We use analytics tools to understand how people use the site. They're optional: if you decline, the site works the same, no analytics cookies are set and Google gets only a cookieless, anonymous count signal. Your votes are saved either way; the details are in the privacy policy.
07Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Iran: Message From the President of the United States (H. Doc. No. 119-140)
08Adjournment
1 member spoke
09Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, or Limited Tariff Benefits
Daily Digest
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced
29 public bills, H.R. 7753- 7781; and 3 resolutions, H. Res. 1096-1098, were introduced.
Pages H2368-69
Reports Filed
Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 2844, to authorize the Department of Labor's voluntary protection program, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119-538); H.R. 2299, to establish the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program in the Department of Labor, with an amendment (H. Rept. 119- 539); and H. Res. 1095, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7744) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 119-540).
Page H2368
Speaker
Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Kennedy (UT) to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H2343
Recess
The House recessed at 12:17 p.m. and reconvened at 2 p.m.
Page H2345
Order of Business
Agreed by unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider H. Con. Res. 38 in the House if called up by the chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or his designee; that the concurrent resolution be considered as read; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution to adoption without intervening motion except for two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or their respective designees.
Page H2345
Recess
The House recessed at 2:07 p.m. and reconvened at 3 p.m.
Page H2346
Privileged Resolution: Intent to Offer
Representative Mace announced her intent to offer a privileged resolution.
Pages H2346-47
Suspensions
The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act: H.R. 6365, amended, to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of- way for an emergency exit on certain National Park Service land in the State of Virginia;
Pages H2347-48
Authorizing leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian Tribes
H.R. 5910, to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian Tribes;
Pages H2348-49
Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act
H.R. 3903, amended, to exchange non-Federal land held by the Chugach Alaska Corporation for certain Federal Land in the Chugach Region;
Pages H2349-52
Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act
H.R. 5419, amended, to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan for ensuring timely review of communications use authorizations;
Pages H2352-53
Agreed to amend the title so as to read
``To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan for ensuring timely review of broadband land use authorizations, and for other purposes'';
Page H2353
Critical Mineral Consistency Act
H.R. 755, amended, to amend the Energy Act of 2020 to include critical materials in the definition of critical mineral;
Pages H2353-56
Agreed to amend the title so as to read
``To amend the Energy Act of 2020 to harmonize the lists of critical minerals and critical materials, and for other purposes'';
Page H2356
America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act
H.R. 1945, to designate the America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark;
Pages H2356-57
Amending the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the ``Long-Term Leasing Act''), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah): H.R. 681, amended, to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the ``Long-Term Leasing Act''), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah);
Pages H2357-58
Agreed to amend the title so as to read
``To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the ``Long-Term Leasing Act''), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes'';
Page H2358
Reauthorizing the Young Fishermen's Development Act
H.R. 3692, amended, to reauthorize the Young Fishermen's Development Act;
Pages H2358-59
America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act
H.R. 4386, amended, to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to clarify entrance privileges for vehicles with respect to the America the Beautiful interagency pass;
Pages H2362-63
Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act
H.R. 4307, amended, to direct the Secretary of Labor to train certain employees of Department of Labor how to effectively detect and assist law enforcement in preventing human trafficking during the course of their official duties; and
Pages H2363-64
Home School Graduation Recognition Act
H.R. 6392, amended, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to recognize students who have completed secondary school education in a home school setting as high school graduates.
Pages H2364-66
Suspensions: Proceedings Postponed
The House debated the following measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were postponed. Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act: S. 723, to require the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process and complete all mortgage packages associated with residential and business mortgages on Indian land by certain deadlines; and
Pages H2359-62
Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act
H.R. 6472, amended, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for in- state tuition rates for certain residents of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Pages H2366-67
Presidential Message
Read a message from the President transmitting a notification stating that the national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared on March 15, 1995, is to continue in effect beyond March 15, 2026--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 119-140).
Pages H2346, H2367-68
Senate Referrals
S. 1070 was held at the desk. S. 2245 was held at the desk.
Page H2345
Senate Message
Message received from the Senate appears on page H2345. Quorum Calls Votes: There were no Yea and Nay votes, and there were no Recorded votes. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 12 p.m. and adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
Every speech and line is the Congressional Record's own text, read from GovInfo. Speakers are matched to members by GPO's own metadata. Referandom places each turn on the Clerk's video by matching its words: 123 of 169 spoken turns were found. Turns without a time are still listed; they just can't seek.
