February 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1039 Madam Speaker, Mrs. Johnson ican people and, in some cases, to the We started GEAR, which stands for worked as the ‘‘mother of the environ- world. Government Efficiency, Account- mental justice movement’’ to address We have addressed issues such as re- ability, and Reform, to develop a play- racial injustices and improve environ- ducing drug pricing to all Americans. book of commonsense, nonpartisan so- mental protections fundamental to this We have addressed issues when it lutions for improving our government. action. comes to making sure that children We came up with more than 100 im- Therefore, I take pride in introducing have a safe place to go to school. provements. They are all recorded in legislation to celebrate the month of We have many issues that we are our report, which is now available, and April as Hazel M. Johnson Environ- faced with here in the House of Rep- I am excited to yield to my colleagues mental Justice Month. resentatives, and I am proud to say to talk about them here today. We will start with my good friend f that, although the media says that we just can’t get along, and, yes, we dis- from North Dakota, Representative b 1445 agree at times, but, at the same time, KELLY ARMSTRONG, who was a member HONORING JAMES RING we are, in fact, getting the work of the of the task force and really led our ef- people done in the House of Represent- forts to find these areas where we could (Mr. SPANO asked and was given per- atives. reform. mission to address the House for 1 I pray that we see the same go on in Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- minute and to revise and extend his re- the Senate and, in addition to that, see tleman from North Dakota (Mr. ARM- marks.) many of those bills get signed by the STRONG). Mr. SPANO. Madam Speaker, I rise President of the United States. Mr. ARMSTRONG. Madam Speaker, I today to honor U.S. Army veteran thank Congressman JOHNSON and Con- f James Ring. gressman GIANFORTE for their efforts After graduating high school, James RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVER- to make our Federal Government more enlisted in the Army and served in SARY OF CANNON LODGE 104 efficient and accountable with these both Iraq and Afghanistan. He later (Mr. VAN DREW asked and was given commonsense reforms. joined the Reserve Forces and, at the permission to address the House for 1 The Republican Study Committee’s same time, began a 13-year career as a minute and to revise and extend his re- GEAR Task Force report is a solutions- City of Lakeland police officer. marks.) based plan to reduce the government’s Now, in addition to serving as CEO Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I size and inefficiency. Anyone who has dealt with the Fed- for his own small business, James is ac- recognize Cannon Lodge 104, which, on eral Government knows the frustration tive with the Lakeland Chamber, pro- February 26, will be celebrating 150 that the bureaucratic process can moting issues important to the small years as a chartered Masonic lodge. bring. Unnecessary government delays business community. Cannon Lodge had its first outreach to infrastructure projects have a par- Very soon, James will be returning on October 27, 1869, from Henry Can- ticularly damaging effect on economic to Active Duty and deploying again. non, whom the lodge is named after. On Now, that is commitment. growth and job creation. February 26, 1870, a Masonic charter Madam Speaker, I thank the Repub- People like James make me proud was granted, and Cannon Lodge 104 not only to be an American, but proud lican Study Committee for including came into existence. my bill, H.R. 3671, the Federal Permit- of my district. The spirit and the drive In January 1960, through the gen- that propel him to serve our commu- ting Reform and Jobs Act, in the re- erosity of Brother Elmer Smith, the port. This bipartisan bill will stream- nity as a small business owner and our present location of the lodge was do- Nation as a uniformed servicemember line and modernize the Federal infra- nated and dedicated to his father, Cap- structure permitting process. are unique and invaluable. tain Charles S. Smith. From the bottom of my heart, thank The Federal Permitting Reform and In 1995, Sea Isle City Lodge No. 280 Jobs Act will build on the reforms that you, James. And thank you Ring fam- was merged with Cannon; and, in 1999, ily for your service and your sacrifice. were included in the Fixing America’s Arbutus Lodge No. 170 of Cape May Surface Transportation Act of 2015, I know I speak on behalf of the entire Court House did the very same thing. district when I say that we are so very otherwise known as FAST–41. I am a proud member of Cannon My bill would make permanent the proud of you. Lodge 104, and we live by the motto: FAST–41 provisions and enact addi- f ‘‘Making Good Men Better.’’ These men tional reforms, such as a 2-year dead- around me there have made me a bet- WE ARE GETTING THE WORK OF line for the permitting process. ter man. We are dedicated to the bet- THE PEOPLE DONE IN THE FAST–41 ensures coordination among terment of ourselves, our community, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES several Federal agencies to streamline and giving to charity. ´ the permitting process for the largest (Mr. CARDENAS asked and was Madam Speaker, I look forward to infrastructure projects. given permission to address the House the continued work we will do in the The Federal Permitting Reform and for 1 minute and to revise and extend community, and I thank them all for Jobs Act would expand these types of his remarks.) the work my fellow brothers do. They projects that would qualify for this ´ Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I are truly heroes in south Jersey. streamlined process: simply put, more am here in the House of Representa- f projects completed in a shorter period tives. I have had the honor to have REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE’S of time at a reduced cost. been elected to this incredible body for, This is a win for jobs; this is a win for GEAR TASK FORCE now, four terms. But I just want to re- infrastructure improvements; this is a port to you, Madam Speaker, that we The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. win for reforming the Federal bureauc- have, in fact, passed 275 bipartisan