal Government recognized that the Colville and Spokane Tribes should be compensated for their losses. Negotiations commenced, and settlements were reached between the Federal Government and both Tribes independently. No further claims were brought forward by the Spokane Tribe, and, as a result, the Tribe's claims were deemed fully settled. Now, nearly 50 years later, Congress is granting a settlement to the Tribe that will entitle them to a share of revenues from hydropower sales by the Bonneville Power Administration in perpetuity. The main concern raised by our Members was the potential of this bill as precedence to resettle claims between an entity and the Federal Government that have already been deemed settled. In addition, concerns have been raised that this legislation leaves the door open to off-reservation gambling. During the last 18 years, most House-passed bills addressing Tribal land use issues have contained express restrictions on off-reservation gambling. S. 216 seems to be one of the few that does not. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I do have one more.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have one speaker.