Morning-Hour Debate
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of January 6, 2026, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.
The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties and each Member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Virgin Islands history month, a time to honor the extraordinary story of a people whose courage, resilience, and sacrifice have shaped not only our beautiful islands but this great Nation itself.
One hundred and eight years ago, on March 31, 1917, the islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John were transferred from Denmark to the United States in the costliest per-acre land purchase in American history. The 25 million in gold bullion paid for our islands was shipped to Copenhagen from the United States. No provisions were made for the people who lived there. No vote was taken by the Virgin Islanders themselves.
Many great nations and conquerors have tried to keep us voiceless and marginalized. Yet, good, strong, blessed people can never be kept down. We have always found a way, from our beginning until today.
Virgin Islanders have always been revolutionary. From the very first recorded history of our islands, the people of Ay-Ay, present-day St. Croix, met Columbus with the first armed resistance in the so-called New World.
In the 1700s the Akwamu people of St. John took and held their freedom for almost a year, forcing colonial powers to bring an armada to break their hold. In 1848, we became one of only two places in the Western Hemisphere to gain freedom through the direct and violent overthrow of enslavement.
Our islands gave this Nation Alexander Hamilton, who learned his genius for finance in the merchant house of St. Croix, from the African counting systems, Dutch ledgers, and others. We have given the United States Abraham Markoe, the designer of the 13 stripes in the American flag. Denmark Vesey gave up his freedom in pursuit of liberation in South Carolina. We have also given the United States Edward Wilmot Blyden, our son, the father of Pan-Africanism; Camille Pissarro, the founder of Impressionism; and William Leidesdorff, the early pioneer and founder of present-day San Francisco.
In the mid-1900s, Virgin Islanders came to Washington and petitioned to be included in the draft, asking to send our sons to defend a country that would not yet defend us. We have given America generals, diplomats, statesmen, scientists, artists, and athletes.
We have sacrificed in military service at three times the national average, fighting for a commander-in-chief we do not elect.
I am a limited voting Delegate. I serve on committees. I fight for my constituents. I show up every single day. However, when the final vote is called on legislation that will directly affect my people, the people of the Virgin Islands, I cannot cast that vote. We are full Americans in responsibility but partial Americans in right. That must change.
Our territory has faced enormous challenges. Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated our infrastructure, tested the will of our people. We still rebuild.
We are fighting for SSI expansion so that elderly and disabled Virgin Islanders receive the same Federal safety net their fellow Americans on the mainland receive. We are fighting for inclusion of territories in Federal programs that every other American takes for granted. We are fighting, as we have always fought, for the full promise of an American Dream to extend to our shores.
We have tools now that our ancestors did not: Federal investments in our ports, our energy grid, our schools, community project funding, and a growing network of advocates. But tools are only as powerful as the hands that wield them.
As we observe Virgin Islands History Month, I want to speak directly to every Virgin Islander. We are the descendants of people who refuse to accept their circumstances as permanent. We are the heirs of a revolutionary tradition that predates this Republic, and we have the power to reimagine and rebuild a Virgin Islands that our ancestors would recognize as worthy of everything they endured.
That means engaging fully in our Democracy at every level. It means electing leaders who will fight for territorial equity. It means our young people pursuing education and eventually
Mr. Speaker, let us celebrate in our actions Virgin Islands History Month.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern over the lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Every single day that we fail to provide DHS with the necessary resources, the risks facing the American people dramatically increase.
The security of our homeland should never be a bargaining chip. Instead of prioritizing the safety of the American people, Democrats have chosen to weaponize the appropriations process for political leverage. This is not how our Democracy was founded to operate. Americans continue to bear the consequences of Democrats engaging in political theater.
As we return to the floor for a vote, Members of Congress must set aside partisan agendas and personal politics. Our first duty is to protect the citizens that we serve.
With the war in Iran, we have reached an increase in global instability. In moments like this, we should be strengthening our Homeland Security posture and not allowing it to lapse.