bills MCBATH). Under the Speaker’s an- racy and providing Americans with a in the last 12 months in these Cham- nounced policy of January 3, 2019, the more efficient and effective govern- bers. gentleman from Montana (Mr. ment. Madam Speaker, I thank my Repub- GIANFORTE) is recognized for 60 min- Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I lican colleagues, my Democratic col- utes as the designee of the minority thank Mr. ARMSTRONG for his work. leagues, and, yes, the one Independent leader. Permitting is an area where we can colleague who is part of every single Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I really make advances to make the one of those votes. appreciate the opportunity to hold this process more deterministic so we can I just want to say, that is the busi- Special Order on the Republican Study get projects on the ground going. I ness of the House of Representatives. I Committee’s GEAR Task Force. thank the gentleman for his leadership just want to remind you, Madam I thank MIKE JOHNSON, chairman of there. Speaker, that we are serious here, from the Republican Study Committee, for Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- all parties, to make sure that we ad- his leadership to make this task force tleman from Michigan’s Seventh Dis- here to the needs of the entire Amer- possible. trict, Representative TIM WALBERG,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K11FE7.036 H11FEPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE H1040 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 11, 2020 and I want to recognize him for his the GEAR Task Force and really do everything we can to rein in this work on the Taxpayers Right-to-Know brought a number of ideas to the table, Washington spending machine. effort. I thank the gentleman for his and he is here today to reflect on a Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I leadership. number of those. thank the gentleman for his leadership Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- here in highlighting some of these tleman from Michigan (Mr. WALBERG). tleman from Texas (Mr. CLOUD). wasteful programs. Clearly, we can do Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I thank better, and I thank him for bringing thank the gentleman for yielding. the gentleman for yielding, and I thank them forward. Madam Speaker, I would like to him for his work and leadership on this At this time, I will yield to the gen- thank Chairman JOHNSON, Task Force task force. It has been a worthwhile tlewoman from Arizona’s Eighth Con- Chairman GIANFORTE, and my col- project, to say the least. gressional District, Representative leagues at RSC for their leadership on Madam Speaker, with over $23 tril- DEBBIE LESKO. She has brought to us this task force and putting together a lion in national debt and annual defi- some of the reforms related to improv- document that has answers if we are cits at $1 trillion, it is obvious that ing our immigration system, and I look willing to accept them and move them Washington has a spending problem. forward to her sharing that with us. forward. Moving them forward will We must do something to rein in this Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- make an impact for the better of this problem that we are leaving for our tlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. LESKO). country and its taxpayers. children, and we must do it soon. Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, I Making government more efficient Every day, taxpayer dollars are wast- thank the gentleman, my friend, Mr. and accountable to the people is some- ed on unnecessary expenses. For exam- GIANFORTE, for giving me the oppor- thing we all should be able to rally be- ple, as part of the ‘‘use it or lose it’’ tunity to speak about this bill. hind. It shouldn’t be a partisan issue. last-minute spending sprees of 2018, I am from Arizona, so border security After all, we are a government of, by, Federal agencies spent over $4 million has been for years and still is the num- and for the people. on lobster tails and crabs, $673,000 on ber one issue that people in Arizona We are here today to talk about a se- golf carts, $308,000 on alcohol, and care about. They welcome legal immi- ries of commonsense solutions that $53,000 on china tableware. grants, but they also want to make will return power to the folks back Another example is that, despite the sure that Arizona and our Nation are home. I am proud that one of them is efforts to address the issue, the Federal secure and that illegal drug trafficking my bill, H.R. 3830, the Taxpayers Government makes over $800 million in is mitigated. Right-to-Know Act, which unani- payments to people who are no longer We used to see mostly single male mously passed the House last week and on this Earth. adults crossing our border, and they now is over in the Senate. It is a pretty And, finally, right now, there are du- would evade the Border Patrol officers; simple bill. plicative programs, including 91 Fed- but, recently, however, thousands and American taxpayers deserve to know eral programs that train healthcare thousands of illegal migrants are com- where, when, why, and how the govern- workers and more than 40 workforce ing from Central America, and they are ment is spending their hard-earned dol- development programs. Some of these being coached by the cartels, who lars, and they deserve to have those may be good, but consolidating them charge them $5,000 to $8,000 a person. dollars spent in an efficient, smart might be a great idea. They are saying: Let’s go up there and manner. We owe it to the American people to turn yourselves in to the Border Patrol My bipartisan legislation requires do better with their hard-earned tax officers, because there is a loophole, Federal agencies to supply online ac- dollars, and we owe it to future genera- and just claim asylum. counting of their program activities in tions not to borrow against their fu- And they know that, once they are an easily searchable inventory so that ture. in, they are in the United States and Americans can keep tabs on where and On the Government Efficiency, Ac- they can stay. how their tax dollars are being spent. countability, and Reform Task Force, b 1500 All of the information provided for the our aim is to make Washington take Instead of running away from Border inventory will be updated regularly to