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The coronavirus has changed so many norms and patterns of gathering as family, community, and here in congress. Send out your spirit that those who find themselves at odds with their colleagues might continue the Productive Work that must be done and which does not draw contentious attention, and addresses well the issues which are pressing upon our nation. Lord, have mercy. Continue to bless the men and women who attend to those who are sick, the number continuing to grow throughout our country. Keep our Health Care Professionals safe and inspire those who labor to find treatments and cures for this dangerous virus. May all that is done be for your greater honor and glory, amen. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 4a of House Resolution 967, the journal of the last days proceedings is approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from california, mr. Takano. Mr. Takano i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker pro tempore the chair will entertain up to 15 requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the side of he eave the aisle. For what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition . Mr. Cicilline madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Cicilline its been more than two months since the house passed the heroes act. In that time there have been more than 50,000 new coronavirus deaths, bringing the total to more than 140,000 americans. More than 2. 5 million more cases. Yet the senate has done nothing. This important legislation provides much needed relief to states and cities experiencing lost revenue, to support our heroes on the frontlines. Our essential workers are entitled to hazard pay. It expands testing, tracing, and treatment to all americans. It puts money back in the pockets of struggling americans with a second round of stimulus payments for up to ,000 per household. It preserves Health Coverage by protecting the more than 5. 5 million americans who lost their Employer Provided Health insurance. It, tends the weekly 600 federal unemployment benefit through january providing a vital safety net for a Record Number of americans unemployed. Right now that expires in just nine days. It helps worried families afford a safe place to live, assisting renters and homeowners with rent, mortgage, and utility payments and other housing related costs. I urge the senate to pass this bill immediately. With that, madam speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from montana seek recognition . Mr. Gianforte i seek unanimous address the house for one minute. My friend senator danes deserves credit. He has successfully advanced this historic legislation, historic because of its longterm dedication to our public lands. People from around the world come to tour our Outstanding National parks, including millions of visitors every year to yellow stone and glacier. Unfortunately, too many of our parks have fallen into disrepair. This bill begins to rebuild and repair our parks. Its also a fitting complement to our successful efforts to permanently reauthorize the land and Water Conservation fund. It provides dedicated funding to increase Public Access to public lands across montana. I know how important lwcf is to montana, and ill continue working to keep public lands in public hands and increase access. I urge my colleagues to join me today in voting for the Great American outdoors act. Thank you, madam speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore thank you. For what purpose does the the gentlewoman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. Our Student Loan Debt crisis predates the pandemic. Ms. Dean we encourage High School Students to attend college to claim their education, yet too many graduates are shackled with a mountain of debt that limits their future. Impedes their financial freedom, and diminishes their purchasing power. The pandemic has only worsened this problem. During this pandemic, we owe it to a generation of debt laden young people, veterans, and transitioning adults to take bold action to pass meaningful Debt Forgiveness. Freeing up the ability to claim can an education without crushing debt will be a relief to so Many Americans and our economy. An educated public should enrich us all, not create unsustainable debt. I call upon this body to pass bold and meaningful Debt Forgiveness for millions of bright young people so that their futures are determined not by the debt they incurred but by the knowledge they gain. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore thank you. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Thompson madam speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Thompson thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, i rise today on National Fragile X Awareness Day to raise awareness of this genetic disorder. It is caused by mutations in the gene known as fmr1. These mutations can result in behave yorble, developmental, cognitive, and reproduct productive conditions. Often relating to delayed development in speech and language. The most severe it can cause potentially fatal neuro degenerative conditions. It affects an estimated 100,000 americans. More than one million americans have a variation of the fragile x mutation meaning they either have or at risk of developing one of the associated conditions. This means each member of this house on average represents 230 constituents living with fragile x syndrome and countless more parents, grandparents, siblings, and caregivers love someone with fragile x. Each person living with fragile x syndrome and any intellectual and Developmental Disabilities makes our world a better place. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Takano madam speaker, i seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Takano thank you, madam speaker. I rise today because supplemental federal Unemployment Benefits expire next week. And republicans in the senate refuse to extend these benefits for the American People. Average daily expenses are weighing heavily on millions of families as our economy struggles and unemployment is at record high with over 17 million still unemployed. Rent is due. Bills are due. Loan payments are due. But people are still out of work. Americans are fighting against financial hardships and the Housing Affordability crisis. Failure to extend Unemployment Benefits in the midst of this pandemic would be cruel and inhumane. It would cause financial ruin for millions or already struggling. Our communities need the additional 600 weekly Unemployment Benefits. It could be the difference between getting evicted or making rent for another month. I urge the senate to pass the heroes act to extend federal Unemployment Benefits. Millions of people are depending on it. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from kansas seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise today in support of democracy around the world. And in particular kashmir. The Human Rights Violations there are already alarming and now with the covid19 plaguing the world, people there and everywhere must have access to the tools necessary to fight this disease. As telecommunication blackouts, suppression of media reports, human rights abuses, and mass detentions continue in jammu and kashmir, covid19 concerns are amplified. There have already been disturbing reports that p. P. E. And critical equipment are being blocked from entering the region. Without adequate resources and internet access, hospitals and medical centers dont stand a chance and lives being lost are lost to the world. I urge the Global Community and actors in the region to Work Together to ensure citizens of jammu and kashmir have access to the care, service, and resources to defeat this disease. I yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition . I wish to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from indiana is recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. Madam speaker, i rise today in support of the no ban act which i was honored to coauthor. I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass this landmark legislation today. Mr. Carson more than three years ago President Trumps muslim ban put into actions xenophobic and racist agenda he promised during his campaign. It immediately led to chaos at our airports where i was honored to stand in solidarity with our incoming immigrants and those crewly ripped apart from their families of the the muslim ban became the cornerstone of President Trumps dangerous agenda. It has made america less respected around the world and our country is not even safe. This isnt the only time american has shamefully shut our doors based on race, ethnicity, or nationality, but we can make it the last time. Thats why we must pass the noban act and end the muslim ban and make sure history does not repeat itself. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition . Madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, for those wondering what its like to be a black Police Officer amid the havent demonstrations that continue in cities across our country, consider what portland Police Officer jackson said about the rioters in his own words, and i quote, its been very eye opening. It says something when are you at a black lives matter protest and you have more minorities on the police side than you have in a violent crowd. And you have white people screaming at black officers. Let me repeat officer jacksons word once more because you will not hear any of this from our national media. The mr. Johnson once again, hear the words of a black Police Officer facing a violent mob of predominantly white anarchists. I quote. Its been very eye opening. It says something when you are at a black lives matter protest and you have more north on the police side than you have in a violent crowd. And you have white people screaming at black officers. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition . Mr. Blumenauer permission to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Blumenauer thank you. It was sad to hear my colleague with his recent comments. Let me tell you what its like on the ground. This is serious problem in oregon where people are attempting to peacefully demonstrate their opposition to the whole range of racist practices, Law Enforcement. There are to be sure occasionally a few people who are doing things that they shouldnt and they should be arrested, tried, and convicted. But the vast majority of people are peaceful, and it is no fault, frankly, of whats happened with the Trump Administration. Who have moved in with what can only be described as an occupying force, making the situation worse. They were unwanted, unwelcomed, and unprepared. Ut have moved in, been involved with episodes that people can watch on youtube where peaceful demonstrators were attacked. One of my constituents asking a simple question was beaten with a baton, eper sprayed in the face. This is pepper sprayed in the face. This is a made for Tv Initiative the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from South Carolina seek recognition . Mr. Wilson madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Wilson thank you, madam speaker. Im grateful that the House Armed Services committee included my amendment, the small manufacturers Cyber Security enhancement act, in the National Defense authorization act which passed yesterday by a bipartisan vote. This crucial amendment will provide much needed assistance to small defense manufacturers with compliance of cyber and it will enhance the Cyber Security through our defense supply chain by extending expanding d. O. D. Cyber initiatives with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers. It helps strengthen our National Defense. This Bipartisan Legislation was upported unanimously by all members of the House Armed Services committee. Its especially important to the represent adjacent to the army cybercommand at fort gordon. Potential to create jobs is encouraged. N conclusion, god bless our troops and we will never forget september 11 and the global war on terrorism. The speaker pro tempore thank you. The gentlemans time has expired. Does the urpose entleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Costa madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and minute. Or one the speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Costa thank you, madam speaker. Rise today to call attention to the escalating violence occurring in the armenian border. Soldiers july 12, as approached the border, a place thats been one of contention, on armenian re civilians, the province. Sadly,hen, the conflict, escalated. The forces have been ndiscriminate in attacking armenian schools, factories, factories producing personal equipment that are pandemic. During this azerbaijan must be held accountable. In the midst of this pandemic, resources are and already stretched, its critical now more than ever that we work peace. S we must reevaluate the u. S. Ecurity assistance to azerbaijan immediately. They are not being appropriate in their actions. Aid to as increase armenia to counter this aggression. N the appropriations bill yesterday, a 20 million augmentation was made to the country of armenia. Support colleagues to that and to urge immediate azerbaijans ing disgraceful actions. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition . Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is minute. Ed for one 1940, judge luke medley started a small Radio Station in cookeville, my hometown, and for talk and 0, whbu news 1400 the hub, has stood the test was a haven for Community Events and local events. Motto is where community always comes first. They have always implemented for the citizens of the Upper Cumberland in tennessee and they always will. Rose they have been the from of numerous awards the state of tennessee and the National Association of broadcasters. Owner jerry ns to zimmer, Program Director Brent Fleshman fleischmann, news director for their constant to keep whub the number one news talk radio cumberland. He upper happy 80th anniversary to whub. Tennessee, and god bless america. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition . Ask oyer madam speaker, i unanimous consent to speak out of order for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hoyer thank you very much, madam speaker. Its now been nearly four weeks since the house passed the george floyd policing act. Leader mcconnell and the republicanled senate, however, to call it up for consideration or a vote. Meanwhile, the problem of Racial Injustice is not going away on its own. Or millions of americans, this issue is deeply personal. Having experienced racial bias our Justice System firsthand. Most Police Officers, madam trying hard to do their job professionally and communities as well. And there are so many exemplary officers committed to addressing headon the inherent bias in the problems and culture of policing leads some to commit acts misconduct. Still, millions of people live in fear simply because of the and because r skin of the history of Police Misconduct against fricanamericans in our country. Madam speaker, we must never this norm. Indeed, in his last public john lewis visited lack lives matter palazza in washington and encouraged americans plaza in washington encouraged americans to stand up. He said this, we must continue brave, and courageous, push and pull until of america e soul and move closer to a community itself. With his wise words continue to americans to be courageo courageous in standing up, speaking out and working to lift the highest ofto our ideals. Sure that all e voices are being heard in congress and in this national launched a website to make it easier for americans stories, heir own learn about the legislation we passed, and share their thoughts bill. It is a platform for people to work of e to this redeeming the soul of america, urged us to do. That site is justiceinpolicing. Us. Justiceinpolicing. Us. Already, madam speaker, of americans from nearly every state have visited the site and many have shared wrenching stories about why we need to pass this bill. Wrote an in my district about how, as the mother of two oung black men, she worries every day about them encountering the police. Hat should not be the case in america. That isnt good for families. Police. Good for the it isnt good for our communities. Is not good , it for our country. Another wrote about how her were pulled over in oklahoma because the officer that her elieve africanamerican father was mother. To her white both were in their 80s. Years ago. St three one person from iowa posted lifelong a republican who is tired of her partys failure to tackle Police Misconduct and systemic racism in our country. Right. Rson is and not republicans alone whom with. Re shes concerned the senate could act today on George Floyd Justice in policing act. Ought to act today, sitting on leader mcconnells desk or someplace our gathering dust while site continues to gather stories f real lives impacted by these injustices. Madam speaker, i hope americans will continue to speak out and compelling and concrete examples of why action is necessary. I might say, we need to speak out on the extraordinarily ood actions that are taken by our Law Enforcement officers as well. Balanced, but we do not need to be balanced to he extent of ignoring the carnage that has occurred because of the color of skin. Need to be told. Powerful new york imes column on the five crisis in our country, the inciteful all brooks, and i quote, americans, but especially white mericans, are undergoing a rapid education on the burdens every americans carry day. This education, he said, is continuing. Already Public Opinion is speed. G with astonishing so. S right that it does and the more we hear of the stories of personal experiences systemic bias, the better equipped we will be as a nation this challenge together. S more people visit justiceinpolicing. Us to speak up and support this bill, i will be stories heir names and with this house and its members, sure that members hear rom their constituents on this issue. We are peoples house. Voice. The peoples of re the protectors democracy. Yes, of our constitution and our soul and character f our country is in our hands as well. As long as people of color ontinue to face dangerous and deadly systemic bias in our ountry, we will not stop areing for the reforms that so sorely needed. And i yield back the balance of time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The speaker pro tempore for the gentleman es from washington seek recognition . The gentlewoman seek recognition . Ms. Jayapal pursuant to house the ution 891, i call up bill h. R. 2486 with the Senate Amendments thereto and i have a desk. At the the speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill, designate the senate motion. T and report the the clerk ms. Jayapal madam speaker, i unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and insert remarks extraneous material. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman will suspend. The clerk will report the title designate the Senate Amendment and report the motion. To clerk h. R. 2486, an act reauthorize mandatory funding programs for historically black universities and other minorityserving institutions. Senate amendment. The housel moves that concur in the Senate Amendment to h. R. 2486 with the amendments specified in section 4 of house 891. Ution the speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 891, the question shall be among two house amendments. Pursuant to section 3a of house 891, the person of he divided question compromising the amendment specified in section 4a of be e resolution 891 shall considered first. This portion shall be debatable divided and equally and olled by the chair ranking minority member on the judiciary. From washington, and the gentleman from arizona, mr. Biggs, each minutes. Rol 30 the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from washington. Ms. Jayapal madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and insert remarks xtraneous material on h. R. 2486. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Jayapal madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. Withoutker pro tempore objection. Ms. Jayapal madam speaker, i forward the bring no ban act amendment, and i thank Congress Member chu for leadership on this bill. In january, 2017, president the first muslim xenophobic policy that has harm on muslims here at home a policy the world, that says to muslims that they are not to be trusted. Harmful to our global relationships, and deeply untrue. When the ban was implemented i rushed to the seattle airport along with chairman nadler in new york city. We joined thousands of people in protest. Thanks to these efforts, we successfully secured the release in seattle of two individuals. But the chaos and the pain that the ban cast upon american citizens lawful residents, and interarble visitors can never rule International Visitors can never truly be undone. Today new iterations of the muslim ban and the most recent african ban has kept families separated, american businesses and Research Institutions cant recruit the best minds from abroad. And our nations doors are closed to people seeking safety from violence, war, and persecution. The bans have hurt our relationships with other countries, harmed refugees, isolated us from our allies, and given extremists propaganda for recruitment. Most important they do not make our country safer. Let as be clear, a pandemic is not the time to push forward these zone phobic bans. Citizens from muslim majority nations make up 4. 5 of the u. S. Physician work force in 2019. Yet between 2016 and 2018, the number of applicants to the Educational Commission for foreign medical graduates from muslim majority countries decreased by 15 . A decrease that exacerbates existing gaps in the u. S. Physician work force, which is so desperately needed in a time of covid19. It is time to pass the no ban act to repeal President Trumps bans and stop any future president from implementing discriminatory bans that send the repugnant message that our foundational values of freedom of religion and liberty and justice for all do not apply. Today is historic. As the no ban act is the first bill to pass the house that directly addresses muslim civil rights. And we would not be here today without the courage of muslims and allies across the country, especially the very important people at Muslim Advocates who work to repudiate the muslim ban and move congress to action. This bill sends and Important Message to muslims everywhere that america believes in liberty and welcomes people egardless of race or religion. Madam speaker, i reserve the balance of my time and ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from new york control the remainder of our time. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The chair will receive a message. The messenger madam speaker, a message from the senate. The secretary madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore madam secretary. The secretary i have been directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has passed s. 3989, an act to amend the United States semiqua Centennial Commission act of 2015 of other requirements of the United States from the commission and for other purposes which the concurrence of the house is requested. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Bigs i rise in opposition to this mr. Biggs i rise in opposition to this amendment. To h. R. 2486. The majority is actually playing procedural games here by including a nongermane provision to satisfy certain requirements. The two immigration bills that we are considering today are expensive, make no doubt about it. According to the c. B. O. , the non no ban act will increase direct spending by 290 million over the next 10 years, and increase deficits by 307 million over the same period. A preliminary estimate from c. B. O. Notes the access to counsel act which well debate later today will increase Discretionary Spending by at least 1 billion over the next five years. So the majority had to come up with a pay for. They opted for Prescription Drug legislation but chose to discard Bipartisan Committee passed text to include a flawed prescription bill that will stifle investment in research, prevent new medications from coming to market, and disincentivize improvements in patient care. This congress has unanimously passed six bipartisan bills out of committee to address the cost of Prescription Drugs. But today instead of using bipartisan negotiated text, my colleagues across the aisle have made Prescription Drugs a partisan issue in an effort to pass partisan immigration bills. Our president has consistently taken Decisive Action to help ensure the security of our immigration programs and thus the safety of our country. Every time he does so my Democrat Friends cry foul. They threaten to take away the president s power. The department of Homeland Security has identified several types of information it needs in order to make a reliable decision regarding the add missibility of a foreign Country National seeking entry into the United States. This includes things like, does the country report lost or stolen identity documents, including passports to interpol and how often . Does the country share information about their known or suspected terrorists or about their criminals with us . And does the country issue modern electronic passports . These are clearly important things to know when determining whether to let a Foreign National enter our country. Instead of expressing appreciation for what this president has been able to accomplish with regard to security, my colleagues have decided to consider this no ban act which effectively eviscerates the ability of the administration to take quick and Decisive Action to protect our homeland when concerns arise. Even action to prevent entry of aliens based a Global Health crisis like covid19. Until the president signed the first travel executive order in january of 2017, very few had ever heard of the immigration and nationality act section 212 authority. This provides the president broad latitude to impose restrictionses on the entry of aliens or classes of aliens to the United States when such entry, quote, would be detrimental to the interest of the United States, close quote. And this authority has been used successfully by president s ronald reagan, barack obama, and others. Pursuant to the travel executive order the president required the secretary of d. H. S. And secretary of state along with the director of National Intelligence to determine what countries failed to meet International Standards of information sharing or identity management, or were at a risk of terrorism or Public Safety concern. And to report their findings to him. Based on that assessment and the recommendations of the secretaries, the president placed travel restrictions on seven nations. Pursuant to the continued review of countries and updated report in january, the president issued a proclamation imposing narrowly tailored travel restrictions on six additional countries. Its important to understand that such restrictions are not permanent. When the country comes into compliance with the information sharing and other requirements, they can be removed from the list of restricted countries, and that has happened under this administration. For instance, chad in 2018. Enpress reports note that the government of nigeria immediately began working to come into compliance. The president s use of 212 authority has helped improve our security and vetting of Foreign Nationals seeking entry into the United States. As the d. H. S. Assistant secretary for Threat Prevention and secretary policy testified last september, quote, one country reinstituted the dormant program to help identify convicted criminals. Three countries have adopted more secure epassports. Two countries obtained access to interpol databases for the first time. And eight countries began reporting lost and stolen passports to interpol for the first time. Or they improved the regularity of that reporting. These are not insignificant improvements to the worlds security. No man act would take 212f authority from the elected president and give it to an unelected subordinate not accountable to voters. Under this bill only the discriminate secretary of state can determine that there is a threat. This is problematic in instances where other cabinet officials can be involved. Such as health and Human Services or treasury. The bills undefined and broad terms least restrictive means and notion of harm are ripe for litigation. Especially considering the bills expansive judicial review provision and class action allowance. The no ban act also contains onerous reporting requirements, consultation with congress before the president can act. And federal register publication of information about the action taken and the circumstances necessitating the action. But does it make sense for the u. S. Government to broadcast the deficiencies they have identified since those wouldlike be exploited by bad actors seeking to do us harm . Perhaps the most ridiculous of the bills provisions is section 4 which not only term mates the taffle executive orders in place but incredibly ceases all actions taken pursuit to any proclamation or executive order terminated by the bill. That means that information sharing on terrorists, criminals, and other security threats that has developed between the United States and other countries with travel restrictions would end. This bill is a kneejerk response by my democrat colleagues because of the because of President Trump. It would undermine the safety and security of americans. I urge my colleagues to oppose the no ban act. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, h. R. 2214, the National Origin based antidiscrimination for nonimmigrants act or the no ban act, is critical legislation that will stop executive overreach, defend Congress Role in establishing our nations immigration laws, and right one of the original sins of the Trump Administration, the muslim ban. When the Trump Administration issued its first version of the ban in january, 2017, it was immediately apparent it was unconstitutional, discriminatory, and morally reprehensible. Its chaotic rollout undermined the cruelty of thispolicy. When news first broke that people were being detained at the airports, i immediately rushed to j. F. K. Airport that morning along with congresswoman velazquez. Within hours, we were joined by hundreds of demonstrators demanding justice. What we found was chaos and heartbreak. Refugees, people with valid visas, even legal permanent residents, people who had assisted american troops and saved their lives in iraq were prevented from entering the country, or even speaking with their attorneys. We met people like hamid an iraqi who put his life on the line for 10 years to work with american and Coalition Forces as a translator. He underwent the years long vetting pros to secure a special immigrant visa granted to people who assist our military in iraq and afghanistan n return for his efforts, he was welcomed to the United States with a door slammed in his face. And a grueling ordeal at the airport as he pleaded for his freedom. I am pleased that congresswoman velazquez and i were able to work with officials in new york and washington to secure his release, but we should never have had to do that. That is not the country we are proud to represent in congress. We do not betray those who save american troops. Although the president s initial muslim ban was ultimately blocked by anaheim russ courts, in 2018 after protracted litigation and several court injunctions, the Supreme Court unfortunately upheld the third version of the ban. President ial proclamation 9645. The court reached this decision based on its broad reading of section 212f of the immigration and nationality act which authorizes the president to, quote, suspend the entry of all aliens or class of aliens, unquote, when the president finds such entry would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, unquote. I strongly disagree with the courts broad interpretation of that provision. Section 212f was intended to give the president discretion over quickly address emergent issues involving Public Health, National Security, Public Safety, or international stability. It was not intended to provide Carte Blanche authority to the president to ban large categories of individuals without justification or to rewrite immigration laws with which he disagrees. That is why this legislation is so important. H. R. 2214 will repeal the shameful bans and stop executive overreach by amending section 212f to prevent any president from using it in a manner that is unlawful or unconscionable. The United States has always been and must continue to be a place that welcomes and embraces people of all religions and all nationalities. Nationalities. S result of muslim ban our country as a beacon of hope, tolerance and inclusion for those fleeing persecution has been forever tarnished. I would like to thank my friend and colleague, representative chew chu for introducing this legislation and her leadership and commitment to this issue. I also want to thank the no ban coalition, led by Muslim Advocates, all of the Many Organizations whose support was vital to bringing this bill to the floor today. It is long overdue. I urge all of my colleagues to support the no ban act and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs thank you. I recognize yield time to the gentleman from texas, mr. Good yep, such time he may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Gooden thank you. I rise today in opposition to the no ban act which would tie the hands of our executive branch, restricting our ability to act quickly and decisively to defend america from her enemies. The president must have authority to act when our National Security is at risk. When the situation demands we halt travel into our country, whether that be to protect us from a pandemic or other National Security issue, the president must have the power to do sofmente democrats on march 11 of this year debated this very measure in the form of a bill. Ironically the same day that President Trump instituted his ban onure peaian travel. Because they knew the optics would look bad they pulled the bill down. If it was bad then, its bad today. Congress gave the president the authority we are discussing today when we passed many decades ago the immigration and nationality act. So why then do my democratic colleagues want to take this away . Al authority id like to read an excerpt from 6 1986 decision out of the d. C. Circuit in which the were debating today said the executive would of an alien who posed a danger to the United States. Furthermore, the court stated the president s sweeping proclamation power thus provides a safeguard against the to our National Security. Hat farright extremist, ultraconservative judge wrote words . None other than ruth bader ginsburg. The highest e priority. We should not jeopardize the wellbeing of our citizens for victories. Political if enacted, the no ban act would put american lives and our at trys National Security risk. I will be opposing this dangerous policy and i urge my well. Gues to oppose it as i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. From arizona the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i now ield three minutes to the istinguished gentlelady from california, the author of this bill, ms. Chu. The speaker pro tempore the entlewoman is recognized for three minutes. Ms. Chu thank you, chairman leadership in r ringing the no ban act to the floor. When President Trump took office, within the first week, announced the first muslim ban. I will never forget that terrible day in january of 2017. Way to a Community Event when i received a frantic 50 muslims with green detained atre being l. A. X. For hours with no end in sight. At that moment i decided to drop in any way id help could. I rushed over to l. A. X. To advocate for these people. I arrived, i found out that indeed there were scores of legal right to be here kept for hours without food and blocked from receiving legal from an attorney. With this action, trump was chaos and creating separating families with no justification. Outrageous. And when i pressed customs and Order Protection for answers, they resisted and blocked me. I even got them on the phone up on me. Ve them hang i have never been more isrespected as a member of congress. But disrespect and chaos is what about. Slim ban is all since then, the administration as steadily worked to make it hardered and harder for harder and harder for to come to the United States, which means keeping families and loved ones apart. Artners and spouses have been kept apart for years at a time. Hildren have missed parents funerals. Parents have missed childrens birthdays weddings, birthdays, graduations. They are wondering when they be reunited all because of a policy born from prejudice. Of power cruel abuse that must be stopped. He no ban act repeals all versions of the muslim ban, including the travel ban imposed of this year which includes many african countries. It limits the president s people from ban entering the United States nless there is a clear justification. The president would have to consult with the department of Homeland Security and state implementing a ban and would have to brief congress within 48 hours. Me make clear that this bill would not have impacted our the covid19 ht pandemic in any way as it does interfere with the ability of a president to restrict immigration due to Public Health concerns. I urge all my colleagues to vote historic f this legislation, which sends a strong message to our cannot be that you discriminated against based on our religion or National Origin. Back. You and i yield the speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserves. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new york. Nownadler madam speaker, i yield one minute to the distinguished speaker of the house. Tempore the o peaker of the house is now recognized. The speaker thank you, madam speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding. For his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. Tribute to l chair of the chu, caucus in the house that pacific s the asian merican communities and ms. Jayapal, a member of the committee, bringing this legislation to the floor, the no ban the right to counsel legislation. Was thinking of this legislation i have a tatement for the record, but i as thinking back to the romp hearing we had under the leadership of the Judiciary Committee at the time of the no was announced. The distinguished chair, madam about how people reacted at the parpts and the rest airports and the rest, them, john lewis going to the airport. Ut at this hearing, it was so remarkable because people turned out. Diplomats showed up and spoke for their colleagues who diplomatic n the service saying how wrong this was. Professional risk as members of our diplomatic corps like a thousand of them opposing thisment ban. The military was there. Ur men and women in uniform, they were there saying you are hurting us. To ave made promises interpreters and others who elped us in iraq and afghanistan. And now they are muslim. And now they cant come to the states . Its wrong on its face. Our word. Keeping who will trust us . Ho will trust us if we dont have respect for people . Ome military, who are muslim, actually a gold star father there. He came. Was very brief in his testimony. Advice what we could do about this. Men and women in uniform who are this in taking gold star case, a ather, his son that gave his life for our country, a muslim. Hats interesting is that the leader of the evangelical community was there. Evangelical he community. As this this bill is sending message. T says repealing all muslim ban, refugee ban, asylum ban, president sch cruel ban, including his executive order, mandating extreme vetting refugees and asylum. The person who was there evangelicals, e he said in his testimony, the nited states refugee esettlement program is the rowning glory of american humanitarianism. Of american humanitarianism. Nd here this president is who we g that focus of are as a country and the model we should be. Fact, all this administration has done is diminish the opportunities for come here. Ould some for fear of persecution. Helped us. Use they thers because of the statue of liberty. Again, a beacon of hope to the world. Is constantly undermined by this administration. I salute the maker of this chairwoman judy chu. Pramila jayapal who has been relentless on this matter. Go . E did she i thank all of our colleagues who fought so hard. The emember the day after inauguration that women turned only inuge numbers, not washington, but all over the country and all over the world. Their ew the power of presence. O when this came shortly thereafter, people understood the power of their presence and andle showed up at airports wherever a manifestation of Muslim Community was needed. Defining lly quite a time for our country because power and the ir power of their presence, being there. There for everyone in our country. So im very grateful the makers this motion to the Judiciary Committee, mr. Chairman nadler, thank you for giving us this to honor what is the statue of liberty means to us to the world. And then just go look at ronald statement about the statue of liberty and the beacon the world t it is to and contrast it to the attitude out of this oming white house now. I hope we have a good bipartisan vote on this repeal of the to im ban and the access counsel that goes with this legislation. Strong yesat, i urge and yield back. Submit my statement for the record and yield back the time. E of my the speaker pro tempore without objection. Arizona. Eman from mr. Biggs thank you, madam speaker. Appreciate the speaker invoking president reagan because in 1981, president suspended entry of undocumented aliens from the high sea. I appreciate her reminding us of 1212f president. E i yield to mr. Collins. R. Collins mr. Biggs talked about the problem we see and its been reiterated over and over again. This is not about a policy. Person. Ut a its about a person of the president through the other side and especially this committee i served as Ranking Member and now serve as a member of after forstently went almost now 19 months. It has nothing to do with one point you t did or did not believe in this is true we would have a mass outcry in 2011 when this ent obama used authority to keep out folks for human rights issues. To couch this in political terms. Ts great to couch this in great policy issues but for 18 months this is all we have heard and i heard my chairman just a speak of that these policies that he disagrees with and doesnt like that are found law and what were dealing with today in this, act, has tarnished us worldwide. Us ll us whats tarnishing is stuff like this and the constant back and forth. I know my friend from arizona about this a little bit. I wonder why we kept the house locked down for the last five or six months. This is what we come back to o, maybe we should just stay away. If were doing this this is frustrating because november 3 will be the chance to talk about this. Im getting very very policy and politically driven when we this floor on anything that really has to do with a olitical agenda, a date on the calendar, as i talked about before, more than actually changing policy. Because when you look at this, i will almost guarantee you that the iends currently in majority, if they had a president of par of their par the white house, they would be very scared of messing with president ially. This is a problem were seeing over and over and over and over again. Strip the act will resident of using the nationality act to ban those rom countries who present concerns. I said thats the very power that President Trump used in january to deal with the coronavirus in china. Was in place, he may not have had the ability to actually we now is the pandemic early on to help stop the spread. Here are consequences to political legislation. This is one of them. We saved countless lives because that and now they want to strip the president of the authority to do that. Now people say we have this. Ions and we have i am not taking anything from this committee on exceptions for this president. Any. s not been its been a an attack. The department of homeland things to lked about make a reliable regarding seek enterstries to into the United States. Of the country report lost interpol . To do they report their criminals with us . And does the country issue passports . Tronic why would we want to restrict the president , any president this onsidering information when determining to let a Foreign National into our country . Instead of appreciating what has done here by this president , the ability to addressing the crisis on our border, addressing chinas hostile behavior, the democrats moved forward with pointed out we many of the prost of this act problems of this act. Protect our homeland when the calls for concern arises like the threat of covid19. Is even more ironic and i touched on this when i first tarted, madam speaker, is that the very power that the majority wants to strip from this president was used successfully president barack obama and also, pointed out by my friend of arizona, by the speaker this house currently, ronald reagan. Clarifies. Ly it actually crystallizes it. When you see every other president used this in some form over the years and now its only become a concern now because we do not like the current donald trump, and we have an election coming up very quickly, then we start seeing stuff like this. In jab of 2017, President Trump signed an