An unfunded Department of Homeland Security sends the wrong message to our adversaries and leaves our homeland vulnerable. It is neither a safe nor responsible act. It is a failure of Congress not to have met one of its most fundamental obligations.
Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve better. The American people deserve leadership that puts their safety first. It is time to end the theatrics. It is time to fund DHS. It is time to fulfill and protect this Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a native of McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, Jordan Ott, who is the head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
As a three-sport athlete at McConnellsburg High School, Coach Ott has always dreamed of working for a professional sports team. That goal was recognized in 2013 when he joined the Atlanta Hawks as a video coordinator.
Coach Ott went on to serve as an assistant coach with three NBA teams. Last June, he was hired as the head coach of the Suns, where he was named NBA's Western Conference Coach of the Month for January.
A former high school teammate described Coach Ott as someone who will accomplish everything and take credit for nothing. What a coach.
That is a character trait worth emulating by individuals throughout all of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District. In fact, it is worth emulating throughout all of America.
Mr. Speaker, I offer best wishes to Coach Ott for continued success that exceeds his incredible expectations that will continue to rise throughout the NBA.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Snider family of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, on the selection of their operation as a recipient of the National Beef Quality Assurance Award.
Singing Brook Farm is a third-generation farm currently managed by Ross Snider and his sister Greta Halahan.
Founded by Obie and Mary Ann Snider in 1951, Singing Brook Farms was later operated by their son, Bruce. Notably, Singing Brook Farms is an established leader in education and advocacy.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Snider family on receiving the National Beef Quality Assurance Award. Their commitment to agriculture continues to benefit all of the constituents of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District.
Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise to honor the Claysburg-Kimmel Elementary FIRST LEGO League Team that captured the championship in the Best Robot Design category during regional competition.
What is most impressive about the achievement of these fifth and sixth graders is that they were the first LEGO Club at Claysburg-Kimmel Elementary that only formed last fall.
During the competition, students demonstrated their robot creations and offered presentations on how their robots would function in real- world settings.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate this team from Claysburg-Kimmel, their teachers and coaches Suzanne Wicker and Brandon Ickes, as well as elementary school principal Kevin Edmondson and Superintendent Darren McLaurin on this incredible achievement. Best wishes for continued success.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today at an inflection point for our Nation and the world.
Both here at home and abroad, families are facing the crushing weight of Donald Trump's chaotic and cruel leadership. At home, inflation is driving up costs around the country, and my neighbors are struggling to afford their utility bills, their health insurance, and their groceries.
In cities across our country, masked paramilitary agents are brutally murdering American citizens, disappearing immigrants without due process, and acting with cheered-on cruelty that mirrors a secret police force.
Overseas, this President has launched more military strikes against more countries than any President in history. He is circumventing Congress and ignoring international rules. He is emboldening authoritarians and insulting our allies. Just this past weekend, the United States began yet another war of choice in the Middle East based on misrepresented intelligence and uncertain objectives.
Already six Americans have tragically died in this avoidable conflict. Whether a full-scale ground war unfolds now or not, this President's shoot-first-ask-questions-later foreign policy inevitably leads to one place globally: death, destruction, and destabilization.
Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the century and a half since, our country has faced several inflection points. In each one, we are faced with a choice: Do we destroy, or do we build? Do we destroy our Union, our Constitution, and our democracy, or do we choose to build a more perfect Union?
We seem to face one of these inflection points every 80 years, when the last living memory of the previous inflection point fades as the last generation that remembers it disappears. When living memory of the Revolution faded, we faced a Civil War. Eighty years after that, as a Great Depression raged, many in America called for a dictator to emulate the strong men in Europe.
Mr. Speaker, now as we lose the last of the Greatest Generation, we are once again seeing destroyers calling into question our democracy.
Mr. Speaker, destroyers thrive in a culture of cynicism. They exploit it for their own gain. They want to destroy our government and sell it for parts. They want to destroy our attention span and mine what little remains for advertising dollars. They want to destroy housing and healthcare so that they can consolidate power by doling out the scraps.
They want to destroy jobs and the American worker by unleashing unregulated technology that leaves the rich richer and everyone else behind. They want to destroy international institutions and rules so that the strong can plunder the weak.