real steps toward returning the govern- Patrol, they turn themselves in, claim- provide for a more realtime accounting ment to its proper constitutional ing asylum, so our immigration courts of Federal programs and dollars. boundaries. are overloaded and legitimate asylum The Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act The recommendations compiled claims languish amidst frivolous will help cut down on waste, fraud, and today are not flashy. They won’t lead claims. abuse in the Federal Government by al- in the nightly news; they won’t domi- This backlog is severe. It is a non- lowing policymakers to better identify nate your social media feeds; but they partisan challenge facing our immigra- areas where any programs duplicate are important, and it is incumbent tion courts. A recent report stated that and put a stop to it. upon us to look past the 15-second backlog cases in immigration courts Congress needs to do more to lighten sound bites and get serious about the exceeded 1 million claims. the load for the next generation. We business of governing. This backlog has rapidly increased need to streamline efficiencies, in- Here are just a handful of solutions: over the last decade, and as the back- crease effectiveness, institute more We could sell unused Federal office log increases, so do wait times. Some- transparency, and provide better ac- space; times, it takes years for these cases to counting across the Federal Govern- We can consolidate duplicative pro- proceed through the courts. ment. grams and agencies; We currently have approximately 400 Madam Speaker, I applaud the GEAR We can identify programs that are immigration judges. That is about 2,500 Task Force for highlighting these pro- not working and eliminate them. cases per judge. This backlog strains posals and working to make our gov- The President’s budget has an entire housing facilities and prevents judges ernment better serve the people we rep- chapter on highlighting our govern- from granting asylum to legitimate resent. ment’s wasteful spending and some of asylum seekers and from swiftly re- Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I the efforts his administration is mak- moving those who have frivolous thank the gentleman for his leadership ing to eliminate it. claims and are abusing the loopholes in on this. All of America understands that we our laws. Taxpayers do have a right to know, need to balance our budget, but no ad- This is a big national security and and hopefully as that bill moves to the ministration, Republican or Democrat, humanitarian crisis. We need efficiency President’s desk, it will actually hap- can do it without that commitment in the Federal Government, especially pen. from Congress. when it comes to immigration. At this time, I welcome the gen- We are elected and given very spe- That is why I introduced H.R. 3859 to tleman from Texas’ 27th Congressional cific authority under the Constitution help reduce the immigration court District, Representative MICHAEL to control how taxpayer dollars are backlog and help legitimate asylum CLOUD, here today. He was a member of spent. We must roll up our sleeves and seekers.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K11FE7.038 H11FEPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE February 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1041 This bill provides an additional 100 look at every dollar we spend to make Mr. TIMMONS. Madam Speaker, I immigration judges to reduce the asy- sure that we are using every dollar in thank the gentleman from Montana for lum backlog. Adding more judges will an efficient manner so that those who yielding. allow these cases to be adjudicated invest—in this case, the American tax- A decade ago, Congress passed a law faster and help reduce the backlog. payers—get the most bang for their directing the executive branch to in- I thank the task force chairman, buck. form them within 2 years of how many GREG GIANFORTE, and the Republican Also, in our business, we have a bal- Federal programs existed within the Study Committee chairman, MIKE ance sheet, an income statement, Federal Government. We are still wait- JOHNSON, for their hard work to in- where we can actually run ratios that ing for that answer today. crease efficiency and accountability in we can compare and see how we are Since 2010, I think we can all agree our government, especially when it doing against our peers. that the size of the Federal Govern- comes to immigration. I mentioned that to someone on the ment has grown exponentially and has Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I Budget Committee and they said: I overreached in places it should not. thank the gentlewoman, especially for don’t think we have seen that in the This unchecked scope of power and in- bringing attention to this issue of im- Federal Government. efficient bureaucracy affects every as- migration. It is top of mind for so I come from the business community, pect of our lives and is a threat to our many Americans, and having the and I came to Washington because we well-being and to the foundation of our judges necessary to pursue these cases have to get down to business. I have Republic. to final outcome is so important. identified, again, working on this task The Government Efficiency, Ac- I yield to the gentleman from Geor- force, on the Budget Committee, and countability, and Reform Task Force, gia (Mr. ALLEN), from the 12th Congres- on the RSC, so many areas where, or GEAR, of the Republican Study sional District, a task force member frankly, we can be much more efficient Committee has worked over the last who helped bring forward many of the at spending every dollar. year on ways to rein in wasteful and ideas that are in this collection of com- Every taxpayer should be treated unnecessary government overreach and like a shareholder. They should know monsense government efficiency ideas spending, make the Federal Govern- exactly where and how their money is just published recently. ment more transparent and account- Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I thank being spent. able, and get back to the basics of the That is why I have a big problem my friend from Montana, the chairman legislative branch, to be a government with the appropriations process here in of this committee. It was a real privi- that works for the American people. Congress. Yes, we kind of go through