December 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7071 touched by the opioid crisis, and Con- Mr. Speaker, I inquire how much I think when we listen to each other, gress had to take action. Again, work- time I have remaining. when we are challenged in our views ing, Republicans and Democrats to- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- and our ideas by each other, we end up gether, under your leadership as chair- tleman from Oregon has 91⁄2 minutes re- with a better product for the American man, we did just that, and there are maining. people, Mr. Speaker. millions of lives that are saved because Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield Certainly, Dr. BUCSHON has been a of that work. such time as he may consume to the forceful figure in trying to get to bet- The FCC modernization and reau- gentleman from Indiana (Mr. BUCSHON), ter healthcare policy outcomes. I have thorization, which typically happens, whom we are glad to have back on the greatly valued his counsel and his lead- but when it was done in 2018, it was floor and looking well. ership, and I know incredible things named after Ray Baum, who was the Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I thank await him in the next Congress and in staffer who ran the Energy and Com- the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. WAL- the years thereafter, where I hope he merce Committee. I believe you all DEN) for yielding me the time. will continue to serve with great dis- served together in the legislature. Un- Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and a tinction, honor, and ability. fortunately, we lost him, and to name privilege to call GREG WALDEN a col- Mr. Speaker, I don’t think I have that important piece of legislation league and friend. His time as chair- anybody else on our side at this time, after Ray Baum, I know, was not only man of the House Energy and Com- so I encourage passage of the legisla- important to keep the FCC going, but merce Committee is another chapter of tion, the Tribal Power Act, and I yield also to pay tribute to someone who accomplishment and success in the back the balance of my time. came up here to do good public service committee’s storied history. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge for the country and did. As chairman, GREG approached every support for the legislation and I yield Finally, the reauthorization was to issue before the committee with his back the balance of my time. free up spectrum. This has been a chal- eye on achieving results for the Amer- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The lenge for years as we worked to get ican people. That is why we are here. question is on the motion offered by more spectrum, which has improved He strove to reach across the political the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. everybody’s lives, to get to a 5G net- divide, because he understood, and still PALLONE) that the House suspend the work. does, our work on behalf of the Amer- rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5541, as That work was done, and the leader- ican people is far too important to al- amended. ship of Chairman WALDEN to get that ways be derailed by needless partisan- The question was taken; and (two- done when even the scorekeepers here ship. Of course, we will have our squab- thirds being in the affirmative) the said it wouldn’t really produce any- bles back and forth, but at the end of rules were suspended and the bill, as thing for the country, well, billions and the day, it is about the American peo- amended, was passed. billions of dollars later that this coun- ple, and GREG understands that. A motion to reconsider was laid on try has to pay down our debt came out From the SUPPORT for Patients and the table. of that legislation, as well as spectrum Communities Act to RAY BAUM’S Act, f to allow us to get to a 5G network, as well as too numerous bills signed TIMELY REVIEW OF spectrum to allow us to build up more into law to even list here, GREG’s lead- INFRASTRUCTURE ACT rural broadband. ership of the Energy and Commerce Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move All of the things that improve peo- Committee produced important legisla- to suspend the rules and pass the bill ple’s quality of life happened because tion that is, today, making a difference (H.R. 1426) to amend the Department of of the leadership of Chairman WALDEN, in the lives of the American people. Energy Organization Act to address in- during your time as chairman of the Mr. Speaker, I want to personally sufficient compensation of employees committee. You have earned the oppor- thank GREG for taking the time to and other personnel of the Federal En- tunity to go and enjoy the next phase bring me in and ask for my profes- ergy Regulatory Commission, and for of your life. sional medical diagnosis of many other purposes. But while you will be missed here, major healthcare-related issues or you leave a great legacy where you can The Clerk read the title of the bill. other pieces of legislation before the The text of the bill is as follows: point to the things you have done that committee. H.R. 1426 make America a greater country, and I know at times we doctors can tell for that, I thank you. I know all of us Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- you things you don’t want to hear—and resentatives of the United States of America in join in in applauding your time here in quit laughing—but GREG always lis- Congress assembled, this great institution. tened intently and worked with me to SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I re- help find a cure, so to speak, or a rem- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Timely Re- serve the balance of my time. edy, and for that, I will always be ap- view of Infrastructure Act’’. Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield preciative. SEC. 2. ADDRESSING INSUFFICIENT COMPENSA- myself such time as I may consume. GREG, your wisdom, charisma, and TION OF EMPLOYEES AND OTHER Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend unflappable leadership will be greatly PERSONNEL OF THE FEDERAL EN- and colleague from the Energy and ERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION. missed in the 117th Congress. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 401 of the Depart- Commerce Committee and the whip, I wish you and Mylene the best as ment of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. the Republican whip of the House, for you both begin this new chapter of 7171) is amended by adding at the end the fol- his overly generous comments, his fine your lives, and I look forward to con- lowing: leadership, and the fun we have had on tinuing to call you friend. ‘‘(k) ADDRESSING INSUFFICIENT COMPENSA- the Energy and Commerce Committee. TION OF EMPLOYEES AND OTHER PERSONNEL OF We do have a lot of fun there on both b 1330 THE COMMISSION.— sides of the aisle, and then we do wres- Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I con- ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any tinue to reserve the balance of my other provision of law, if the Chairman pub- tle and tumble and we work things out, licly certifies that compensation for a cat- too. time. egory of employees or other personnel of the But Mr. SCALISE has always been a Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield Commission is insufficient to retain or at- real warrior on the committee, an in- myself such time as I may consume. tract employees and other personnel to allow credible fighter for what he believes in, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my the Commission to carry out the functions of an effective legislator, a terrific friend and colleague, the good doctor the Commission in a timely, efficient, and spokesperson. He has fallen down a lit- from Indiana. We are so blessed in this effective manner, the Chairman may fix the tle bit, though, I must stipulate, in institution to have people with such in- compensation for the category of employees that he has failed to get me coffee in credible backgrounds, intellect, capa- or other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, recent years. He has been otherwise bility, and just the overall human ex- United States Code, or any other civil serv- consumed with other duties, and that perience that they can bring to help us ice law. will be noted in the historical record, I be better legislators and develop better ‘‘(2) CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—A cer- am sure. policy. tification issued under paragraph (1) shall— VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:49 Dec 10, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09DE7.045 H09DEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE H7072 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 9, 2020 ‘‘(A) apply with respect to a category of ants travel expenses and per diem in lieu of technical environmental reviews are employees or other personnel responsible for subsistence at rates authorized by sections conducted in as rigorous a manner as conducting work of a scientific, techno- 5702 and 5703 of that title for persons in Gov- possible. Better staffing by the best logical, engineering, or mathematical na- ernment service employed intermittently. and brightest people means better envi- ture; ‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS.—The Chairman shall— ‘‘(B) specify a maximum amount of reason- ‘‘(i) to the maximum extent practicable, ronmental outcomes, better energy able compensation for the category of em- limit the use of experts and consultants pur- outcomes, and better outcomes for con- ployees or other personnel; suant to subparagraph (A); and sumers.