Perhaps most dangerously, they want to destroy the central ingredient of our
In this world where it feels like every force is pulling us apart and where the platforms we live on can leave us feeling like politics and persuasion are pointless, amidst all of that, I have good news. While real disagreements exist and while our politics and this place don't always bring out the best in us, I see every day back in Delaware that we are not as divided as the algorithms make it seem.
Whether I am meeting with healthcare providers or educators, farmers or first responders, students or seniors, whether I am in red areas or blue areas, I see that people are good and kind and decent.
While it may be easier to destroy, I see that we still have the capacity to build something better.
We can build the housing of tomorrow that makes the American Dream of homeownership within reach, a healthcare system that allows every American to live and to thrive.
We can be truly profamily by building a cradle-through-career support system with paid leave, universal childcare, and strong public schools so that it is actually affordable to start a family.
We can build an economy of the future that protects workers and guarantees that the new prosperity made possible by new technologies are shared by the many and not concentrated with the few.
We can do hard things, Mr. Speaker, if we are willing to do the hard work. We can do the hard work of hope, the hard work of changemaking, of choosing grace over grievance, of learning from history so that we are not doomed to relive it.
Mr. Speaker, if there is one enduring truth, it is that we can still tap people's better angels if we choose to see them.
Making in Order at Any Time Consideration of H. Con. Res. 38, Directing the President Pursuant to Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to Remove United States Armed Forces from Unauthorized...
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider H. Con. Res. 38 in the House if called up by the chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or his designee; that the concurrent resolution be considered as read; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution to adoption without intervening motion, except for 2 hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or their respective designees.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
Mr. Speaker, as part of my statewide End Hunger Now
Under the incredible leadership of Ayn Yeagle, Growing Places is building a regional food system in north central Massachusetts. By utilizing its new commercial kitchen to clean, chop, and dehydrate local produce, the food center is helping farmers bring their fruits and vegetables to market while also expanding access to nutritious food across our region.
Lori and I heard directly from community members that Growing Places is helping them eat more nutritiously, particularly amid sky-high food prices caused by Trump's awful economy.
That is why it is hard to understand why the Trump administration has slashed local food programs that make local food more accessible.
Mr. Speaker, if we want to make food more affordable, if we want to support our farmers, if we want to make the lives of working families easier, it is time to reverse the devastating cuts to SNAP and reinstate local food programs that help to end hunger now.
Mr. Speaker, we will obviously be talking about the Iran war this week, but something that is not getting enough attention right now is the 300,000 U.S. citizens in the region who are stranded because we sent all this firepower to the region.
If we are going to attack Iran, why didn't we have a plan to get American citizens out of the region? Someone just asked President Trump that question. Here is what he said: ``Well, because it happened all very quickly. We thought, and I thought maybe more so than most--I could ask Marco--but I thought we were going to have a situation where we were going to be attacked. They were getting ready to attack Israel.''
Mr. Speaker, I don't even know what that means. What I think is that with all that military firepower in the region, we could have given them a little bit of warning or at least more than just what we gave them.
Instead, only now are they being told to evacuate the region--with one caveat, though. They are on their own because there are barely any commercial flights going in and out of the region.
While hotels are being attacked and everything appears to be a target, this administration is not doing enough to help.
We should have seen this coming. Why aren't we valuing American lives more in the region? The administration was just telling them tough luck.
Mr. Speaker, this should be a national priority. If we are going to spend billions on jets and bombs, we can afford to evacuate Americans. We need to get serious right now about protecting Americans in the Middle East.
Mr. Speaker, eastern North Carolina is on the rise. Exciting investments are transforming our communities and creating new opportunities for young people and hardworking families.
U.S. Forged Rings is investing $875 million in Hertford County, creating 625 new jobs and revitalizing our economy. In Edgecombe County, Amazon is bringing good-paying jobs. LS Cable & System USA is fortifying our manufacturing sector with an investment of $50 million and 85 new jobs.
Mr. Speaker, clearly, the momentum is undeniable. These are more than just investments. These represent real opportunities. Together, we are reshaping our future.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House.