Today, I would like to speak to the lege to serve on this committee. the motions here on the House floor, Over the years, the size of the Fed- reform aspect of the task force. In but we bog down, and it becomes a eral Government has ballooned. While order to promote and advance effi- four-corner deal where leadership on ciency within the Federal Government, it excels in some ways, like keeping both sides decides: Okay, these are the government practices must be re- our Nation safe, oftentimes, it does not caps, and this is how we are going to formed. serve the American people well, and spend the money. All Americans want a government that keeps my constituent services of- The appropriators appropriate to that is efficient and that delivers re- fice very busy back in the district. that number, and then we are given a sults. One of the ways that we can re- As a small business owner, I know 1,200-page spending bill 24 hours before form the Federal Government is to ad- how important it is to run effective we have to vote on it. That is ridicu- dress our cybersecurity shortcomings. and efficient operations. If you don’t lous. Every day, hackers, criminals, ter- serve your customers well, you won’t I have emphasized to my leadership rorists, and foreign countries seek to stay in business. But because the Fed- that I will not vote on a bill like that exploit our cybersecurity systems. Ear- eral Government is largely unaccount- again, that we should stand right here lier this year, a group of Iranian-affili- able, the only people who suffer from through the appropriations process and ated hackers infiltrated a U.S. Govern- government inefficiency are the people show the American people every place ment website, wrote pro-Iranian mes- it is intended to serve: the American we are spending a dollar. sages, and wrote a message about Ira- people. The GEAR report lays the ground- nian cyber capabilities. For far too long, we have let the ex- work for this type of reform. Our re- The threat landscape is constantly ecutive branch seize authority and em- port highlights specific ways we can changing, and the cybersecurity needs power unelected bureaucrats. I am make government more efficient and are evolving along with it. The govern- proud to serve on the Republican Study accountable to the people, including ment must continue to reform and up- Committee’s Government Efficiency, improving metrics to better inform de- date its cyber practices to best defend Accountability, and Reform Task cisionmaking, utilizing excess Federal against adversaries. Force, whose goal is to develop reforms office space, leveraging duplicative The GAO has made over 3,000 rec- to improve the Federal Government in government contracts, consolidating ommendations since 2010 regarding the order to better serve American fami- data centers, reducing security clear- U.S. Government’s cybersecurity poli- lies. ance processing delays, and much cies. As of GAO’s last full survey of Prior to my service here in Congress, more. these concerns in 2017, only 448 rec- I served as the Georgia co-chair for the These solutions are common sense, ommendations have been implemented. Fix the Debt committee, which was a and they should garner bipartisan sup- This is unacceptable, and it puts our nationwide bipartisan effort to identify port. I encourage my colleagues who Nation at unnecessary risk. ways that we could balance our budget. have not yet read the report to do so. I am pleased that the Trump admin- Our new report here in the GEAR We have highlighted over 100 ways we istration has made cybersecurity a pri- Task Force highlights strategies to can improve government and better ority, recognizing that protecting streamline government practices and serve the American people. cyberspace is key to our national secu- remove waste, much like the Fix the We must change the status quo. That rity and economic ability. Congress Debt committee identified. is why I came to Washington. should utilize its oversight authority For example, we all know that Wash- Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I to support cybersecurity initiatives, ington has a spending problem. If thank the gentleman from Georgia. I including requiring that the out- something isn’t working, many of my particularly appreciate his business ex- standing GAO recommendations be im- colleagues would prefer just to throw perience here in the House and his par- plemented. more money at the problem. But when ticipation on this task force. While I touched briefly on one of the has that worked? We need serious gov- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- many important ways the Federal Gov- ernment reform. tleman from South Carolina (Mr. ernment can work toward reform, In my business, we emphasize the im- TIMMONS), from the Fourth Congres- there are many crucial steps that Con- portance of streamlining processes so sional District. He has also been a task gress can take to ensure it is con- we can maximize every dollar. We have force member, and his fingerprints are tinuing to work for the people and not a 5-year lookback procedure where we on this report. the other way around.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K11FE7.040 H11FEPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE H1042 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 11, 2020 The work of the GEAR Task Force is The President’s budget that he is So I applaud the Trump administra- important, and I hope that every Mem- talking about, he is going to take a lot tion for recently proposing reforms to ber will take some time to read of hits for that right now. At least he NEPA, but we should not have had to through the report. We all made a is putting the concept out there that is wait 40 years for the executive branch promise to our constituents to come to trying to work toward balance instead to act. This executive branch is doing Washington to work for them and of deficit spending. We will be con- so. prioritize their needs. sumed one day by the service on the Congress should be in the business of This report is not meant to be Repub- debt if interest rates go wild. It will addressing inefficiency in government, lican or Democratic. This report is eclipse our spending. having much more oversight, like something that all Members of Con- Let me just break it down, in my GEAR, like my colleagues are all work- gress, regardless