executive order based off recommendations from the secretary of d. H. S. And state along with the d. N. I. Its important to understand these restrictions are not permanent. This is again another thing that permeates even conversations i have heard already that we are making permanent changes. These are not permanent. They are there until the country gets in order and able to answer our security concerns, which is not going to be talked about today, we are not talking about security, we are trying to make it feel like its Something Else against a certain groups, ethnic groups, this is about security when you look at the law, and it says when those Public Safety concerns are removed, they were unremoved from the restricted list such as chad was in 2018. Let me be clear, there is no doubt that the president s use of 212f authority has helped us improve our security and vetting of Foreign Nationals seeking entry into the u. S. Some countries restricted by this order have taken positive steps to come into compliance with the safety and worked to participate in protecting interNational Security. Is that not what we would want . Or is it being said by the majority today we prefer lax standards, less safety for our people of people coming here . Is that the standard being left here . I dont think the majority wants to go there, but it is seemingly implied by what is being said here because this is actually working with countries to come into modend day compliance with known safety and International Safety regulations. This bill would take authority away from the president and give it to a subordinate. Strange move here. Taking the president ial authority which goes back and shows the real intent of this bill is about this president not the law. It would also terminate all actions taken by any proclamation and executive order effectively shutting down information on security threats coming from these restrictions. This is dangerous, madam speaker, and it is a bad policy. This bill is just another response, kneejerk response by the majority because they dont like the president and the decisions he makes on behalf of the country. Unfortunately, their never ending desire to take him down comes at the expense of American Security and safety if this bill were to become law. Fortunately, we know it will not. Another day of political posturing on the floor of the house. Reeking havoc on our borders, backlogging our process. Nobodys talked about i have heard so far. I may have missed it but i dont think so. The gentleman from arizona we understand something. Everythings coming here today has a price tag. This one does as well. 1 billion. Then this is really where if gets concerning, madam speaker. Because i have tried my best over the years to work with the majority and i see some of my friends over there we passed legislation with that have made an impact in this country. But heres what really bothers me. How do they pay for it . How does the majority pay for this . The majority and democrats have decided to include in this bill a Prescription Drug measure that could have been bipartisan and was bipartisan if only abided by the agreed upon text negotiated by both members and both parties. Instead we are considering an old partisan version of a Prescription Drug bill that will undermine critical innovation. We negotiated bipartisan changes to stop gaming while preserving the research that benefits patients. But the democrats in the majority have abandoned that and with this bill they abandoned any hope of showing the American People they truly want to legislate instead of just constantly attacking this president. Whats deeper the concern here, especially when it comes to Prescription Drug costs, i dont want to hear my friends on the majority talk about how they want to save money and encourage innovation. When they put this into this bill, they have tore down bipartisan work that could actually save money. They got to pay for it somehow. I know they are struggling right now. We had to pay for it somehow. Why not go back to the bipartisan process of working on Prescription Drugs instead of throwing it into this no ban act . The majoritys moral underpin something severely damaged when you look at the facts that they are trying to play games with the Prescription Drug issue in our country on this bill. When we know for a fact that bipartisanship was the way forward on this and i had worked with and others had worked with to bring a bipartisan solution. Now we throw it out the door because we are so bent on making a political statement on this floor that bipartisanship is gone. We might as well back it up and wait for november 3. That hurts this body. If the chairman of this committee in this house a moment ago talked about tarnishing the work in the world standing by what the president s done . Are we really not going to have a conversation, madam speaker, about whats happening i know, madam speaker, you do as well, concern about what happens here. Concern about actually getting something done. Concern about the very people that is lifted up by the majority saying we are here for the American People. When i see payfors like this, when i see the payfor happening here, i know that this is not anything but another day on the campaign trail. We are here today making a political statement. You know who is going to suffer . The very dont want to hear it from anybody on the majority today talking about how they want to help health care, make Prescription Drug costs down, get at the very issues we are dealing with because today youre going to go on record when you vote for this saying we dont care about the American Peoples fixing Prescription Drugs and getting healthy in this country. This today proves you have nothing to do. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i now yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from texas. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jackson lee i thank the chairman. I chiang congresswoman chu for this important statement that is necessary for the American People. In god we trust. The god we trust is a merciful god. 144,000 people dead from covid19. It is important when an administration, no matter who it is, fails the American People. The United States Congress Must be the one that deals with that failure. And that is what the no ban act stands for. It stands for expanding the naas nondiscrimination provision to prohibit discrimination based on religion and extends the prohibition on discrimination beyond the issuance of immigrant visas to include the issuance of nonimmigrant visas, entry admission to the United States, and approval thereof. I had an amendment added to this that makes it a surety that the Administration Report to congress on the impacts of positive, negative, and unintended actions by the president. We must have oversight. I stand in the name of aly, a 17yearold when i landed from washington i went straight to the terminal, immediately on that friday, my tears were coming to my eyes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. Ms. Jackson lee i saw her denied entry into the United States. 10 seconds . Denied entry into the United States. That is why im here. I support the no ban act. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs thank you, madam speaker. May inquire how much time is left . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona has 11 minutes. Mr. Biggs thank you. The speaker pro tempore the nafment new york has 17 1 2 minutes. Mr. Biggs thank you. I yield now to the minority whip, distinguished gentleman from louisiana, mr. Scalise. Mr. Scalise i thank the gentleman from arizona for yielding. Madam speaker, i rise in strong opposition to this bill. When you think about where we are as a contry, middle of a Global Pandemic, and at the beginning of this, after china lied, lets be very clear, china lied not only to the United States, but to the entire world about this disease that started in wuhan. What they did, while they were liing, they corrupted the world health organization. Typically we would all look to for guidance. And w. H. O. Was regurgitating the Chinese Communist partys talking points, saying it wasnt spread from human to human contact, which was a lie. We now have evidence to show that they manipulated and deceived the rest of the world. While they were doing that, madam speaker, they were hoarding p. P. E. They were not only buying it up around the world, they make most of it in china. We need to change that. We should be spending our time here on the house floor not limiting the president s ability to keep americans safe, which fortunately President Trump was able to do. He did effectively, properly. He stopped flights from coming into china when we knew the disease was coming from china for goodness sake. Why would you want to stop the president from being able to keep americans safe . What we should be spending our time on right now, madam speaker, is bringing more manufacturing back to america so we dont need to rely on china because they told even American Companies like 3m making p. P. E. You cant ship it back to the United States when our nurses and doctors needed it. So President Trump said, we are going to use the defense production act. We are going to start making more of that here in america. We need to put incentives to bring more of that back from china so we are not relying on them. We are not spending our time on that today, madam speaker. We are spending our time with this bill that would limit it and make it more difficult for the president of the United States, any president , just because some people dont like this president it, they are going to make it harder for any president to keep americans safe whether its from terrorists abroad or whether its for Health Pandemics that might break out again in the few tumplete this is lunacy that we would be in the future. This is lunacy that we would be trying to make it harder for the president to keep americans safe. Thank goodness President Trump used executive powers like he did to stopt disease from spreading more into this country. Saved thousands of lives f china wouldnt have lied we have a few more weeks, data that shows scientifically, tens of thousands of lives would have been saved in america. At least the president was able to act when he had the proper information. I know people like joe biden said it was xenophobic for goodness sake. Criticized the president stopping people from coming in from the place where the disease started. Others criticized him for doing it as well. It was the right thing to do. Im glad he took that action. The last thing we need to be doing in the middle of this pandemic is making harder for the president to keep americans safe. I urge everybody to vote no on this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Mr. Biggs reserve. The speaker pro tempore gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nad lower i now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from new york. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. I thank the distinguished chair. Mr. Jeffries america is a nation of immigrants. Some voluntary, others involuntary. John lewis would often remind us, however, that while we may have come over on different chips, we are all in the same boat now. We are a gorgeous mosaic of people from throughout the world. Different races, different regions. Yes, different religions. That is what makes america a great country. Not xenophobia. Donald trumps hateful muslim ban is unacceptable, unconscionable, and unamerican. It is inconsistent with the principles of religious freedom and tolerance embedded in the First Amendment of the United States constitution. That is why we are going to make it unlawful. Vote yes on the no ban act. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i now yield one minute three minutes to the distinguished gentleman from rhode island. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Cicilline i rise in strong support of h. R. 2214, legislation that will repeal the president s shameful muslim ban and strengthen our immigration system by ensuring immigration decisions are not made on the basis of religious discrimination. In the face of religious intolerance, Roger Williams established the great state of rhode island. On the principles of religious liberty and except prailings of church and state. These were incorporate food our founding documents. President washington addressing the hebrew congregation wrote in a famous letter when they asked, will we have religious freedom in this new country . Happily the government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction to persecution no assistance. And what has been the result of this religious discrimination, this muslim ban . It has resulted in mothers and fathers being separate interested their american children. Foreign students prevent interested studying at our nations great universities. And doctors from countries under the ban are unable to come here to provide care to patients in the United States despite Health Care Shortages across the nation during a Global Health pandemic. In addition to that, madam speaker, this legislation violates the founding principles of this country of religious freedom. Im very proud that this legislation is being brought to the floor so we can reaffirm that important principle not only in the founding documents of our country but in the present immigration laws and their application. In addition to that, theres been a lot of discussion how we are paying for this. I am very proud that this legislation includes provisions of the affordable prescriptions for patients through the promoting competition which will save taxpayers over half a billion dollars in the form of lower Prescription Drug prices. All across the country prescription costs are skyrocketing. People are going bankrupt and even dying because they cant afford prescription medication. H. R. 2214 addresses product topping an anticompetitive tactic used by big pharma to protect and extend their monopolies over certain Prescription Drugs, leading to dramatically higher prices. This legislation expressing prohibits that under the f. T. C. Act antibill is subject to the same equitable remedies including restitution and disclosure. All of this talk about folding into the pay for which would produce lower Prescription Drug prices for americans and somehow thats a bad idea . This bill reaverts the prohibition against religious discrimination and pays for it. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill. I thank chairman nadler, congresswoman chu and congresswoman jayapal. The speaker pro tempore the chair lays before the house the following enrolled bill. The clerk an act to amend title of the Social Security act to provide being held at lax. These were individuals that had been cleared by our state department who entered the United States. Let me repeat, these were individuals that had been cleared by our state department to enter the United States. And then they were blocked by the president s random order. I immediately introduced my first bill, the dire act, to provide due process, guaranteed by our constitution, for dreamers, immigrants, and refugees, due process that has been systematically denied by a president. Our nation is built by immigrants who dare to dream better. Immigrants who came to this country with nothing but their dreams of a better life. I urge passage of this bill and with that i yield the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from colorado. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from colorado is recognized for one minute. Mr. Neguse i thank the chairman. Madam speaker, rise in support of the no ban act. A powerful bill that preserves the promise of america and rejects this administrations xenophobic and antimuslim immigration policies. The president s reckless bans on majority muslim and african countries does not align with our american values. Or the unique promise that this country has offered immigrants and refugees for centrist. It will not make us safer. And it is yet another example of this administrations haphazard and cruel immigration policies. Im proud that i was able to successfully offer an amendment during the Judiciary Committees markup with the chairmans support that added this president s latest ban to the underlying bill. Its not only the right thing to do for our country but also a matter personal to me. As many in this chamber know my parents came to america nearly 40 years ago as ref phi geese from air tria, one of the countries this president has targeted. My parents ability to start a new life in this country offered me and my family freedom and opportunity and the privilege to truly experience the american dream. There are countless Success Stories like my familys waiting to be told. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Neguse i urge my colleagues to support it. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from arizona. Reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from new york, mr. Rose. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. Mr. Rose thank you, madam peaker. I rise in support of the no ban act to finally repeal the racist and discriminatory muslim ban that has stained our nation for the past three years. The muslim ban undermines everything that this great country stands for, the greatest country in the history of the world. Its torn apart my constituent families, trapped their loved ones in war zones and refugee camps and made muslims feel like secondclass citizens. They are americans just as much as me. This ban has done nothing to make us safe. Senator john mccain, in fact, once called the ban a selfinflicted wound in the fight against terrorism and the administrations own officials admit this does nothing to protect our country. The state Department Says that 1 10 of 1 of people blocked were deemed a security risks. Those stats do not lie. He cannot point to a single threat that our existing immigration policies and systems would not have handled. If we are going to fight for this country to fulfill its promise, this ban must be overturned. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from minnesota, ms. Omar. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one inute. Ms. Omar it gives me great pride to rise in support of the no ban act. My friends on the other side of the aisle may try to obscure the reality by pointing to the muslim countries that are not on the ban. The white house has tried to in their hateful policy National Security. I have spoken countless times before and since i entered this office about the hateful and brutality of the muslim ban. Today, i want to celebrate the work that brought us to this point. I want to celebrate the countless americans who went to the airport the day the first ban was announced. I want to celebrate the thousands of state Department Employees who signed the dissent memo, those who resigned in protest. I celebrate congresswoman chu and senator coons for their work on overturning this ban. Todays combination is a combination of all their work. We have been in the struggle together and we will continue to be in it until this ban goes away. With that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from michigan, mrs. Dingell. Mrs. Dingell Benjamin Franklin once familiarously said those who would give security liberty for security deserve neither. Home, dearborn, michigan is home to the largest Muslim Population. They are constantly targeted very irrationally and michigan lays claim to the michigan militia which was responsible for one of the worst acts of terrorism in this country. Muslims, arabamericans are my friends, doctors, teachers, phrma sifts and part of this count. Policies like travel ban has no place in america. It disrespects freedom of eligion and uncon unconstitutional. The muslim ban has made our country less safe. Strong National Security policies include protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, compassion and justice. We must stand together as americans against unjust policies like this. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler how much time do we have . The speaker pro tempore both sides have eight minutes remaining. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the distinguished from new jersey,. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Malinowski when President Trump first announced the muslim ban, we were told it was temporary, 90 days according to the executive order or until we figure out what the hell is going on, in the president s own words. It has been 3 1 2 years, hundreds of thousands of americans and many of my constituents are cut off from their loved ones, missing births, weddings and funerals and not admitting refugees to this count since we turned back jews fleeing hitler during world war ii. It has nothing to do with National Security. It never did and never been a deadly terrorist attack in america by someone from any of these countries. Iran, whose people have been targeted for ex timping shon by ayes i, how many times do we hear from the administration that we stand by the people in iran as we ban them from visiting. These good people sacrificed for a cheap campaign promise. Our countrys ideals were betrayed because it was easier to have scape goats than solutions. It is wrong and should stop. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from california, ms. Lee. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Lee thank you, chairman nadler for your leadership. I thank congresswomen chu and jayapal in bringing this bill forward. I rise in strong support of h. R. 2214, the no ban act. This important legislation would end the muslim ban and prohibit discrimination and migration on the basis of religion and National Origin. His is landmark piece of civil legislation. Our nation was shaped by and continues to be influenced by our immigrant communities who contribute so much to this country, equating muslims with terrorists is begins our values as a nation. It is despicable. The no ban act would ensure that this kind of discrimination prevents future discrimination and promotes our core values of religious freedom. We cannot allow President Trump White Nationalist ageppeda to continue. We must ensure that our country is open to everyone, not just those deemed acceptable. I urge my colleagues to vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentleman reserves. Members are reminded to retrain engaging in personal personalities towards the president. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the distinguished the gentleman from new york. Secretary esper when we heard when we heard of the ban, many new yorkers rushed to j. F. K. Airport to help families and what i witnessed there was ny cases was in fact members of our armed forces, muslims, members of our armed forces were trying to reunite with their mothers and their spouse. And as i enter the space, i was surrounded by customs and Border Patrol officers and we fought to make sure that these folks could reunite. And so we witnessed how the pain of a spouse without a husband, a son without a mother, a father without a child, this is not america, madam chair. This is not america at all. But what was witnessed there and across the country was the best of our nation, the spirit of our nation, the fact that we would not be split along racial rgs ethnic or religious lines. I yield back. Mr. Biggs i reserve. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from michigan. Ms. Talib i rise today to declare loudly and clearly to every muslim and african person in michigans 13th district in america and around the world that the United States house of representatives is taking action to end this administrations racist ban. I rise to send a message to marginalized communities everywhere that in repealing the muslim and african ban we are also preventing discriminatory bans from ever happening again. And i rise as a mother, of two wonderful Muslim American boys, adam and yousef, to say that muslims and Muslim Americans are our family members, friends, neighbors. And yes, they are members of congress. It appears that this white house might not like that fact very much, madam speaker. Because its race this racist ban is a federal endorsement of antimuslim rhetoric and discrimination in our country. Today we are coming together to finally put a stop to this. End the muslim and african ban. End all discriminatory bans forever. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserves. The speaker pro tempore reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from new york, ms. Velazquez. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise in strong support of the no ban act. I remember when the muslim ban was first implemented in january, 2017. I went to j. F. K. Airport with chairman nadler to demand the release of travelers being detained there. One of them was an iraqi translator who had risked his life working for the u. S. Army in iraq. His reward was being caught up in this hateful Trump Administrationpolicy. At the airport that day i saw two americas. Inside the airport was an erica characterized by prejudice, and fear. But outside where thousands gathered to oppose this hateful policy, i saw the america i know, an america of strength and compassion. Today as we vote on this bill, we are being asked to choose between these two visions. We can choose a bigoted america that says there is no place for our muslim brothers and sisters, or for black people or we can choose an america that lives up to its highest ideals that welcome those from around the world seeking a bert life. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yield back. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from virginia, mr. Beyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise in support of judy chus no ban act. In the words of john lewis, when you see something that is not right, not fair, not just you have to speak up. You have to do something. The no ban act is doing something. It is stating in clear powerful legislation that america will never again let racism or religious intolerance be a barrier to lawful immigration. We will not allow ignorance or xenophobia to dictate americas immigration policies. Our strength has always, always been our diversity. A function of muslim ban or man of entire countries simply because they comprise a race or religion that some president does not like not just evil, it is stupid. I stand here today as i stood at the airport at the on set of the ban to ensure our immigration system cannot be hydrogened hijacked by hatred. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i now yield one minute to the distinguished gentlelady from california, ms. Matsui. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california is recognized for one minute. Ms. Matsui thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in support of the no ban act. Today is our commitment to the mosaic of american ideals to celebrate our diversity. This administration has embarked on a crusade to demonize immigrants and our Muslim American community. Americans and their families have been targeted because of their religious beliefs, race, and their ethnicity. Because of this bigotry, families and loved ones have been separated, unable to celebrate milestones, or face hardships together. I stand here today because one of the greatest and most beautiful things about our country is a diversity of people, views, and perspectives. We cannot allow an administration to upend our immigration system and upend our ideals. We must always stand up and speak out. I remember my grandparents and parents stories about world war ii when they were ostracized and ultimately removed to internment camps. Lets not forget this past xenophobic history. Im proud to support this bill. I urge my colleagues to do the same. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from arizona. Reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i reserve. The speaker pro tempore reserves. Mr. Biggs may i inquire of my friend if hes ready to close. Does he any additional speakers . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Biggs i assume the gentleman has no additional speakers. You have heard a lot of incendiary language regarding the travel restrictions. The most incendiary language always calling it incendiary, White Nationalist agenda, racist, hateful, etc. Was it xenophobic, was it racist, was it hateful when the Obama Administration implemented travel bans to the same seven nations, was it . No. Nor is it here. Either. That kind of language is meant to insight pub lick ridicule and distract from the real issue here. As the Supreme Court noted, the text in this bill says nothing about religion. And as they went on to say, the policy covers just eight of the worlds Muslim Population and limited to countries previously designated by congress or prior administrations, read Obama Administration, as posing National Security risks. His is not a muslim ban. This is a legitimate travel restriction implemented for the safety of this nation. Additionally, i heard from multiple friends across the aisle, a strawman argument, a true strongman argument here. And that this ban was religious in nature. But if that were the case, they would have stopped it after inserting religion with other descriptions. Instead they built up a huge bureaucratic apparatus to limit the authority of the president of the United States. So its a strawman argument. We had the chairman mentioned that the Supreme Court ruling in his opinion was without justification. So im going to read what the Supreme Court said. Said the president lawfully exercised his discretion based on his findings, following a worldwide multiagency review, that entry of the covered aliens would be detrimental to the national interests. The sole prerequisite is for the president to find the entry of the covered aliens would be detrimental to the United States, but the president fulfilled that requirement by first ordering d. H. S. And other agencies to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of every single countrys compliance with the information and Risk Assessment baseline. Thats what this policy was uilt upon. It is consistent with the Obama Administration and the Previous Administrations, but for whatever reason, and i think we all can surmise what that may be, when this president conducts an even more thorough evaluation of these nations, and their processes, and then issues a proclamation setting forth of those extensive findings, describing how efficiencies in those practices by the way im going here based on the Supreme Court decision again, foreign governments, several of which are state sponsors of terrorism, it is somehow xenophobic. A White Nationalist agenda, racist, and hateful. But when the Previous Administration did it, and actually added, came back to congress and added three more the only as attack i would ever make here is that it surely seems potentially hypocrite cal to me. Hypocrital to me. No visas would be revoked to 9645 or 9983. Individuals subject to those president ial proclamations who possess a valid visa or travel document were permitted to travel and continue to be admitted to travel in this country. To call it a muslim ban is meant to incite, and i will say we do terrible on this side of the aisle. My friends across the aisle, when you find that peg to hang your hat on, heck of a great job because everybody use it is. Its very effective. Ut its highly misleading. What this bill does is it emasculates the very notion of executive power in the president. It really does. The idea because you want to emasculate the power of President Trump. But what it does it gives more power to the bureaucratic state. More power to the bureaucratic state. Is also going to prevent the president from acting quickly on this. These are the issues that we have just been distracted from. Ecause it certainly appears, and will i say my friend from texas, ms. Jackson lee, when she talked about symbolism in her speech, shes right. This is symbolic. This bill is symbolic. Its symbolic, if you will, of a hatred of this president. Because when the previous president , administration did this, not a peep. This administration does the same thing, and it is outrageous. And i will say the implementation was not great. They have admitted the implementation wasnt great. But thats an implementation problem, not a policy problem. And you want to change the entire policy and the entire structure, not because the policy was bad. If it were we would have heard about it the last 40 years. But instead because the original implementation was bad. The Supreme Court has upheld what this administration did because what they did was to conduct a thorough vetting of their own policy regarding these nations and those nations policies in implementling safety mechanisms implementing safety mecknims. They fulfilled that. Here we are today saying, you know what, because this president , donald trump, this is bad. And so youre going to pass this bill. No doubt youre going to pass this amendment. But never forget the inherent inconsistency with the act that youre going to do on this bill with what you have done in Previous Administrations. With that i yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i find it extremely disingenuous to deny the nature of the muslim ban. You know yeah . The president told us he was going to institute a muslim ban and every country he put on the list. Only muslims in muslim countries pose threats to the United States. No one else in the world does. How stupid does he think we are . This is a muslim ban. It has been. Its an abuse of his office and law and must be repealed. The honor of the United States must be redeemed and thats why its dishonorable hateful policy must be repealed and we must vote for this bill to redeem the honor of the United States from the disgusting religious bigotry supported by the president and instituted by the president in this ban. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to refrape from engaging in personalities towards the president. All time for the debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 891, the previous question is ordered on this portion of the divided question. The question is, will the house concur in the Senate Amendment with the house amendment specified in section 4a of House Resolution 891. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the yes have it. Mr. Nadler i ask for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 965. Yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this uestion are postponed. Pursuant to House Resolution 891, the portion of the divided question compromising the mendment in section 4b of House Resolution 891 shall now be considered. This portion shall be debatable for one hour, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member on the committee on judiciary. The gentleman from new york, mr. Nadler and the gentleman from arizona, mr. Biggs, each control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i rise in strong the actionh. R. 5581, to counsel act. Last september the judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees nvestigated the chaos when the ban a was first announced. I can attest to this. Refugees and individuals with valid visas and lawful permanent residents of the United States were detained for hours and prevented from speaking to attorneys. Some had their phones taken away and unable to call family members. The issue grabbed the headlines then, it is a problem that occurs daily. Due to the complexity of u. S. Immigration law and the nature of questions regarding admissibility, it is not uncommon people undergoing spppings by customs and Border Patrol. During this time, individuals are prevented from communicating on the outside and if the individual is lucky enough to have a lawyer, c. B. P. Will refuse to speak with them if they can provide legal information. Serious consequences can result. For example, an individual who is given enexpedited removal order is brought to the United States for five years. H. R. 5581 will ensure that no one who present themselves at the port of entry with valid travel documents is completely cut off from the world. It allows such individuals including u. S. Citizens to communicate with counsel and other parties if they are subject to secondary inspection that lasts longer than one hour. To be clear, this bill does not provide a right to counsel, nor does it impose any obligation of the federal government to pay for other otherwise provide counsel do individuals. I wish it did, but it doesnt. This is confirmed by the fact that the Congressional Budget Office would have no direct effect on spending or revenues. I thank my colleague, representative jayapal, on this issue and championing this bill. I encourage my colleagues to support it and reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. He gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs i rise in opposition to this amendment, the access to counsel act of 2020 is a way for the majority to test how far they can go toward their ultimate goal. I think we just heard that that is a stated goal. Many immigration Interest Groups made no mystery that they believe Foreign Nationals have a right to come to the United States and receive taxpayer funded counsel at every stage of the process. My colleagues across the aisle understand it is a bridge too far to repeal the provision that prohibits taxpayer funded couple. But this amendment is a step forward in their march in that direction. The bill mandates that the d. H. S. Secretary shall ensure that individual has been selected by customs and bOrder Protection for secondary screening at a port of entry has an opportunity to consult with counsel and Interested Party during such screening. It is important to understand what secondary screening is, why it is used and the ramifications that this bill would have on the port of entry operations. My colleagues across the aisle provided the Judiciary Committee no opportunity to hear from experts about any of these issues. There was no hearing on this legislation or even germly on the subject matter at hand. C. B. P. Is concerned that the requirements this bill will have on processing at ports of ep try. Many of us have been to airports and seen the long lines of passengers from abroad waiting to be processed. We have seen cargo trucks that wait for hours for the opportunity to enter the u. S. The access to counsel act would increase those processing and wait times. Secondary inspections give officials time for additional screening that may take longer than the normal case and can include additional questioning, dat data base searches and individual searches when an individual is suspected of carrying contraband. It serves to remove those admissibility and so as to not slow the line down. The vast majority of the 400 million admitted to the United States a. M. Ly do not get referred for secondary inspection but 17 million do. Most part of entry buildings are not equipped to allow counsel consultations at the same time. That means longer wait times and back logs for entry. 17 Million People to consult with counsel will bring illegitimate trade legitimate trade and travel to halt. This isnt the only concern with h. R. 5581. Under current regulations adopted in 1980, applicants are not entitled to counsel in primary or secondary unless the individual is the focus of a criminal investigation and has been taken into custody. But this bill gives all applicants admission for the u. S. Including lawful permanent residents a new right to counsel. This is based on the belief that everyone has the right to enter the u. S. And what our democrat funded want tax counsel. And the term is defined anyone includeing any relative of the individual, the petitioner or sponsor or anyone with a connection to the covert individual. This could result where the individual is referred to secondary investigation because he is smuggling. And the access to counsel act is a bad idea that would hinder legitimate trade and travel. I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment. And i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now one moment, the gentleman will suspend. The chair will receive a message. The messenger madam speaker, a message from the president of the United States. The secretary madam speaker, im directed by the president of the United States to deliver to the house of representatives a message in writing. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is now recognized. Mr. Nadler i now yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlelady from washington, ms. Jayapal. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from washington is recognized. Ms. Jayapal i thank the chairman from the Judiciary Committee for his tremendous work and leadership on bringing these important issues to the floor. Im very proud that the house is onsidering my bill today, h. R. 5581. It is a commonaccepts measure that would ensure u. S. Citizens, green card holders and other people with legal status are able to consult with an attorney when customs and bOrder Protection detains them for over appear hour. I introduced this bill as my first bill when i got to congress and it was in the wake of the muslim ban. It was in the wake in the chaos that was unleashed at airports across the country as people from seven muslim countries were detained for hours and pressured to give up their legal status and many cases deported. These people did not have the opportunity to see an attorney or even call anyone. They did not have the opportunity to use the rest rooms or to get water and food. Since then, however, madam speaker, it isnt just that moment, there have been numerous cases of students detained for long periods at airports and ent back despite Holding Valid visas and undergoing vetting. One student was detained and deported in spite of a court order saying that he should be allowed to stay. And earlier this year we saw no less than 200 people of iranianamerican descent detained at the northern border in washington for up to 12 hours with no access to couple. These detentions occurred while c. B. P. Denied that iranianamericans were being targeted. Many of the people were u. S. Citizens as well as elderly people and children. Some had even undergone extra vetting to participate in a Program Designed for trusted travelers at the northern border. A month later, c. B. P. Commissioner said that border officials got quote, a little overzealous in their actions, but the damage had already been done. There were children of u. S. Citizens, they themselves u. S. Sit zens watched tear parents be detained and treated that no person should go through that kind of indignity and disrespect. If my bill were enacted into any law, it would ensure that people are daped with lawful status that those individuals would have a right to call a lawyer and receive assistance and does not stop c. B. P. From doing its job or create a right to counsel for everyone. This is just a simple phone call to their torpe. I would like to thank those who came forward to share their stories to make clear the access to counsel act is desperately needed and i urge my colleagues to vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs i would just point out this bill does not anywhere say this contact will be limited to a simple phone call. Nowhere does it say that. And i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now yield such time to the gentlelady from washington, ms. Jayapal. Ms. Jayapal i wanted to quote from section 2 of my bill. The secretary shall provide the individual an opportunity to consult with counsel not later than one hour after the inspection process commences and is necessary throughout the inspection process including as applicable during deferred inspection. This could be a phone call, meaningful access is a broad term and takes into account my colleague on the other sides concerns. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler im prepared to close, madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Biggs i will also for a a offer a few comments before i yield. But i yield myself such time as i may consume the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Biggs i am interested in the interpretation of the term meaningful opportunity. I tried a lot of cases in my career. I did prosecution and i did criminal defense extensively. I can tell you what a meaningful opportunity would be as counsel. It would be sitting there with my client facetoface getting all the information possible. If the intention was to include such a simple phone call, thats what should have been put in here. Have been putould in this bill, but it wasnt. When i read it i think of places along the border, having grown up in southern rizona, and taken and led many congressional delegations over the last 3 1 2 years. Think of the Antelope Wells port of entry, and i think about being about four hours, a fourhour drive for the customs that rder patrol officers an that the work there, that staff that. Is i think, well, what the whats the Communications Like there . Its not good. Good. Ot its extremely remote. Town on the mexican side of the border is 60 miles away. Town on the new mexico side of that border is lordsburg, which is about a good hour and a half, twohour drive itself away. Wanted to get to narrow this, you should have his bill should have been narrowed, but it wasnt narrowed. Naco, that little port of entry in southern arizona. Of douglas. You, the problem that this bill has is it thats the goal, theres other problems, but if language goal, this has not been specific enough. I also have talked with secondaryhave had the inspection. Situation, not if were referring to the travel tation of the restriction, and i think the orld including the administration admitted it was rolled out poorly thats a animal that what happens on a normal basis. Port of f the san luis entry or the know galles entry, but of particularly the san luis port of entry that gets so much through there. I cant imagine what will happen you when you try to bog down everything with everyone that moves to a secondary inspection gets counsel. Or some Interested Party who we dont know who that is. Hats not defined very well either. I think of all of the commercial traffic truck traffic that nogales. Ough small t inspect but a fraction of vehicles coming there. Its very difficult to move traffic. Notinfrastructure itself is conducive to this. ll just say the one thing i was reminded as i was reviewing debatell for this little the , and it came out in debate when someone was talking notion of where we are now which is if you become a criminal investigation you do get counsel. You get that opportunity for counsel. Started thinking that, yes, exactly. This is what were doing. Saying now in a civil administrative function were oing to give you a right to counsel. And are we going to expand that theres area where civil administrative regulatory iolations or potential violations . Is, that would be absolutely totally bizarre. Unworkable just as this will be unworkable. With that i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i now may such time as he consume to the distinguished gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Kennedy. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Kennedy madam speaker, thank you. I want to thank the chairman as legislationing this forward and to our colleague, ms. Jayapal, for her extraordinary work on this legislation. Madam speaker, you can learn an awful lot about a country by its to justice. You learn about its values. Protects people it first. But the arc of its history. It t the injustice that tolerates. And the inequities it reinforces. When you aim that spotlight n our nation, what it reveals is not pretty. T is not something to be proud of. Because for millions of people ho call this nation home, justice is not a guarantee. It is something withheld. Is something far too many experience. View battle very few injustice because they believe in the promise of our nation. If we believe in that promise as do, we as they shouldnt be scared to provide them with justice. Least, access to legal counsel. Bill to at ass this the very least take a small step living up to those ideals, and we need to do it today. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the yields. N the gentleman from arizona. Biggs i yield to myself such time as i may consume. The peaker pro tempore gentleman is recognized. Mr. Biggs thank you. I dont really know if youre close. O maybe another speaker, maybe not. So i am going to make a quick reserve. Efore i ill just say this. The sponsor of this their ing in interpretation a simple phone call would suffice. Dont think thats the way c. B. P. Is interpreting this. I think theyre interpreting out theyll have to build infrastructure so there can be for counsel ities folks. With these and with that ill reserve. The speaker pro tempore the york. Man from new mr. Nadler im going to close. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. Mr. Biggs ill take one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Biggs thank you. I yield to myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Biggs thank you. Want to go back to this nd indicate, there are a multiplicity of issues with this bill, but some of the things going to d i am reiterate i think the bills providing d to statefunded counsel for folks a secondary getting inspection, which in the vast cases is almost per perfunctor inns a normal case. In gain, i think bad facts actually, good facts to make the argument is not going to make good policy. Oure again arguing implementation of the travel restriction, which wasnt great, but the norm, the norm if you get down to the border and spend time, as i have many times, youre going to see the are short,nspections dont need they counsel. They almost always turn out well person thats delayed a ept for when they are danger. That becomes a problem. They get an opportunity for counsel because now you have a them. Al focus on thats the key here. O expanding this to civil cases, which is exactly what youre doing here and put us in to walk down there so we are ultimately going to pay for that, thats not great policy. Bad policy, and im urging my folks to oppose this. That i yield the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields the balance of his time. New york. Man from mr. Nadler thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself the balance of our time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. R. Nadler madam speaker, i find it bizarre to suggest that ou shouldnt vote for a bill because some other bill may do something that the that you dont like. Does not provide i personally think maybe it will be a good idea, but its not bill. This bill does not provide for way. D counsel in any doesnt do that. Maybe i should introduce a bill to do that, but it doesnt do that. Bill. Not this so lets forget about that. If anill simply says that individual is held an individual who may be an citizen, who may be a green cardholder, who if sent erly by mistake is out of the country, maybe forbidden from applying to come years, all five kinds of problems, who may be a cancer researcher who is work at Rockefeller Institute or Johns Hopkins or denied his talents or her talents because of a all this bill says is that if someone is held in secondary inspection for at hour, they must be given an opportunity to call people, to call other to call their brotherinlaw, to call whoever and to communicate. The bill says. I fail to understand why its at all controversial. It will prevent the kind of mistakes that have been made in the past. It will prevent the kind of we saw, that i personally saw at the airport when people were held for hours and werent permitted to talk to counsel, standing outside the door. I physically had to prevent he door from closing and dare them to arrest the member of allow an n order to immigrant with valid papers to is k to an attorney, who standing on the other side of the door, thats what this bill is. Simple. Its humane. Tos commonsensical and ought be adopted. I urge everyone to vote for this bill. I yield back the balance of my time. He speaker pro tempore all time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 91, the previous question is ordered on this portion of the divided question. Question is, will the house concur in the Senate Amendment ith the house amendment specified in section 4b of the 891 . Resolution those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. Mr. Nadler madam speaker, i ask yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore house t to section 3 of resolution 965, the yeas and ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question are postponed. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. Pursuant to House Resolution 1053, i move to take from the speakers table the bill h. R. 1957, a bill to make funding for the land and Water Conservation fund permanent and for other purposes with the Senate Amendments thereto. And i have a motion at the desk. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill, designate the Senate Amendments and report the motion. The clerk an agget to amend the interm revenue code of 1986 to improve the Internal Revenue services and for other purposes. The house concur in the Senate Amendment to h. R. 1957. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of july 21, 2020, motion shall be debatable for 80 minutes with time equally divided and 20 minutes divided and controlled by the majority leader and minority leader of the respective designees. The gentleman from arizona, mr. Grijalva and the gentleman from utah, mr. Bishop. The gentleman from maryland, mr. Hoyer and the gentleman from california, mr. Mccarthy each will have 20 minutes. Mr. Grijalva i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and stepped their remarks and insert extraneous material on h. R. 1957. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Grijalva i yield myself such time as i may consume. , we flew of 2019 from to arizona from washington to speak about my bill, to permanently protect the grand canyon from uranium mining. We wanted to release the legislation on the rim of the canyon to show firsthand the land we were attempting to protect. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas. That night before the event, it snowed more than it had in decades. But some small miracle, the roads were cleared and found a pathway into the park. We found some rangers to help us set up in the snow. Tribal leaders who have called that land their home joined us at the event. Standing there with them on the edge of the amazing canyon and glistening in the snow, it was hard not to be moved. Looking out over the grand canyon, we as a nation have protected the unique and enduring landscapes around us. No where else on earth is like he grand canyon or yosemite or Yellowstone National park. They are gems of our National Park system and they show who we are as a people. We are judged on what we choose to pass on and today we have the ability to reaffirm our commitment to preserve these lands for future generations. In a few short minutes, we will vote on a bill that will significantly increase conservation spending. For too long we have allowed our fall parks to fall in disrepair and you underfunded maintain appears and failed to meet the full promise of the land and Water Conservation fund. We have been diverting half of this funding stream to other uses for which this money was never intended. Today we take the opportunity to remedy both those failures. The Great American outdoors act s 9. 8 billion per year to ensure that special places like the grand canyon are accessible to all america caps as they were to me on that february morning. It will protect green and flowering urishing and 900 million to the land and Water Conservation fund. It will mean more funding for list and familiar protect lands from Inappropriate Development and expand recreational access for all americans. These two major programs amount to one of the biggest wins for conservation in decades. We all know that not everyone here agrees about the value of these programs. We disagree almost daily on how best to protect the landscapes of our nation. But i hope today we can move past those political differences and consider the value of conservation and the importance of stable, predictable funding. We have a generational opportunity to ensure americas crown jewels are protected. We have a unique chance to ensure that every tool is available to help us respond to the Climate Crisis and protect those landscapes and that best protect clean water, clean air and healthy green spaces. This bill is a major win for the American People. Decades in the making, i might add. I have pursued it for years. Some of my colleagues purchase side sued it for years. This didnt happen overnight. Now during this time, it is perhaps more necessary than ever to demonstrate we can still bridge the divide. When it comes to passing along this nation to our children and to theirs, we can still Work Together to find common ground. This bill goes beyond politics. Its about ensuring that we pass along a legacy of public lands, stewardship and conservation to future generations. They too, can marvel at the grand canyon covered in snow. I urge my colleagues to support the important measure and reserve the balance of my time, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop thank you, mr. Speaker. Lets do a couple of things. First of all this is not about land and Water Conservation fund. We reauthorized permanently the fund in the last congress and in doing that in a House Republican bill, i might add, we took the stateside projects, kinds of things like easements, picnic grounds and parks, those are called the stateside projects and inkeysed the funding for those programs. And we put in that act a limitation on the amount of money that could be used to buy more land. This bill is about that concept. The special Interest Groups have been putting pressure on you and giving you misinformation about this particular thing. They simply want to circumvent the limits that were put in that bill. This is two bills merged together. Rst one was the h. R. 1225, backlog maintain appears bill that mr. Grijalva mentioned. But we wanted to help parks and public lands that are facing a maintain appears backlog that is near 20 million. 330 people cosponsored that bill. But for a year and a half, democratic leadership refused to move that bill. One of their arguments was, this is key, there is no offset for a bill that scored 7 billion. And refused to move it because there was no offset. That bill would fund parks and maintenance backlog by taking excess revenue that comes from all Energy Development but primarily oil and gas off the coast and on land and after we pay our obligation s, the first billion of the excess would be used to maintain our parks. That is in this bill. You have added that or the democrats in the senate added that to a second bill that is mandatory 900 million of spending. That mandatory spending will be for now until eternity, but the goal is to increase buying power to buy more land, not to create the stateside project we increased. We still have to pay for emergency funding on coronavirus. Mandatory funding is a problem. The c. B. O. Said this new bill scores at 17 billion. And i want you to notice, there is no offset for that in this bill. House republicans and House Democrats have rules that they will not bring a bill to the floor is that not offset. The blue dog democrats wrote a letter saying do not bring a bill to the floor that is not offset. This violates the rules of both the democrats and the republicans, clearly, and adds 17 billion to the debt and the lw crmp is is here is, f, taking royalties from those oil and gas explorations. The excess was to go to parks. We already have obligations with those royalties. Historic preservation is an obligation. State reimbursements. Those are priorities. We are saying in this bill, the billion of money to buy more land is a priority above and beyond what is happening for the parks, which may not in normal times be a concern. But in this era, c. R. S. Has certified that we are 84 lower in the amount of activity and the amount of royalties coming from our Energy Development than we were a year ago. That is two Million Barrels of oil a day less than we were producing and getting royalties from them last year. If buying more land is a priority, the maintenance of our backlog would be totally left out. This is not want for what we are trying to do. There were amendments to try to fix this but were not allowed to be brought to the floor. There were amendments in the senate but not allowed to be brought to the floor. There will be many on our side who will support and defend this bill. Are having a heat wave in washington, d. C. , first time in four years is coming close to 100 degrees. There are a lot of people suffering from heat stroke. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva i yield five minutes to the the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Cunningham, sponsor of the legislation. And i yield him five minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Cunningham i rise today in support of my bill, the Great American outdoors act and express my gratitude for my friends and colleagues and the 252 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle who are working with me to secure the greatest achievement for conservation in a generation. Mr. Speaker, my Bipartisan Legislation gives congress a chance to deliver massive land for our irreplaceable public lands and parks by showing the American People ta we can Work Together and keep our promises. The Great American outdoors act will honor our nations commitment to conservation in two important ways. First, it fully and permanently funds the lapped and Water Conservation fund. Lwcf ensures that hunting, fishing, boating and hiking and other recreational access for all of our constituents. 787 the backbone of billion economy. It protects working force and the jobs they support in the woods and mills and heres the best part and does it all without spending a dime of taxpayer money. Despite this, we have fallen short in utilizing the full amount of funds. Over the past 55 years, we have sment half the money that we have depositted in the fund, thereby creating a backlog in the low country and across this nation. Second, it will relieve the rowing multibilliondollar maintenance backlog in our National Forests, parks, and lands, fromal public crumbling roads and eroding rails to aging Water Systems and deteriorating Historic Sites and Visitor Centers, the disrepair of our National Treasures is only getting worse. The Great American outdoors act this as well by making essential investments to reverse the damage while over 100,000 jobs in the process. This legislation is grounded in two basic congress that should invest funding set aside for conservation toward the should pay and we the maintenance bills we already accrued. Its time we honor our promises. South carolina, the lwcf has upported the National Parks, pit street bridge, and literally local and other state parks. In my district, lwcf protected largest underdeveloped for ry, providing a home incredible wildlife, a source of sports men and women, and a natural safeguard from the devastating weather events. Week, i heard from our veterans about the Important Role that public lands process for ealing many men and women transitioning life. O civilian they told me how access to nature and the outdoors has elped find a sense of calm and peace. The power of these places to unite us reaches all the way back here to washington supported by the speaker, minority leader by a large der, and minority. President trump has specifically asked us to send it to his desk. Great american outdoors act s exemplary of the fact that democrats and republicans can still come together to pursue Commonsense Solutions and do ight by our public lands and keep our word. Mr. Speaker, i invite all of my colleagues to join me in our communities, families, public lands, and our to pass the ting Great American outdoors act. Back. D the speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop to explain why mandatory spending is good, i to the gentleman idaho,aho, a member from mr. Simpson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. R. Simpson i know that was painful. Mr. Speaker, i rise in favor of the Great American outdoors act. Sense to me if well preserve public land for americans we should also take it. Of thats why the lwcf funding and a erred maintenance is perfect combination. With that in mind, i wrote the lands act in 2017 which funded these two programs without using dime of taxpayer money. Fast forward to 2020, the specifically asked congress to send him a bill that funded both of these programs and he would sign it. To senator grahams snar gardner, senator daines, heinrich and manchin, the Great American outdoors act with 73 votes. Te which brings us to this historic day. Jobs, ll creates 100,000 preserves public lands for future generations and cares for parks and national trails. All of this is funded by energy existing 20 e billion fund. Again, not taxpayer dollars. The bill does not expand the footprint because 99 , 99 of the lwcf purchases are existing public lands. The bill does not force anyone property. Heir i urge adoption of this bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Simpson not for you but for future generations so they can enjoy our Great Outdoors and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. You, mr. Lva thank speaker. Id like to yield two minutes to the gentleman from california, a member of the Natural Resources mr. Cox. , the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Today is a. Speaker, great day for public lands, for outdoor ervation, for recreation, and for every american who values these gifts has provided ture for our country. Last year, we made a promise to he American People to protect our public lands. Our National Treasures. Permanently reauthorizing he lwcf as part of the john dingell recreational act. Great american outdoors act which will permanently fund the lwcf. Proud to be an original that bill. Of these funds have not just protected our nations ellknown National Parks but outdoor orted recreation recreational places from alaska to florida from maine to hawaii. This also includes many in my district, such huron, and others. Just to name a few. I want to thank the bipartisan my colleagues and activists who have worked hard o make this legislation a reality. Theres an old east asian one rb that goes, generation plants the trees. So another generation can enjoy shade. Today, we are replanting those trees. I urge my colleagues to vote in bill. T of this i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. From arizona the gentleman from utah is recognized. Bishop thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the entleman from ohio, mr. Stivers. Mr. Stivers thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the Great American outdoors act. District has 120 projects that benefit from the land and to the nservation fund, Wayne National forest to the hopewell cultural historic park. Public lands, forests, parks, give folks the opportunity to connect with the outdoors and other. Ch especially in this time of the coronavirus. Represent a bunch of small businesses, rocky boots in nelsonville, that employees a 00 people, that depend on thriving Outdoor Recreation economy. 1. 37 istrict last year, billion was spent on outdoor time when and at theres such a backlog in maintenance, this maintenance create 100,000 jobs. Nd during a time when we have 11. 1 unemployment, congress should be taking every pportunity it can to create jobs. This bill isnt just about conservation, its about jobs and the economy, and i urge you yes. Te its a senate bill that passed the senate 7325. Its not perfect but its a good bill and its a bill we should support. Yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from utah reserves. He gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you very much, mr. Speaker. I yield two minutes to the oregon, ms. Om bonamici. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mr. Onamici thank you, speaker. I rise today in support of the Great American outdoors act. Protecting wilderness reflects best values of oregon. Environmental protections, and ip of our land stewardship of our land and community partnership. Lwcf safeguards natural recreation oviding areas in the prized outdoor areas that make places like park and the National Wildlife refuge so special. Nfortunately, the program has faced significant instability in recent years, limiting the longterm planning needed for conservation efforts. Last month, i joined my olleagues on the select committee on the Climate Crisis in releasing a bold sciencebased Climate Action plan. Our plan for solving the Climate Crisis recognizes the value of and how the ecosystems and sequestering dioxide and calls for a full and permanent funding for he land and Water Conservation fund. The Great American outdoors act will help mitigate the climate the natural otect beauty and habitat that fish and wildlife depend on for survival. When our communities are struggling to recover from the economic consequences of the pandemic, a time when theres heightened awareness about the inequities our society, in including inequitable access to places, this bill will boost rural economies and expand access to public lands for generations. Im also pleased this bill takes steps to tackle our national nant mans maintenance the og, including helping lewis and Clark National historic park. Protect our nt to parks, wildlife refuges, and this bill takes important steps future uard them for generations. I thank chairman grijalva for his leadership, and i urge all support thisues to bill, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Bishop i yield one minute to mrs. Walorski from indiana. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Walorski i rise to support the Great American outdoors act. Our nations public lands have sources of easured enjoyment and beauty available to every american. They also play a Critical Role our economy with the Outdoor Recreation industry supporting million jobs. Wroshging hard that. Orking hoosiers know n indiana were known as the r. V. Capital of the world. I support this bill because it will support r. V. And boat and their workers, promote conservation, and reis rig our National Parks revitalize our National Parks. His bill will ensure our National Parks will continue to enjoyed by generations to am co. It will boost tourism, strengthen our economy and jobs. T goodpaying i urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Great American outdoors act. And i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. Minutes to the Senior Member of the resources committee, the gentleman from costa. Nia, mr. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Costa thank you, mr. Speaker. For t to thank the chair his efforts to bring this floor. Tion to the house i rise today to speak on the Great American outdoors act and of this tance legislation and why we should move on a bipartisan effort to it. This bill taxles tackles a tremendous deferred maintenance on public lands, including our National Parks, treasures, the Great American National Parks. Contribute will towards making our parks safe nd enhance the recreational access, such as the great the ite National Park, crown jewel in california, as well as kings canyon and parks and manyal others, not only in california, but across our nation, that are heritage and as part of our Lasting Legacy for future generations to come. The land and s Water Conservation fund annually creates 9. 5on and billion fund for deferred maintenance on public lands. Are way in the arrears in terms of deferred maintenance for we need to do not only our National Parks but for our public lands. Thats why this is so important. To the issue of our deficit. Our deficit is a problem. I am a blue dog. Clear. s be after 16 years here, ive come tothe conclusion that trying address incremental issues is our deficit. Help until republicans are willing to revenues e issues of and democrats are willing to ddress the issues of expenditures, together, and jump to that cliff Holding Hands balance revenues and expenditures, were just not there. O get ok . Ok. O we should not use that as an excu excuse. Fundingates a permanent hat congress will address backlogs. With t, we need to deal our Water Infrastructure that needs to be invested on. The peaker pro tempore gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Costa lets redouble our efforts to address maintenance projects. Ly owned i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. From arizona the gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop i yield myself two minutes. The peaker pro tempore gentleman is recognized. Mr. Bishop this bill is actually extremely poorly drafted. Basic things, but if, f for instance, the royalties up as were anticipating, we dont have that 1 billion to buy more land, how do you solve it . Do you prorate that money . Do you take it from other sources . O you put this mandatory spending above other mandatory pending such as Social Security . C. R. S. Said these are good questions. This bill is silent. It says the president is to come up with 900 million in projects. Comes with 800 million . Who gets the extra 100 million . The department of interior . Is it a slush fund . C. R. S. Said its a good question. Bill is silent on those sorts of questions. How much no idea this. They have spent on the state is a percentage. This is talking about a dollar figure. A dollar figure. You are going to hear a lot of platitudes. Somebody at some time will say, money going to actually be funded . To help us with that i yield one minute to the gentleman from mr. Fortenberry, a longtime member of this legislature, who can address those things. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Fortenberry today i am rising in support of this act. A while back, i was at the library of congress and met the famous filmmaker, ken burns. He spoke to us about the creation of the National Park system last september try and represented a singular defining moment in america, a sense of vastness, openness and limited opportunity and understanding of eethoost. Caring for what we have and taking care of it into the future. Our National Park sites are ajestic sources and living heritage. But we have a backlog of maintenance. Along with providing certainty for the future the land and Conservation Fund this is a great boost to communities eager for innovation and conserving ideals. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the entleman from utah reserves. Mr. Grijalva i yield to ms. Haaland. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Haaland i rise in support of the Great American outdoors act. The day i became chairwoman of the public lands subcommittee, i have heard from constituents, colleagues and advocates about fixing the maintenance backlog and making lwcf and making it permanent. It has opportunities for underserved and lowincome communities dem every Congressional District and last year we passed a permanent authorization. Lwcf, istrict, lieu lmpymppmp hs. The Great American outdoors act will ensure full 900 million is used every year to boost local outdoor economies and protect ecosystems essential for adapting climate change. The bill establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to provide five federal Land Management agencies with up to 9. 5 billion over five years to address the deferred maintain appears backlog. These agencies will be able to address deferred maintain appears and improve Visitor Services and support tribal communities like carlsbad tional caverns and other national monuments. Repairing is critical so future generations can enjoy them. Im proud of the work we have done to get to this point and i urge my colleagues to invest in National Parks and public lappeds and vote yes. And i yield the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop i yield to mr. Hurd of texas. Mr. Hurd we have fall i dont know hires and each one of us must did do his or her part if we wish to show the nation is worthy of its good fortune. Passage proves we are worthy of the glorious heritage of our National Parks. Future jeprations are ensuring these can be visited for the next 100 years. 1893, Katherine Lee baits hiking up pikes peak pend the following lines. Purple mountain majesty, america, america, god shed his ace on thee and crown thai brotherhood. Passage of this bill is a triumph fant act that will benefit countless generations to come back. And i yield back. Mr. Grijalva i yield two minutes to a member of the resources committee, the gentleman from colorado, mr. Mr. Neguse. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Neguse im proud to speak in support of the Great American outdoors act. I thank my colleague from arizona for his leadership and thank my colleague from South Carolina, representative cunningham. The Great American outdoors act would provide full and permanent funding for the land and Water Conservation fund. There are many of our nations most coveted and incredible public lappeds. The program is invested in over 41,000 parks, Rocky Mountain National Park, lawyery state park and so many other parks in my district, 2nd coppingsal district. 1,000 lwcf grants have leveraged up for local governments in my district. There have been 191 projects. Therefore establishing permanent and full funding is critical. Deferred maintain appears as you heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is a mounting problem that we can no longer afford to ignore. Rocky mountain National Park faces a backlog of 84 million. Our park employees are working incredibly hard, but they cant do it alone. We must address this by increasing funds to design and rebuild infrastructure on our federal public lands. I have consistently urged ngress to fully lieu lwcf and address these im hartened to see this on the house floor and grateful to commissioners and others who have come together to contribute their time and effort. Let us get this bill passed. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah. Mr. Bishop one minute to mr. Fitzpatrick from pennsylvania. Mr. Fitzpatrick i rise today as the lead sponsor of the Great American outdoors act and this is a big day for this chamber. I have been pushing to permanently reauthorize and permanently fund the land and Water Conservation fund and in addition to the lwcf, this legislation tackles the maintenance backlog that needs to be addressed in public parks across our nation. This bill will have a positive impact on every single coppingsal district in this country and lwcf has had a positive impact in my district, most notely nixon state park. Hundreds of businesses, recreation and environmental groups have come together to endorse our legislation, the league of conservation voters, awed do bonn society, ducks unlimited, clean water action and u. S. Chamber of commerce. This bill is historic and bipartisan and bicameral with 250 cosponsors in the house and passed the senate and will be signed into law by the president. That is bipartisan cooperation. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Fitzpatrick this is a good day and urge my colleagues to vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Grijalva i yield two minutes to a voolude member of the resources committee, the gentleman from california, mr. Levin. Mr. Levin mr. Speaker, i am extremely fortunate to represent and in my district, our public lands bring Outdoor Recreation joy and tourists and visitors looking to catch our waves or hike our scenic trails. This aspect of california culture makes chupets in my district not only economically stronger but healthier and happier with locals and tourists enjoy the Great Outdoors. Lwcf is known as most successful Conservation Program. This is an allaround win benefiting local communities and protecting our planet for future generations. California has received approximately 2. 5 billion in lwcf funding which has helped to otect places like carlsbad state beach, torre pines nature and reserve and flourishingla goons all in my district. We are just not protecting those places but in our fight against the Climate Crisis. We are safekeeping fragile ecosystems and important wildlife habitat. As we continue to invest in coastal conservation and restoration of wetlands, dune and reefs, we are contributing to planning and protecting our communities from supreme weather events and bluff erosion. These efforts to combat the Climate Crisis are important for the 50plus miles of coastline in my district. I am proud to support the Great American outdoors act and i hope this historic legislation will become law as it is certainly among the biggest bipartisan environmental accomplishments we have had in many years. Thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah. Mr. Bishop one minute to the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Mchenry. Mr. Mchenry i thank the gentleman but im proud to support this bill it does help with the maintain appears backlog and the National Parks as well as assists for the longterm land and Water Conservation trust. Since its inception over 50 years ago, the trust has done important things for my state and our nation in preserving access to public lands. And the Great Outdoors. Also for the maintenance backlog, im proud to represent a piece of the Blue Ridge Parkway which runs through my district and is the second most visited National Park last year. And i think this year, it will be the same. And in North Carolina alone, we have over 260,000 jobs that are attributable to the Great Outdoors. And millions of siftors that come to the state through the Blue Ridge Parkway are siteal. Passage of this bill will help both the backlog and with ensuring we have long time reauthorization. I encourage a yes vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva i yield two minutes to the gentlelady from michigan, mrs. Dingell, a member of the Natural Resources committee, two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Dingell thank you to my wonderful chairman. I rise in strong support of the Great American outdoors act. This historic legislation makes good on our commitment to preserve our nations environmental heritage for future generations. This is an emotional moment for me. It provides full permanent funding for the land and Water Conservation fund, landmark conservation legislation that my late husband john dingell and helped establish in 1964. The lwcf funding has protected michigan and the nations critical Natural Resources while supporting local economies, creating jobs and providing opportunities for Outdoor Recreation throughout the country. Lwcf was permanently authorized in 2019 as part of the john d. Dingell junior conservation management and recreation act that has received full funding only twice in its long history. The permanent full funding in this legislation is the culmination of decades of work by the Conservation Community and my late husband and our youngful current dean don who first advocated for this permanent through the conservation and reinvestment act in 1999. Additionally, the National Parks and public land Restoration Fund included in this legislation will allow us to finally address the 22 billion deferred maintenance backlog in our nations public lands, a decades long problem in the making. I am proud today to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue that dingell conservation legacy. I dont look like the greatest outdoor girl but i know how important they are that represents the boldest most comprehensive conservation effort in decades. Mr. Bishop i yield one minute york. Zeldin of new the speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Zeldin as an original osponsor of this legislation, id like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, in both chambers, for helping lead this arge to getting important victory across the finish line. I represent the first Congressional District of new york. District almost completely surrounded by water on the east end of long island. Alone, the land and Water Conservation fund has 65 vided funding for over parks, and thats just one example of the impact this rogram has made all across our great nation. This supports Public Access, recreation, ing, and our environment. After securing permanent authorization last year, its an honor to continue the fight today. Im not sure about everyone being kooped cooped few months, ast this gives us an appreciation for the Great Outdoors. Go a long way keeping our outdoors great for generations to come. I ask my colleagues to support bill, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. He gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. Efore i yield to the next speaker, let me echo the words of mrs. Dingell. Ohn dingell was indeed a warrior on behalf of the land and Water Conservation fund. Culmination of those efforts that he played in. A huge role i will be remiss in not thanking dingell. Ebbie mr. Speaker, i yield two minutes to the gentleman from a leader on conservation and access to our public lands, mr. Thompson. The peaker pro tempore gentleman is recognized. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Chairman, for yielding. I rise today to in trong support of this historic legislation, and im proud to be a coauthor. Ts been more than 55 years since the land and Water Conservation fund was enacted to and lish Recreation Conservation opportunities. That the time to ensure lwcf is fully and permanently funded. His bill will create jobs and boost local economies that are urrently facing significant financial hardships due to the pandemic. It also provides emergency broken to fix infrastructure and facilities. The bill supports parks in every tate so hikers and anglers alike can visit and enjoy nature across our beautiful country, is desperately needed now for our communities emotional physical wellbeing. We need to protect and preserve does nds, and this bill that at no expense to our taxpayers. I urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. R. Bishop thank you, mr. Speaker. This time i wish to yield two minutes to the gentleman from state, mr. Newhouse. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Hou mr. Newhouse well, id like to thank the gentleman from utah or allowing me to weigh in on this important subject. Mr. Speaker, the hunters and farmers, recreational eager for access to public lands. I strongly support the national n of our parks, our public lands, and federal infrastructure. I am proud to cosponsor the restore our parks to address ands act our countrys deferred maintenance backlog in those areas. That bill were brought to the floor before us today, i would yes. Resounding unfortunately, that is not the bill that we are debating here this afternoon. So while i agree with many provisions within the great i fear outdoors act, that the sweeping nature of this legislation will have unintended consequences for Rural Communities like mine in washingtons fourth district. Two weeks ago,st i was honored to welcome david ry of the interior bernhardt to the North Central region in central washington. Are the two main takeaways the conversations we had with citizens in that region. One, a lack of trust with the government. Two, hope. Believe intentions behind this legislation are grounded in the desire to improve our public lands, too my constituents think the approach within this bill is tired ive of the same notion that weve all heard before im from the government and im here to help. Weve already determined the federal governments culpability creating a 20 billion maintenance backlog problem on our public lands. The response is to million ay spend 900 year, most of which will be mr. On, what get this, speaker purchasing more federal land. The hardworking men and women of my district support local management and control of our lands. The de firsthand the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Newhouse i think we need to work to protect our National Parks. I vote this bill down. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the arizona is om recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the florida, ms. M mucarselpowell, one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Mucarselpowell thank you, speaker. He everglades are part of our National Parks that are magnificent parks that we country. Cross our theyre essential in combrochg air quality, providing opportunities and sustaining our physical and mental wellbeing. And they are also essential to economy. Bolstering local communities, countless jobs and breathing lives to our small businesses. Unfortunately, our national help. Are in need of hiking trails are in disrepair. Roads are crumbling. Are falling rs apart. Nd our lands are in need of protection. Thats why passing todays bill, the Great American outdoors act, is so crucial. Reauthorizenently the land and Water Conservation fund to address our severe ensure nce backlog and that these natural beauties will be there for our children and our grandchildren. The passage of this bill, the ecotourism economies in both in miamidade and monroe county, will flourish. I urge support and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop i yield two minutes oklahoma, leman from mr. Hern. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hern thank you, ranking bishop, for your work on this issue. Mr. Speaker, in the wake of a Global Pandemic, like anything seen in our lifetime, we have spent unprecedented amounts this year. Weve siloed the next generation with unthinkable debt. Out of this hole is going to take time and targeted effort. As annot continue to spend if our debts dont exist. The legislation needlessly the deficit. The land and Water Conservation already ch is incredibly well funded, does not million dditional 900 a year in perpetuity. With Immediate Health needs and conomic recovery our top priorities, increasing the federal Real Estate Holding todo t be on anyones list. A recent report showed that 40 projects nds went to that failed to advance any objectives. The oversight and accountability of the fund is laughable. But this bill seeks to lack of e the transparency by removing elected officials from the situational handling unilateral power to political appointees bureaucrats. There are more productive ways that we should spend our time this week, and i urge my to vote no on this bill. I yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. He gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. To the one minute gentleman from louisiana, mr. Richmond. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Richmond thank you, mr. Speaker. You, mr. Chairman. Et me say that the goal of the bill is positive, but how its wrong. D is just flat to pay for this legislation, go straight to alabama, mississippi, louisiana, and take 1. 9 billion a year of potential revenue to states to uplift their people to pay for this bill. Me be specific about mississippi, alabama, and louisiana. 48, 49, 50 in terms of uality of life for their residents. They rank one, two, five in terms of their africanamerican population. This re we doing here in time of Racial Equity . We are going to alabama, ississippi, and louisiana and taking 1. 