The form of the resolution is as follows:
Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee's review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Whereas, there is no place for sexual harassment or unwelcome sexual advances in the House of Representatives;
Whereas, clause 9 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House provides ``Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House may not discharge and may not refuse to hire an individual, or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of the race, color, religion, sex (including marital or parental status), sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or national origin of such individual, including by committing an act of sexual harassment against such individual'';
Whereas, clause 18(a) of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House provides ``A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not engage in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House who works under the supervision of the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, or who is an employee of a committee on which the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner serves'';
Whereas, clause 18(b) of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House provides ``A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House may not engage in unwelcome sexual advances or conduct toward another Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House'';
Whereas, sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual advances by Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners, in violation of clause 9 and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House, affect the safety, dignity, and integrity of the proceedings of the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Committee on Ethics shall:
(1) preserve all documents and investigative materials related to any violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment), clause 18, or any other clause (to the extent an act of sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual advance, or sexual assault constituted a violation or alleged violation of such clause) of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner; and
(2) not later than 60 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, make publicly available all final reports, or in such cases where there is not a final report, the most recent draft report, conclusions, recommendations, exhibits, and attached or accompanying materials, with the personally identifiable information of victims, alleged victims, and witnesses redacted, related to the Committee's investigations into violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment), clause 18, or any other clause (to the extent an act of sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual advance, or sexual assault constituted a violation or alleged violation of such clause) of rule XXIII by a Member, a Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the
Pending that designation, the form of the resolution presented by the gentlewoman from South Carolina will appear in the Record at this point.
The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6365) to require the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for an emergency exit on certain National Park Service land in the State of Virginia, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6365, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6365, the Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act, introduced by Representative John McGuire of Virginia.
This bill accomplishes something very simple and very important. It directs the Department of the Interior to issue a narrow right-of-way so the Wintergreen community in Virginia can complete an emergency-only evacuation route.
Wintergreen is a mountain community located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, with one road in and one road out. That single access point serves year-round residents, seasonal visitors, and first responders.
Over the past decade, the community has grown from 150 to 500 residents, not including seasonal visitors, and the risk tied to having only one exit has grown along with it.
In recent years, we have seen what happens when communities lack sufficient options to escape during emergencies. Fires in places like Paradise, California, and Lahaina, Hawaii, demonstrate how quickly evacuation routes can become overwhelmed and congested, endangering residents and first responders alike.
For Wintergreen, this is not about building a new public road. The community is proposing a second, emergency-only route that follows an existing dirt path on National Park Service land. It would only require a short 30 feet of gravel to make the road useable for emergency vehicles.
The community has already built the road on non-Federal land and has spent years working through the Federal process. The only remaining piece is a small segment on Federal land that cannot move forward under current National Park Service regulations.
H.R. 6365 offers a straightforward solution by directing the Secretary of the Interior to issue this vital right-of-way after required reviews are completed and reported to Congress. This is a targeted fix to a real safety problem. Representative McGuire's legislation improves evacuation planning, helps first responders, and does so with very minimal impact to Federal land.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative McGuire for his leadership on this issue and advocacy on behalf of his constituents. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Wintergreen, Virginia, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, next to the popular Wintergreen Resort. It has a year-round population of 500 and a seasonal peak of almost 10,000. However, Wintergreen has only one road that leads in and out of the community and in an emergency situation, this is a major safety risk that could be catastrophic for Wintergreen's residents and visitors.
H.R. 6365 addresses this problem by allowing a 400-foot-long single- lane gravel road connecting Wintergreen to the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing a secondary exit route in the case of an emergency.
After completing the relevant environmental reviews, the National Park Service will be authorized to issue a right-of-way for the road.
This is a commonsense bill that will improve public safety and make minimal changes to the surrounding and natural area. I extend my gratitude to Representative McGuire and the Senators from Virginia for introducing this legislation to help Wintergreen's residents and visitors.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 6365, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 6365, the Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act.
Wintergreen, Virginia, is a popular tourist destination located in my district. Wintergreen is one of the largest planned communities in Virginia, with over 3,000 properties situated on 11,000 acres. The risk of wildfires was not top of mind when this mountaintop community was designed in the 1970s.