of party, should be couple of minutes here, on a couple of ing on here as well, including ending able to get behind. It is a blueprint for things that I think are important the cumulative effects and indirect im- good government, the kind of gov- about this more locally, more for the pact statements required by NEPA. erning that was intended by our Found- Western States that myself, Mr. The Endangered Species Act also ing Fathers. GIANFORTE, and others share. poses a unique set of problems to Cali- Let’s work together to make Con- The RSC plan lays out more than 100 fornia, specifically with critical habi- gress and the Federal Government, as a solutions for GEAR reform, including tat designations. whole, work for the people. We can modernizing NEPA and the Endangered Take the valley elderberry longhorn start by enacting necessary reforms to Species Act, especially important in beetle. Fish and Wildlife recommended, make the government more efficient my State, as well as the West. I think about 15 years ago, to finally and accountable. b 1515 delist that. Here we still are waiting to Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I NEPA is Big Government at its best. delist that and all the habitat issues thank the gentleman from South Caro- It has been manipulated into some- with elderberry plants that inhibit the lina for his leadership on the GEAR thing that is a monster and that it ability to fix flood control projects and Task Force. to fix levees, because you have to plant Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- should never have been as far as pro- tecting the environment. It is often the back 15 to 1 for every elderberry bush tleman from California (Mr. LAMALFA), you might disturb because it is possible from the First Congressional District, largest hindrance on forest manage- ment, water management, water stor- critical habitat, even if you have never for his thoughts on government effi- age, and for simple power line clearing seen an elderberry beetle land there. ciency and reform. projects; like are so desperately needed The Shasta Dam project would raise Mr. LAMALFA. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Montana (Mr. in my district since the town of Para- the dam 18 feet and supply about 650,000 dise burned a little over a year ago, more acre-feet of water for Califor- GIANFORTE) for his leadership on this. It is really a commonsense issue, and we are trying to rebuild. There are nians, whether it is for agriculture, isn’t it? Government efficiency, ac- more towns I could name in the dis- people, habitat or whatever—18 more countability, and reform is something trict that that same catastrophe could feet. That is a lot of water to an exist- that all Americans can get behind be- happen to because of overcrowded for- ing dam. It has been halted due to a cause, let’s remember for just a mo- ests, and in some cases proximity to lawsuit calling for the protection of ment, who pays for all of this? Who power lines. the Shasta salamander. The 3-inch long pays to keep the lights on here, all of According to this report, the NEPA salamander makes its home on the these buildings in Washington, D.C., all review can take nearly 6 years on aver- banks of Lake Shasta which has been of the people working in them, all of age to get a NEPA report. designated as a critical habitat. We are talking about forestry, them out in the districts, all of them Now, when there is a lot of rain com- Madam Speaker. out there in the forests, what have ing into Lake Shasta, the fastest the How long does it take to study re- lake can rise is about one-quarter inch you? It is the American taxpayer. placing a simple culvert in a Forest What is the American taxpayer faced per hour during heavy rain. So all the Service road? with? Trying to take care of their own salamander has to do is be able to Why does that even need a study? move at one-quarter inch per hour to business, their home, their family, If you built the thing to begin with, stay ahead of the lake level. their mortgage, car payments, saving just replace it. No. We have got to Where is the sense here? for college, whatever their priorities study it to death. We have to study and Eighteen feet above an already exist- are, maybe going on a vacation once in get permits to clear trees around power ing lake which the salamander already a while, saving up so they can have a lines that might be hazardous, a lean- thinks is pretty cool to live next to. week or two off. ing tree or a dead tree. Critical habitats unnecessarily delay What is it that we are doing with Now, thankfully, we got bipartisan critical infrastructure projects like the their money in Washington, D.C., or legislation, me and Mr. SCHRADER from my home State of California in Sac- Oregon, to help speed that process up, Shasta Dam, and their designation ramento? How are we respecting what and we are going to work on another standards need to be reformed for they earn? How are we respecting that bill to speed it up even more so we can whatever habitat is. by the priorities we are putting on do a simple, basic, commonsense thing The RSC GEAR report has done an spending what they earn? like that. excellent job at addressing these nec- And it isn’t a contribution, like Californians don’t have a lot of time essary changes, including reforms to sometimes it is talked about. I love to to wait for the government to do the NEPA and the ESA. I sincerely hope hear the talk around here: the con- forest management on its lands and in- Congress—both sides of the aisle—will tributions you make, and the invest- frastructure overhauls needed to pro- take these suggestions and hold bu- ments we are going to make. No, tax tect them from wildfires and droughts. reaucracy more accountable to the dollars are not voluntary. They are Indeed, when the Pacific Gas & Electric American people who pay for all this. taken from you per a formula. Company says that it might be up to 10 Madam Speaker, I thank the gen- So, how are we treating them? That years before we can get out of this tleman for yielding. is an important charge to me. power shutoff situation that we are Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I This is a big place, and there are a facing because of other issues that they thank the gentleman from California lot of Members, and there is a lot of are battling through with green power for his remarks. government, after 230-plus years of lay- mandates and getting permission to do I agree we have seen the impacts of ers. So getting back to just a little the lines. an overly lengthy NEPA process that more efficiency, I think, tells those Ten years of power shutoffs for my just ties projects in knots, and the hardworking folks that there is some- constituents? weaponization of the Endangered Spe- body in Washington, D.C., like this Are you kidding me? cies Act has allowed it to drift away GEAR committee, like these folks, who We need to narrow that down to al- from its original intent of protecting are trying to somehow work toward most nothing, because we can’t have species. So I appreciate the gentle- balancing the budget someday. another year like that. man’s leadership on this.