9 billion a year without sharing any of that with their states where they can improve education where last, they can improve health care where all three rank last, they can improve their environment where three states are in the bottom third. Some im saying is, at point equity demands that those states get their fair share. Speaker, i t, mr. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Reserve. P i the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. The ld one minute to ms. Elady from new jersey, sherrill. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. You, herrill thank chairman grijalva, and thank you, mr. Speaker. New jersey might be the garden but its also the most densely populated state in the country. New jerseyans know new jerseyians know know more about this. Proud to support act. Reat american outdoors the land and Water Conservation fund helped expand conservation efforts. From the Great Swamp National refuge to morristown park. Al historic the Great American outdoors act will make the land and Water Conservation fund permanent. Generationst future of americans are able to access our natural wonders. Long, lwcfs promise of protecting our nations public broken as the fund has been diverted. Mandate that such funds are used as intended, to protect public lands and waters, access, and c provide an economic boost to communities. Im so Glad Congress has stepped equitable access to the outdoors by investing in our all and public lands at levels. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from yaerz reserves. Arizona reserves. He gentleman from utah is recognized. Bishop im pleased to yield four minutes to the gentleman from louisiana, an active member our committee, Ranking Member on another committee who can actually probably springboard on richmonds comments about this particular issue, four graves. To mr. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Graves thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the ranking yielding. Quick theres a Global Pandemic. Dollars nd billions of repairing fences, putting up new toilets at our and ife refuges, parks, forests said no one ever, ever. Ive been sitting here listening to this debate over the last several minutes and i have no on what planet people are right now. There is a Global Pandemic right now. What this legislation does is it it takes ything else, Everything Else and it puts it burner. Ack thats right. Job opportunities goes behind this. Mproving our schools and getting our kids actually educated goes behind this. Medical care for our seniors this. Ehind because this is mandatory spending. Mr. Speaker, ive heard members say, we have a 20 billion maintenance backlog. Do you know why that is . Failed to appropriate the money because we determined the not a priority in appropriations process. So why are we now stepping in whole cumventing that process, again, mr. Speaker, in he middle of a pandemic to determine this is the greatest priority . Analogy what u an this bill really does. This is like someone going over neighbors house, taking the credit card, and going out there and using that new addressto get a sign in their front yard, maybe onget a new coating of paint their house. And meanwhile, that person that card has redit multiple cars, has an expansive eal Estate Holding and never thought once about their own financial situation and instead took the credit card of their that may be is up to heir neck in medical bills because their spouse is on their death bed. Thats what this bill does. I heard people say, oh, this is money. Payer whose money is this . What dream world are you living in . Is funds that are taxpayer funds. Oh, but it comes from Energy Revenues. Those go . They go into the general treasury. That this isnt excess money, some money tree. And, mr. Speaker, let me tell you about one of the most about this bill that my friend, cedric richmond, congressman richmond talked and he tried to address this in committee by proposing a ipartisan amendment with congressman richmond, with ongresswoman sewell, with congressman benny thompson, with congressman scalise and myself a bipartisan way to fix this. The money this comes from energy coast of off the louisiana. This bill, as many have said, perpetuity, in five years, were spending 1 year. N a in 10 billion in 10 years, year. Lion a in a hundred years, 1 billion a year. R. Speaker, do you realize today, 28 of this country is owned by the federal government, 28 . The sensible thing to do is look assets, determine which, for example, the nearly different National Parks, assets, still make sense today. Friend talk d my about how 40 evof these funds used for ly have been projects that dont advance the mission of the agency theyre supposed to be advancing. A tone deaf piece of legislation. Its mandatory spending. Higher ting this as a priority than Everything Else, ncluding were in a Global Pandemic. We have record unemployment. Whose idea was it to do this . This is absolutely crazy. I urge opposition to this amendment. I urge excuse me, this legislation. I urge common sense. And i urge that we sit down and actually address some of the priorities. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you. Mr. Speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from maryland, distinguished leader, mr. Hoyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman for yielding. I came in at the end of my friend from louisianas discussion. I have Great Respect for mr. Graves and i have Great Respect for his concern. But very frankly, the things he talks about have been pending in the United States senate for 60 days. Untended. The leader of the senate said he states can go bankrupt. The sense of priority, apparently, does not exist there. And thats regrettable. This legislation that i rise in support of is an important piece of legislation. If, however, displaced any of those priorities which the gentleman spoke, i would perhaps share his opinion. We are waiting for some of those priorities to be attended to by the senate. Even if they defeat them. We talked about health care. We have talked about equal rights. We have talked about Campaign Finance reform. We have talked about energy. We have talked about so many subjects that are pending silently untended in the United States senate. About rinking of hands this legislation wringing of hands about this legislation about pressing out other priorities i think is not accurate. It is accurate that this is an important piece of legislation that will do much good. I want to thank chairman grijalva and the Natural Resources committee for steering the legislation before us through his committee and working with the senate to get it passed through that body. I also want to thank the ranking minority member Ranking Member for his concern about the maintenance and upkeep of our parks. Have spoken about that. I would especially like to thank representatives cummings, sherrill, who just spoke before me, congressman cox, congresswoman torres small, congressman horn, and congressman golden for leading this legislation in the house along with my good friend mike simpson from the state of idaho. It should be noted that the bill before us today bears the name of our dear and departed friend, john lewis. Who understood that conserving americas Great Outdoors and public spaces went part and parcel with protecting the legacy of civil rights. He was, mr. Speaker, as you know, instrumental in protecting the childhood home, Church Associated with Martin Luther king jr. In atlanta. One of americas great leaders. As part of our National Park Service Using the land and Water Conservation fund as a critical tool in that process. The Ebenezer Baptist church and Visitor Center are among the many sites in need of repair today. It was, of course, at ebenezer in atlanta in 1957 that a Young John Lewis joined dr. King and other civil rights pioneers to create the southern christian leadership conference. What an erie and poignant coincidence the bill before us is numbered 1957. Id like to think that john is still here with us guiding us forward in spirit to continue on the good work he started in congress some 30 years ago. Last year when we enact add permanent reauthorization of land and Water Conservation fund, a great accomplishment of this congress, and, yes, this president , we made it clear that doing so was only the first of a twostep process. The second step was making sure that the land and Water Conservation fund is permanently paid for. Thats what this bill does today. With nearly 1 billion annually in mandatory spending to sustain the fund and support critical federal, state, and local conservation projects across this nation. Not only that, mr. Speaker, but the bill creates a new fund that will help address the maintenance backlog in protecting some of our most iconic National Parks. The impact of these investments will be felt not only in tourism and improved Public Access to our public lands, but also in a cleaner and healthier environment over the long term. In my home state of maryland we have used the fund to protect some of our most Historic Sites, protecting nature so that every american might have the same opportunity to enjoy the sanctity of nature or contact with our history. I was personally proud to have worked to protect the water shed and the view shed of George Washingtons mount vernon site. Permanently through the creation of pass cat away pass catway park on our side of the maryland side of the river. We used the fund to protect the patuxant research refuge. Douglas point, and countless sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. In all, maryland has received over the years over 230 million from the land and Water Conservation fund to preserve our states most treasured landscape and historic places. This bill before us passed the senate on a strong bipartisan vote, 7325. In other words, three quarters of the United States senate. I believe we will demonstrate, hopefully, similar overwhelming support in the house later today. Mr. Speaker, i urge all of my colleagues to join in making this critical investment in americas public lands that will conserve them for the enjoyment of generations to come. I ask them to join me as well in helping to secure the legacy of our friend, john lewis. And i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. Thea. Utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop thank you. I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Fulcher. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Fulcher thank you. Mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition to this legislation. While i understand the merits of the bill and while some of my colleagues support, i still have concerns. I spent a lot of time in the Rural Counties of idaho. Residents and local government understandably have serious concerns regarding additional federal land acquisition. Especially at a time when federal resources are stretched so thin. The federal government doesnt have the resources to manage the land. And are often prevented from allowing local involvement. Translation more federal land equals less land being intelligently managed and often more wildfire. Currently about 2 3 of idahos landmass is controlled by the federal government. That means less property tax, more d. C. Bureaucracy, reliance on Grant Programs like secure rural schools, payment in lieu of taxes, and the ramifications of associated strings inevitably attached. Im also concerned about our growing national debt, now over 24 trillion. And while i appreciate that this bill utilizes revenue stream from future oil and gas receipts, its still ultimately taxpayer money. That authorizes permanent funding. Any time there is permanent funding, that also raises a red flag. To be a wise steward of the peoples money, congress should regularly reevaluate programs that it funds, not automatically renew appropriations. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you very much, mr. Speaker. Its my pleasure to yield one minute to the gentlelady from california, our distinguished speaker, speaker pelosi, and thank her for helping guide this important piece of legislation to the floor and a vote today. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Speaker pelosi i thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank him for being a lifelong champion of Environmental Justice and environmental stewardship. Thank you, mr. Grijalva, as chair of the Natural Resources committee. As a californian, an american, as speaker of the house i proudly rise in support of the Great American outdoors act, one of the most important conservation and public lands bills in decades. This legislation builds on the progress made here by House Democrats and others earlier in our majority when we passed the john d. Dingell jr. Conservation management and recreation act named for our former colleague. A fitting testament to chairman dingells legacy which made permanent the authorization for the land and Water Conservation fund. The Great American outdoors act, i love the title, takes the next step in our pro conservation agenda as it broadly protects and boldly protects our countrys natural and Cultural Heritage for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come. This legislation reflects the energy and expertise of our freshmen and i particularly salute congressman Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, congressman cunningham is a former ocean engineer, now serving on the Natural Resources committee who was the lead author on this legislation. Thank you, mr. Cunningham. In passing this legislation, congress is ensuring that america lives up to its conservation promises as we finally permanently fund the land and Water Conservation fund at levels that were promised. Over 55 years, the land and Water Conservation fund has provided over 17 billion in funding for over 40,000 recreational and conservation initiatives in every county in the country. In every county in the country. Creating and protecting americas iconic landscapes like the grand canyon and the historical sites like the Martin Luther king jr. National historic park. Some of californias most treasured natural areas benefited from the protection provided by the land and Water Conservation fund, including joshua tree, lake tahoe, the Golden State National Recreation area in the San Francisco bay area. The land and Water Conservation fund also addresses environmental injustice by creating green spaces near lowincome communities and communities of color across the country. Permanently funding the lwcv will ensure we preserve our Natural Heritage in an equitable manner to ensure all communities can benefit. The Great American outdoors act, i love the name as i said, also makes an urgently needed investment in our National Parks which face a crippling 12 billion deferred maintenance backlog. Our parks are critical to the preservation of our natural and Cultural Heritage and we must ensure that they can be enjoyed for generations to come. The Great American outdoor act enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support both in the congress and across the country. Nearly 900 Natural National state and local groups representing small businesses, ranchers, sportsmen, veterans, Outdoor Recreationists, and conservation organizations have written in support of this legislation, sharing these thoughts. Quote, the Great American outdoors act will ensure future for nature to thrive, kids to play, hunters and anglers to enjoy. National parks and public lands provide access to the outdoors for hundreds of millions of people every year and habitat for some of our countrys most iconic wildlife. It goes on, it tells the stories hat define and unite us as a nation. Funds provided in this bill will secure those vital resources water quantity nd quality, sustaining workplace working landscapes and rural economies, increasing recreation for all americans, no matter where they fueling the juggernaut of our Outdoor Economy. Indeed, the Great American outdoors act supports goodpaying jobs and grows the econo economy. Outdoor recreation supports more than five million adds nearly 750 billion to the economy. House democrats are proud to send it onto and the president s desk. We hope to do so in the bipartisan ssible way as it passed the United States senate. As we do, well continue our to protect our environment and National Heritage by ncluding calling the senate to take up h. R. 2, the moving forward act, which rebuilds infrastructure, while investing in clean energy modernizinguding by our energy infrastructure, boosting our commitment to a clean s, building transportation sector, and more. Also, we want to implement the elect committees action plan to solve the Climate Crisis, the detailed ing and climate plan in decades, which 30 by t a vision for 2030, conserving 30 of the land by 2030, conserving at least 30 of land and ocean in 2030, to confront the threats of the Climate Crisis, Great American outdoors act advances. And urging the senate to take up Climate Action now response to ngest people by keeping us in the paris bill. In the future we want for our children. Want to put this into perspective, mr. Chairman and mr. Ranking member. Founded andntry was thomas jefferson, when he became he ca he tasked the secretary of the treasury to of d the infrastructure america. An infrastructure plan that clarkfollow the lewis and expedition. T was the erie canal, cumberland road, all those things. Built into the Louisiana Purchase that would follow. A great undertaking. Many things happened at that time to build the infrastructure into the manifest destiny of america as we moved west. You ears after that wonder why im bringing it up 100 years later at the of that initiative, teddy roosevelt, id his own infrastructure nitiative called the National Park service. Nd it was to build and respect and conserve the Green Infrastructure of america. Remarkable. So much sprang from that teddy roosevelt, the great conservationist. Later, over 200 years hat to all p of the of that, but so much more needs to be done. Recognition of the mportance of the Great Outdoors, to the quality of life, but also the juggernaut of Outdoor Economy. So i hope we will have a strong bipartisan vote. Thank the n distinguished chairman, mr. Grijalva, for his leadership in and f this over the years for this bill. Again, salute mr. Cunningham of bringing his for expertise as an ocean engineer author of the lead this important legislation, the act. American outdoors with that i yield back the balance of my time. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. You, mr. P thank speaker. He dingell act two years ago was bipartisan. If this were bipartisan, we would not be here. But to illustrate that, im yield three minutes to he gentleman from arizona, mr. Gosar. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Gosar thank you, mr. Speaker. A very swampy day, and im not talking about the weather. Today, congress will pass a bill frankly a demonstration of everything that is wrong with washington. He Great American outdoors act is a product of special interests written not by committees but in back rooms interest ecial provisions. And now being forced through this chamber without the it. Rtunity for us to amend this is permanent legislation. Yet, we cant take an extra hour consider se to amendments to make this legislation better . Why . Because of special interests paid nearly 100 billion in lobbying cant be their another day from victory . Well, i guess thats what they and they want it. Afraid not to offend the senate . Product is ay the not better but the house cant amend it to make it better . Lets be clear. Is nothing like the legislation introduced by the supporters in the house. The gentleman from south may think hes got a great win, but the repeal of the meridian provision in this bill allows the u. S. Forest will have money away from his state. Comptroller said, left to their own devices, they will west of the meridian. That was by congressional oversight. Passed, this will get worse. F your goal was to expand recreational opportunities to millions of americans, then you bill. Miserably with this thats not the only problem with this legislation. I proposed a bipartisan amendment that would require the to the buy adhere america provision. The underlying bill includes billions in new spending on infrastructure. Could be spent on products manufactured by american workers. This ngress consider today . No. Why . Because the speaker rejected the mendments, rejected american workers, rejected american manufacturing. At a time when America Needs include buyilure to america provisions in this bill is a shame on this house. With amendments dealing infrastructure challenges facing our native American Reservations indianng the funding for education and indian health. Provisions areas where the was destructive. They need funds desperately to get back into the 21st century the delapidated state of occurrence. Will congress consider these amendments . No. Because of special interests behind this legislation dont those needs nsider on the floor of the house. Considering the legislation sets the federal government on a buying spree, never seen before, i prepared an amendment counties by r ensuring full payment, in payment of lieu of taxes. Contract . Ember that can we honor it . That wont even be considered as anything else. This legislation isnt a victory for america. Its a loss. Process builds good policy builds good politics. A shame we didnt go there. I ask everyone to vote against this legislation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. From utah the gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, again, mr. Speaker. The ld one minute to gentlelady from california, ms. Barragan, and thank her for her environmental test legislation and yield one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Barragan mr. Speaker, green spaces should be a right for regardless of where they live or the color of their skin. Unfortunately, for too many and native , american communities, parks are considered a privilege. Oday, we can change this injustice. The Great American outdoors act ill create more local parks in lowincome and urban neighborhoods. Minority communities across the ountry lack access to green spaces. In my district, in compton, we of have about half an acre park land for every thousand residents, well below the of los in the rest angeles county and the nation. Means more Outdoor Recreation opportunities, including sports fields and trails. Yes means all kids, no matter their zip code, have the andt to play on green grass explore the natural world. Im proud to vote yes to secure his right for our young people today and for future generations. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. From arizona the gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop happy to yield 2 1 2 one of the Ranking Members on the committee, spent a lot of time on our committee these issues, the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock. The peaker pro tempore gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mcclintock thank you, mr. Speaker. Nevada oft the sierra california. Osemite valley, lake tahoe are all within my district. The yosemite land grant signed wasresident lincoln in 1864 the first time the federal government set aside land for use, resource, and recreation for alltime. Estate has ederal grown to 640 million acres, thats 28 of the land area of nation. While the federal government just. 7 of new york state, owns 46 f texas, it of my home state of california, 93 of Alpine County in my district. Revere ourthe sierra public lands, and we are proud to share them with the world. Government now holds far more land that it can care of. The federal lands now face a 20 illion backlog of deferred maintenance, which takes tourism less desirable. Now, this is all land thats off rolls, denying our local governments vital revenues. Ederal restrictions on productive use of these lands is deaf has devastated local economies. The federal all, government has utterly neglected to management of our forests the point they become morbidly overgrown and now present a onstant threat of catastrophic fire. Now, shouldnt we take care of the land we already hold before still more land . And when weve already taken 2 3 alaska and utah and 4 5 of nevada, shouldnt we pause and sk for some balance around the country . Now, this measure does provide enough money over the next five to address about half of our current deferred maintenance good. And thats very but then that funding disappears. Were left with locked in year mandatory spending in perpetuity for new placed outsidens of Congress Control while emoving the requirement that future acquisitions be focused where the federal government owns very little land. Unelected bureaucrats will have 1 billion a year to take private property off the tax rolls with o accountability to our local communities, no provisions for longterm maintenance, and no people to protect our from the scourge of wildfire produced by the continuing forests. F our federal i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. He gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield one minute to the entleman from california, mr. Panetta. Mr. Panetta thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the recognized. S mr. Panetta thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Great American outdoors act. In my district we protect, we promote, and we dont put a our environment. Partly because it drives our local economy but, also, we appreciate what it means for us. E after by fully funding the land and Water Conservation fund, this the type that the type of necessary care for ur National Parks, forests and critical wildlife areas. This is needed today because those treasures have been put this extreme pressure with pandemic, but also previously with increased visitors and budgets. Thats why this legislation is so important as it will not only address needed infrastructure and deferred maintenance because it will promote conservation, ecreation, and access to the outdoors. By passing this bipartisan bill that ensures investments in our we are d forests, nsuring that our natural treasures, our postcards of the delivered. S i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the time. Will announce the arizona has 9from remaining. And the gentleman from utah has 11 minutes remaining. Reserve. P i the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. To the one minute gentleman from utah. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Utah mr. Ms thank you, speaker. Conserving these places is more today we than ever and take landmark action by passing land and ng for the Water Conservation fund. This successful Conservation Program has given us at no cost taxpayer decades of vital funding for national and state arks, wildlife refuges, and recreational areas. State and local officials rely on the money to improve local trails, which see rapidly demand on the growing wasatch front. We have zion National Park which loved toliterally been death. And has a 67 million backlog in deferred maintenance. Some ill provides desperately needed funding to fill that backlog. Im proud today to be voting for this legislation and the promise an olds for our economy and excellent quality of life in utah for my children and for future generations. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop i wont tell the gentleman from utah that the Utah Association of counties is opposed to this and the trails you are talking about comes from the state side projects. Thats beside the point. I would like to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from california, mr. Lamalfa. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Lamalfa thank you to my Ranking Member and colleague from utah. I have appreciated your service and force with which you do things here, thank you. Where are we . Gigantic deficits yet we want to add to the burden of that deficit with a force, 900 million, nearly a billion, every year in this bill for acquiring new federal land. I come from the west. So we are already ravaged by wildfire, unmanaged lands that are detrimental to the neighbors, to the private lands. I have three fires going in my district right now. A lot emanates from unmanaged Forest Service lands. We want to add to their inability to manage even more lands in this legislation. The part of the bill that mr. Bishop had authored is a good part. If you listened to him 20 billion worth of backlog we havent found a way to pay for yet. Yet we have to instead of finishing our dinner, we are going for the dessert. Buying more lands that we cant afford and we know we cant manage. So, ill be thinking about this and my constituents will as more and more forestlands burn each year and threatens communities. These forests are gated off because they dont have time to do the maintenance and work that needs to be done so the public can have access to these lands. Because of the 20 billion backlog. Or the funding to take care of the juniper problem we have in the northeast of california. The Wild Horse Population that needs to be managed so they dont die out there of starvation or during the drought. The sage grouse habitat so they dont become endangered. Our local counties, Rural Counties already struggling with the lack of pilt funds because we have to come back here and beg every year for the payment in lieu of taxes to get this place to keep its commitments on that and secure rural schools funds our Rural Counties need. I say no on this bill and get back to managing what we should. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from arizona. Mr. Grijalva reserve our time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop may i ask the gentleman from arizona, the gentleman from arizona do you have other speakers . Mr. Grijalva no. m prepared to close when when the gentleman from utah is done with his speakers. Mr. Bishop we are not done yet. Let me yield myself some time. Before we start here. We talked about several of the problems with this particular bill. Yield my time as much as i consume. With this particular bill we have talked about how the poor reckoning of its sources there. Do not say whats going to happen if this money does not develop. I think mr. Graves would be good to talk about where this moneys coming and how its being used at the same time. And we dont necessarily know what will happen with the lowering of the kind of outsource lowering of the royalties we are experiencing this year from next year. There is one other consideration i hope people will understand, especially for all those who are speaking about it who come from the eastern coast. There was a conforming amendment put in the senate in this particular bill, conforming amendment, we used to call them earmarks, but its a conforming amendment. The original bill said on Forest Service land that would be bought, 15 of that had to come from west of the 100th meridian. 85 from east of the 100th meridian. That was taken out. Quietly it was taken out. The end result means there is a serveoning of billions of dollars that should be and could be going to eastern states. I mention that because one of the democrat speakers did speak about the need for urban recreation opportunities. That was what was supposed to happen and with this conforming amendment, that is what is taken out of the bill. But in 1960 as this bill was being discussed, Orville Freeman was the secretary of agriculture for kennedy. He said at that time that the Outdoor Recreation resources review commission has pointed out that the greatest need for recreation opportunities lies in the areas adjacent to the metropolitan centers in the eastern states. It would be our purpose under this bill to extend about 84 of what would be available under it for acquisition in the eastern National Forest acquired under the we sack. That commission went on to say that outdoor opportunities are most urgently needed near metropolitan areas. Much of the west and virtually all of alaska are little use to most americans looking for a place in the sun for their families on the weekend when the demand is overwhelming. At regional and state levels, most of the land is where people are not. One sixth is sparsely populated alaska. 70 , 2 of the remainder in the west where only 15 of the people live. Northeast one quarter of the people live, only 4 of the recreation acreage is there. That language was not put in there by happenchance. There was a reason for it. In one iteration of this particular act that we introduced a long time ago there was an idea of putting a certain specific percentage that would go to urban recreation so that there would be those urban recreation concepts as was originally designed in the bill. Thats been taken out. What that will mean is for those of you who live east of the 100th meridian, basically east of denver, there will be 1. 19 billion less dedicated to you than there would have been if this amendment had not been put in there. That works out to an average of 32 million per Congressional District of those living east of denver. Im glad that all those who are for this or whatever side will have a good time to explain to their constituents why they are in favor of giving their area 32 million less in recreation opportunity. Simply because youre going to confirm a conforming amendment that was slipped in to the Senate Version of this bill that really hurts this process and is not necessarily positive. I reserve the balance of my time the speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva i yield one minute to the gentleman from washington, mr. Kilmer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Kilmer thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman and all who worked on this bill. As someone who grew up on the olympic peninsula, learned how important protecting our parks and our public lands is to driving tourism and growing jobs and supporting rural economies. This is a big day. Permanently funding the land and Water Conservation fund, providing dedicated funding to make much needed repairs at olympic National Park and throughout our park system. This is progress for ensuring that these natural assets can continue to provide amazing Visitor Experiences and serve as economic drivers for Rural Communities who need these jobs and who need these opportunities for future generations. This is a day to also celebrate the extraordinary coalition of environmental groups and Outdoor Economy groups and local Civic Leaders who got involved to move this bill forward today. I am grateful for all who worked on this. Im proud to be a supporter of this bill. And im encouraging all of my colleagues to vote yes today. With that i yield back. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop thank you, mr. Speaker. I am happy to yield two minutes to the gentleman from louisiana, mr. Graves. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Graves thank you, mr. Speaker. I want want to thank the gentleman for yielding once again. Mr. Speaker, i want to introduce another dose of reality. Something you have not heard many folks talk about today. Where is this money coming from . How are we paying for this initially what is it 1. 9 billion, 2. 9 billion a year in mandatory spending . This is coming from offshore Energy Revenues. Thats where the majority of these moneys are coming from. From oil and gas production. I want to be clear. From oil and gas production. Now, the majority at the same time and in the same breath is taking step after step to decimate or to eliminate the Domestic Energy industry, therefore making us not get oil and gas from the United States but getting it from places like russia as we have seen over and over again when these drastic policies have been put forth. Mr. Speaker, the other thing is, any time you have Energy Revenues like this produced on federal lands, under the mineral leasing act, 50 of the money goes to those states that host that production. They could use it for whatever they want. They can use it for whatever they want to use it for. In this case the gulf states, louisiana, mississippi, alabama, texas we get about 4 right now. Four. I have a question, i have a question for my friends in the majority. Tell me what youre going to say, tell me what youre going to say to the residents of texas, louisiana, mississippi, alabama and florida next time we have a huge hurricane come through because you have refused, under the bipartisan amendment that the Congressional Black Caucus and others advocated, you have refused to allow for a larger percentage of money to be invested back in the resilience of this ecosystem, the resilience of these communities, tell me what youre going to say to them whenever we have another hurricane katrina, rita, guse to have, ike, harvey, michael, florence, tell me what youre going to say to them because you are taking their money and spending it on other places and saying this is for the environment. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Graves advocating for this when theres a greater environmental investment to make it in the gulf. I urge opposition and yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah reserves. The gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona reserves. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop if the gentleman from arizona is ready to close, so will i. Before i do that, mr. Speaker, obviously i ask unanimous consent or under general leave to place in the record statements from the utah not utah but the u. S. Farm bureau Cattlemans Association in opposition to this, the American Energy alliance in opposition to this, as well as c. R. S. Report that analyzes from whence this money comes, whence it is going, and how much we probably wont have in the future. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Bishop thank you. Can i an say inquire how much time i actually have left here . The speaker pro tempore 3 1 2 minutes remaining. Mr. Bishop what did you say . The speaker pro tempore 3 1 2 minutes remaining. Bishop youall have masks on. Looks like a bank robbery. The speaker pro tempore protect each other. Mr. Bishop we have heard all sorts of platitudes about this bill today. Whether it passes or not is actually irrelevant. It is not bipartisan. And it has all sorts of flaws. There are questions about the future source of funding. We have heard speaker after speaker come up and say, you know, this is not we are not talking about taxpayers money, this is only royalties that are out there. One of the problems we have to face is that all the royalties that come from offshore development and Onshore Development from energy and gas, they are placed in the general fund. In fact, the second largest source of funds that go into the general fund are from these royalties. Second only to the i. R. S. Taxes that go in there. If these revenues werent deposited there they would be deposited in the general fund of the u. S. Treasury. If thats not taxpayer money i dont know what is. We have talked about the need for actually urban Recreation Areas. Wed like to do it. Unfortunately this bill diminishes that opportunity and puts it in limbo, which is not good. I have heard speaker after speaker come up here with pretty pictures about our National Parks, reservation lands, b. L. M. Land, resource lands all these things that need to be helped, and a lot of them talking about all the wonderful programs that are on state lands. That are parks and roads and picnic areas. And all those things which we are already doing. When we did when we permanently reauthorized the lwcf last congress, thats when we put more money into those types of things everyone says is wonderful. Where we didnt put more money into is buying federal land. Buying more land to put into the federal estate. And as everyone talks about how important it is, actually to now start putting money into park maintenance, maintenance of the backlog, what this bill does is put that at the very lowest rung on priorities of where this royalty money is spent. You will spend it first on it to the states, historic preservation, you will spend it on buying up more land before you ever come to anything that helps the parks and helps the public lands. Thats because we have disproportionately fund this. This bill is not about funding our public lands. This bill is about sir come vepting the limitation circumventing the limitations we put in in the last congress about buying more land. The only thing this bill is about is how to find more way to buy more property. We cant even afford the property we already have. There is a 20 billion maintenance backlog. But what this is attempting to do is find a way to put more money to buying more land so we can exacerbate that problem. Now you can say all you want to about how wonderful it is, how good it is, and im sorry, most of those platitudes were misstated, they were talking about things that either already exist or are actually being deemphasized by this particular bill. What this bill is about is are you going to put more money into buying more land before you put more money into actually maintaining the land we already have. And that is really the only issue of this bill. And thats why we are fighting this strongly about it. Last year when we did the dingell act, that was bipartisan. We had worked together to come up with a lot of bipartisan stuff. This was not a bipartisan bill. Mr. Kilmer, i appreciated his work with me on the parks. That was bipartisan. This is not bipartisan. Its still about how do we buy more land. Thats the goal of this piece of legislation. I urge a no vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, can i inquire as to how much time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has 7 1 4 minutes. Mr. Grijalva thank you very much. You know, the process of this ladies and gentlemenslation reaching this point on the floor legislation reaching this point on the floor to be voted upon has, to those of us involved, its been difficult. Its been frustrating. And yet the possibility of it being done was always there. And that was the goal. And i think the overwhelming support in the senate for a clean bill to come to the house was bipartisan. And i think today would have it was didnt feel necessary to engage in the same arguments that weve been engaging about with the land and Water Conservation fund in particular, and the backlog. This legislation is not about robbing peter to pay paul. It is now about taking money from the east to give to the west. It is not about denying coastal states their share. And if we do transition, as we transition, that we need to urgently to clean energy in the future, future congresses i think will have the foresight to look at this legislation and deal with how we move forward with it and continue to fund it. Land and went to visit Water Conservation fund sites, i went to a park in south phoenix. The only green space and Recreation Area for close to 8,000 families that live in that general area. Land and Water Conservation fund. When i went to other locations in urban areas across this country, land and Water Conservation fund. And that continues to be a priority. For reasons of Public Health, equity and access. But, you know, mr. Speaker, in a strange procedural trick of the house, we have spent this afternoon debating the Great American outdoors act, but the bill we refer to as h. R. 1957 began as Something Else. H. R. 1957 was originally a bill to protect taxpayers by ensuring fair treatment under the law. It was introduced back in march of 2019 by our late friend and colleague, representative john lewis. I cant personally speak to representative lewis thoughts on conservation spending, but i do believe our late friend would be happy with the work that we have done here today and the vote that we are about to take. Representative lewis truly believes in a government by and for the people, all the people. He challenges us to leave petty partisanship at the door, to consider the essential pursuit of justice and equity that we have long sought and failed to meet in this country. I am proud to call representative lewis my friend. I am proud that we can honor his legacy with the passage of this bill. There is much work left to be done to ensure real equity or justice in the United States. And i look forward to working with all my colleagues across the aisle and continuing that work in the future. But when we come together as we have today, as the peoples representatives, working toward the common goal of protecting future generations and perhaps there is hope we might see representative lewis vision realized. I want to thank all of my colleagues who spoke on behalf of this legislation. I want to thank leadership for bringing it to the floor and all the members on the committee and not on the committee who worked very, very hard to bring this legislation forward. Its historic. Its important. If necessary. And its an essential step. And i urge its necessary. And its an essential step. And i urge us to vote yes on and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 1053, the previous question is ordered. The question is on the motion by the gentleman from arizona, mr. Grijalva. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop on that i ask for the yeas and nays on the not so Great American outdoors act act. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question are postponed. About ups the abuses of police power, problems in terms of unequal application of the law for black americans. People care about that. In the main, these have been peaceful act to binets i have attended of a number of demonstrations. What we have seen is a militarization on the efforts on the part of the federal government, unwelcome, uninvited, and unprepared who made a difficult situation much worse. That it is the oregonian reported that the Police Department reported 23 million do

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