The original developers did not reserve an emergency egress corridor before conveying a few thousand acres of unneeded land to the Appalachian Trail commission. Because of this, Wintergreen only has one entrance and one exit route.
As awareness of wildfire risk grew, the community of Wintergreen was placed on the Virginia Department of Forestry's radar as a wildland- urban interface community with a high risk of a devastating fire. Since becoming aware of the increased risk of wildfire, the community has worked steadily to mitigate that risk. However, an emergency egress is still needed.
For over 25 years, and working with five other Members of Congress, the Wintergreen community has fought to complete an emergency evacuation route. The town of Wintergreen has already constructed all portions of the road that are not on Federal land. Unfortunately, the only thing that has stood in their way all these years is a small section of land controlled by the National Park Service, approximately 400 feet, that separates the unfinished road from being connected to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The recent wildfires in California and Maui highlight the danger posed by limited evacuation routes. People lost their lives in those fires because they were trapped in their vehicles with no way to escape.
My bill is a proactive response to the very real threat to public safety that the town of Wintergreen currently faces if it needed to evacuate due to a natural disaster. We cannot wait until a tragedy occurs to make a change. Public safety and lives are at risk.
The Wintergreen community, including Chief Curtis Sheets of Wintergreen Fire and Rescue, has spent over 25 years fighting for the completion of this emergency evacuation route. I am proud to assist the entire Wintergreen community in continuing and finishing this fight.
I am proud to have bipartisan support of seven of my colleagues in the Virginia delegation. This bill is not political. It is a commonsense solution that is vital to preventing a tragedy in my district.
I thank Chairman Westerman for his friendship and leadership in helping me address this important issue for my district, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 6365.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Representative McGuire for his leadership on the Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act. Again, the bill addresses a clear safety risk with a narrow 30-foot-wide easement and a practical solution.
It allows a small emergency-only connection to move forward, while keeping environmental reviews and oversight in place. This will help keep every resident and tourist who appreciates the beauty of Wintergreen, Virginia, safe in the event of a natural disaster.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6365, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6365, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5910) to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian Tribes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5910, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5910, introduced by Representative Hageman of Wyoming, would amend the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize all federally recognized Indian Tribes to lease land held in trust for up to 99 years.
Under current law, Indian trust lands may generally be leased for up to 25 years, with one additional 25-year renewal term.
While Congress has repeatedly amended the act to authorize specific Tribes to enter 99-year leases, this authority is not uniformly available across Indian Country. As a result, Tribes must often seek separate legislation to obtain the same long-term leasing authority that others already possess.
Lease terms of up to 99 years are frequently necessary to support major commercial development and secure private financing. Without long-term certainty, lenders and investors may be reluctant to commit capital to projects on trust land.
H.R. 5910 addresses this issue by extending 99-year leasing authority to all federally recognized Tribes, eliminating the need for Tribe-by- Tribe amendments, while maintaining the Secretary of the Interior's approval requirement. This approach promotes parity, reduces administrative delays, and supports economic development in Tribal communities.
I commend Ms. Hageman for advancing legislation that promotes consistency and opportunity across Indian Country, and I support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has a long history of restricting the autonomy of Tribal nations, and it is reflected throughout Federal Indian law. Many laws on the books, even if they were well intended, have created barriers to Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
The Long-Term Leasing Act is one of these laws. It authorizes Tribal nations to enter into lease agreements for up to 25 years, with the option to renew for an additional 25 years.
A 25-year lease is often too short to provide the certainty necessary for development in Indian Country, where long-term investments in housing and infrastructure are critical to supporting Tribal communities.
Congress has repeatedly recognized this problem and addressed it piecemeal, passing individual bills for over 50 Tribes to authorize lease terms of up to 99 years.
H.R. 5910 would extend the authority to enter into 99-year lease agreements to all federally recognized Tribes. This will provide a uniform standard that better respects Tribal sovereignty.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5910, which amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to authorize any federally recognized Indian Tribe to lease land held in trust for its benefit for up to 99 years.
With the enactment of the Indian Nonintercourse Act in 1834, Tribal land transactions have generally required congressional authorization. In 1955, however, Congress passed the Long-Term Leasing Act, authorizing Tribal lands held in trust to be leased by the Tribal owner for nongrazing purposes for up to 25 years, subject to approval from the Secretary of the Interior. These leases may be renewed for one additional term of up to 25 years, which could allow for a total lease time of up to 50 years.