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K11FE7.041 H11FEPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE February 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1043 Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- perately needed. And it is working to rebalance and reclaim our Article I tleman from the 21st District of Texas where it is being implemented. authority from the runaway bureauc- (Mr. ROY) for his thoughts on govern- The President is right to do so. He is racy that we have here in Washington. ment efficiency and reform and also his right that there is an emergency at our Madam Speaker, we started the Gov- leadership on national emergency re- southern border, and he is right that ernment Efficiency Accountability and form. the Members of this body led by Demo- Reform Task Force for one simple rea- Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I thank crats refuse to acknowledge the crisis son: only 17 percent of Americans the gentleman from Montana for his at our southern border. He was right to today say they can trust the govern- leadership on this and my colleagues defend our southern border. ment in Washington. We have to get who have been working together on But the question that popped into my the government working for the people this important effort. head is: All right, we have an emer- again. Madam Speaker, things like govern- gency. Now what? Madam Speaker, I was in Billings, ment efficiency, accountability, and This body, Article I, should do its Montana, and a gentleman who has reform are things you would think we job. It is incumbent upon Congress to been drilling natural gas wells for 30 would all be able to get behind. I am act. We shouldn’t allow an emergency years told me a story. He said 30 years certainly of the belief that the Amer- to be declared and then operate our ago when he wanted a permit to drill a ican people who are watching—even if policies under it, even if I agree with well, he would go into the field with a it is just a handful in their living the policy, and I do. I do agree with the clipboard, a single piece of paper, and a rooms—are a lot more than are watch- policy of what the President is doing. ballpoint pen. He would fill out that ing here in the Chamber. So I implore my Democrat col- application. The government official I am also interested, when you look leagues, who are not in the Chamber, would review it in the field and say: at the C–SPAN cameras, if you pan to come have a debate about restoring That will be all right. back, nobody is here to talk about Article I and about all of the different Today, Madam Speaker, that same what I am about to talk about. Yet we issues that may occur. form is 48 pages long, requires an engi- saw last week a Senate Chamber with I introduced H.R. 1755 which is the neer and a lawyer to fill it out, tens of 100 Senators sitting there debating companion legislation to that which thousands of dollars, and months to what? was offered by my friend, Senator MIKE process. Clearly, we can do better. They were debating failed Articles of LEE of Utah, in the U.S. Senate, and Our three branches of government Impeachment. that bill would take a President’s have drifted from their original pur- Here we are trying to figure out how emergency declaration and terminate pose to cultivating a culture of waste. to make our government accountable, it after 30 days unless Congress affirm- That is why we have produced this make it efficient, and make it effec- atively authorizes an extension. The playbook of 100 commonsense, non- tive. Reclaiming power from elected bill would also terminate the emer- partisan solutions for efficiency, ac- bureaucrats, reforming government gency declaration after 1 year unless a countability, and reform of our Federal practices to curb inefficiency and new resolution of approval is enacted. Government. waste, and reemphasizing and reward- It requires the President to report to Over this last year, the Republican ing innovation is something I think all Congress on how the President is exer- Study Committee GEAR Task Force Americans could get behind. cising emergency powers. has been meeting with outside experts But I would like to talk about some- Senator LEE’s bill has been passed and the administration and internally thing that I think is critically impor- out of committee, but we have had to produce a playbook of commonsense tant, which is restoring Article I and nary a debate here in the body about solutions for efficiency, accountability, restoring the primacy of this body and restoring Article I. We have had a lot and reform of our Federal Government. the Senate in governing our Nation. of speeches and a lot of complaints I want to thank the task force mem- We shouldn’t be looking to the execu- about the President of the United bers, the chairman of the RSC, MIKE tive branch, no matter who is in power, States and a lot of complaints about JOHNSON; BARRY LOUDERMILK; DOUG to be making decisions that should be what is happening at our border, but COLLINS; BRUCE WESTERMAN; RICK reserved to the Members of this body not one serious debate about restoring ALLEN; JOHN CURTIS; MICHAEL CLOUD; and the Senate. Article I. KELLY ARMSTRONG; WILLIAM TIMMONS; Congress ceded some of our power in Let’s do it. Let’s come together right and DENVER RIGGLEMAN for their en- 1976 with the passage of the National now and let’s stand up as a body in gagement and their leadership in pull- Emergencies Act, which pulled to- Congress and say: Do you know what? ing together this playbook through gether a number of different powers If there is an emergency, great, Mr. which we hope to run these common- contained in the 130 different statutes President, go act in the emergency; but sense ideas. at the time giving the President uni- 30 days later we can agree it is time for The report is broken into three sec- lateral authority to declare emer- Congress to decide how money is going tions. The first section refers to the gencies. to be appropriated and how we are comments made by my colleague who Madam Speaker, there are currently going to enforce and implement the just finished on the Article I power in 33 emergencies in effect, some of them laws that we think are important for the Constitution to restore the people’s dating back to the Carter administra- this body. control over an unchecked bureaucracy tion. Now, think about that. It is an This is critical to government re- by returning the constitutional bal- emergency. It is an emergency, and it form. This is critical to making sure ance between the branches of govern- dates back to the Carter administra- we are making government more effi- ment. tion. This is no way to govern. cient and more accountable. This body Our Founding Fathers never antici- I learned this how? is the body, this House is the people’s pated the size of the bureaucracy we Well, last spring when we were hav- House and most responsive to the have today. That is why we need provi- ing a robust debate about securing the American people. sions like the REINS Act, so that the border of the United States—by the I would beg, literally, my Democratic statutes passed in this House get re- way, a sovereign nation should not colleagues to engage in debate, as we flected in rules consistent with our in- need to have a debate about ensuring sit here in an empty Chamber, about tent. that our border is secure when you the kinds of things that I know the The second section of the report has have 900,000 individuals being appre- American people would love for us to to do with government practices to hended on our southern border last fis- debate. streamline Federal programs and oper- cal year alone, 900,000—600,000 of whom Madam Speaker, I thank the gen- ations to promote efficiency and elimi- were caught and released into our tleman from Montana for yielding to nate waste. country. The President of the United me and for organizing this activity. Madam Speaker, in 2015 the Social States is working to secure our border, Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I Security Administration told us we to put up physical barriers, to build a thank the gentleman from Texas, par- had sent benefit checks to over 6 mil- wall, and to build a fence which is des- ticularly for reminding us of the need lion Americans who were over the age

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K11FE7.043 H11FEPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE H1044 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 11, 2020 of 112. Now, either they are drinking 3761. A letter from the Acting Director, Of- NIOSH-329] (RIN: 0920-AA74) received Feb- some special elixir of life or they are fice of Management and Budget, Executive ruary 6, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. not with us anymore. That is why I Office of The President, transmitting the Of- 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 fice’s Final Sequestration Report to the Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and have introduced a piece of legislation President and Congress for Fiscal Year 2020, Commerce. titled stop paying dead people. I think pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 904(f)(1); Public Law 99- 3769. A letter from the Director, Regu- that would be a good reform. It would 177, Sec. 254(f)(1); (99 Stat. 1078); to the Com- latory Management Division, Environmental save American taxpayers and make mittee on Appropriations. Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- sure the benefits are there for those 3762. A letter from the Program Specialist, cy’s final rule — Air Plan Approval; Georgia: who do need Social Security. Chief Counsel’s Office, Office of the Comp- Revisions to Cross-State Air Pollution Rule The third section of the report is on troller of the Currency, Department of the [EPA-R04-OAR-2019-0462; FRL-10005-28-Re- gion 4] received February 7, 2020, pursuant to personnel, to transition government Treasury, transmitting the Department’s final rule — Regulatory Capital Rule: Revi- 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. personnel accountability and com- sions to the Supplementary Leverage Ratio 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on En- pensation toward more of a merit- To Exclude Certain Central Bank Deposits of ergy and Commerce. based system. I operated a number of Banking Organizations Predominantly En- 3770. A letter from the Director, Regu- businesses in the private sector, and gaged in Custody, Safekeeping, and Asset latory Management Division, Environmental there are many HR practices in the Servicing Activities [Docket ID: OCC-2019- Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- Federal Government which are very 0001] (RIN: 1557-AE60) received February 6, cy’s final rule — Air Plan Approval; ID: 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Idaho Portion of the Logan UT-ID 2006 24- different than they are in the private Hour PM2.5 Nonattainment Area; Moderate sector, things like merit-based pay, the Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. Plan Elements [EPA-R10-OAR-2018-0597; way we do performance reviews, and 3763. A letter from the Director, Regu- FRL-10005-17-Region 10] received February 7, making sure we have market-based pay latory Management Division, Environmental 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public for our good, dedicated Federal work- Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the ers. Those are contained in the third cy’s final rule — Air Plan Approval and Des- Committee on Energy and Commerce. 3771. A letter from the Director, Regu- section. ignation of Areas; FL; Source-Specific SO2 Permit Limits and Redesignation of the latory Management Division, Environmental In total, there are over 100 common- Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- sense ideas in this report that we will Hillsborough-Polk 2010 1-Hr SO2 Nonattain- ment Area to Attainment and Mulberry cy’s final rule — Air Plan Approval; Revi- run as plays here in the House to make Unclassifiable Area to Attainment/ sions to the State Implementation Plan Ap- the government start working for the Unclassifiable [EPA-R04-OAR-2018-0510; FRL- proved by EPA Through Letter [EPA-R04- people again. 10005-23-Reigon 4] received February 7, 2020, OAR-2019-0391; FRL-10005-22-Region 4] re- I appreciate the opportunity for the pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law ceived February 7, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Members of the task force and others Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and who have engaged on this issue to come mittee on Energy and Commerce. 3764. A letter from the Program Specialist, Commerce. today and share their commonsense 3772. A letter from the Director, Regu- Chief Counsel’s Office, Office of the Comp- latory Management Division, Environmental ideas. I look forward to partnering to troller of the Currency, Department of the Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- put these ideas into practice to get Treasury, transmitting the Department’s cy’s final rule — Approval and Promulgation government working for the people final rule — Other Real Estate Owned and of State Plans for Designated Facilities and again. Technical Amendments; Amendment of Ef- Pollutants; Delaware; Control of Emissions fective Date and Correction [Docket ID: Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- from Existing Municipal Solid Waste Land- OCC-2019-0004] (RIN: 1557-AE50) received Feb- ance of my time. fills [EPA-R03-OAR-2019-0160; FRL-9999-79- ruary 6, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. f Region 3] received February 7, 2020, pursuant 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, b 1530 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Services. Energy and Commerce. REQUIRING AN AFFIRMATIVE 3765. A letter from the Regulatory Spe- 3773. A letter from the Director, Regu- VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE cialist, Chief Counsel’s Office, Office of the latory Management Division, Environmental MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOT- Comptroller of the Currency, Department of Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- ING, A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, the Treasury, transmitting the Department’s cy’s final rule — Approval and Promulgation final rule — Standardized Approach for Cal- of State Plans for Designated Facilities and ON FINAL PASSAGE OF HOUSE culating the Exposure Amount of Derivative JOINT RESOLUTION 79 Pollutants; Pinal County Air Quality Con- Contracts [Docket ID: OCC-2018-0030] (RIN: trol District; Control of Emissions from Ex- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- 1557-AE44) received February 6, 2020, pursu- isting Municipal Solid Waste Landfills [EPA- ant to the adoption of House Resolu- ant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- R09-OAR-2019-0345; FRL-10001-02-Region 9] re- tion 844 earlier today, House Resolu- 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee ceived February 7, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. on Financial Services. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 tion 842 is considered as adopted. 3766. A letter from the Secretary, Securi- The text of the resolution is as fol- Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and ties and Exchange Commission, transmitting Commerce. lows: the Commission’s guidance — Commission 3774. A letter from the Assistant Secretary, H. RES. 842 Guidance on Management’s Discussion and Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of Resolved, That an affirmative vote of a ma- Analysis of Financial Condition and Results State, transmitting the Department’s final jority of the Members present and voting, a of Operations [Release Nos.: 33-10751; 34-88094; rule — International Traffic in Arms Regula- quorum being present, shall be required on FR-87] received February 7, 2020, pursuant to tions: U.S. Munitions List Categories I, II, final passage of House Joint Resolution 79. 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. and III [Public Notice: 10603] (RIN: 1400-AE30) 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Fi- received February 7, 2020, pursuant to 5 f nancial Services. U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 3767. A letter from the Senior Legislative ADJOURNMENT 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on For- Officer, OCIA, Wage and Hour Division, De- eign Affairs. Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I partment of Labor, transmitting the Depart- 3775. A letter from the Secretary, Amer- move that the House do now adjourn. ment’s final rule — Nondisplacement of ican Battle Monuments Commission, trans- The motion was agreed to; accord- Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts; mitting the Commission’s FY 2019 No FEAR ingly (at 3 o’clock and 31 minutes Rescission of Regulations (RIN: 1235-AA02; Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; 1235-AA33) received February 7, 2020, pursu- p.m.), under its previous order, the Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by ant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. House adjourned until tomorrow, 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Re- Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 10 on Education and Labor. form. a.m. for morning-hour debate. 3768. A letter from the Regulations Coordi- 3776. A letter from the Director, Office of nator, Centers for Disease Control and Pre- f Workers’ Compensation Programs, Depart- vention, Department of Health and Human ment of Labor, transmitting a letter written EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, Services, transmitting the Department’s in response to the Office of the Ombudsman’s ETC. final rule — Guidelines for Determining the 2018 Annual Report, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Probability of Causation under the Energy 7385s-15(e)(2); to the Committee on the Judi- Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive Employees Occupational Illness Compensa- ciary. communications were taken from the tion Program Act of 2000; Technical Amend- 3777. A letter from the Management and Speaker’s table and referred as follows: ments [Docket Number: CDC-2019-0050; Program Analyst, FAA, Department of

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