It is becoming abundantly clear that longer term leasing is needed to assist with Tribal economic development.
For example, lease terms of 99 years are often needed for long-term commercial projects and financing arrangements. Requiring Tribes to come to
Although Congress has acted more than 50 times to allow for lease terms greater than 25 years, more autonomy and flexibility are needed. H.R. 5910 amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to grant 99-year lease authority over trust lands for any Tribe that desires this ability.
Tribes know best what is in their interest, and this bill gives them additional authority to meet those needs. By proactively extending this long-term leasing authority to Tribes, Congress can empower them to pursue longer agreements that drive long-term investment, job creation, and economic opportunity in their communities. These goals simply cannot be achieved under the current statute.
At its core, H.R. 5910 would update existing law to better align with modern business practices, reduce time-consuming bureaucracy Tribes must go through, and allow each federally recognized Tribe to determine what lease authorities are best for them and their members.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Leger Fernandez for her continued co-leadership on this important piece of legislation and Chairman Westerman for our Natural Resources Committee's focus on Tribal autonomy and economic development. I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5910.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5910 ensures that all federally recognized Tribes have equal access to long-term leasing authority necessary for economic development and financing. By extending 99-year leasing authority across all of Indian Country, this bill promotes fairness, efficiency, and investment in Tribal communities.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hageman for her leadership on this issue. I urge the passage of H.R. 5910, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5910.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3903) to exchange non-Federal land held by the Chugach Alaska Corporation for certain Federal Land in the Chugach Region, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3903, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903, the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025, sponsored by Congressman Begich, would authorize the exchange of 231,000 subsurface acres currently held by the Chugach Alaska Corporation for approximately 65,374 acres of Federal land in the Chugach region.
Following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, extensive conservation land acquisitions created split-estate ownership in which the Federal Government holds surface ownership while the Chugach Alaska Corporation holds subsurface ownership.
The split-estate ownership precluded the Chugach Alaska Corporation from exercising its property rights, restricted shareholder economic opportunities, and complicated Federal land management by dividing subsurface and surface ownership.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 authorizes a negotiated exchange to consolidate Federal ownership of surface and subsurface estate, while conveying culturally significant, economically viable, and accessible lands to the Chugach Alaska Corporation.
The bill will streamline Federal land management and reduce checkerboard land ownership while promoting self-determination and economic development for Alaska Natives.
Ms. Sheri Buretta, chairman of the board of the Chugach Alaska Corporation, testified last year to the Committee on Natural Resources that this bill is ``. . . a solution rooted in fairness, parity, and respect. It is the fulfillment of a promise made half a century ago: that Alaska Native Corporations like Chugach would be able to use our lands as a foundation for economic growth and cultural preservation.''
She went on to say: ``For Alaska Native peoples, land is not a commodity--it is our identity, our history, and our future.''
I appreciate Ms. Buretta and the Chugach people for their work to address this matter. I also applaud Mr. Begich for working diligently with his constituents to develop and move this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3903, a bill to address the longstanding split-estate challenges in the Chugach region of Alaska.
Under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Alaska Native corporations, including the Chugach Alaska Corporation, were promised lands of cultural and economic importance. However, Chugach only received a fraction of their traditional lands along with the subsurface rights beneath lands conveyed to the village corporations.
Following the devastating Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, which released more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's coastline, the Federal Government established the Trustee Council to manage settlement funds. These funds were used to purchase surface lands from the village corporations for conservation purposes.
While the Federal Government acquired surface rights, the Chugach retained the subsurface rights for approximately 230,000 acres, creating a split estate that has complicated land management and restricted Chugach's ability to manage their resources and land.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 would authorize a land exchange between Chugach and the United States, allowing Chugach to exchange their current subsurface rights for surface and subsurface rights to approximately 65,000 acres of Federal lands within the region.
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was enacted to resolve Alaska Native land claims and support self-determination. This bill would advance these goals by consolidating land ownership, improving conservation management, and providing Chugach greater control over their lands and resources.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3903, the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act, a bill I introduced to right a historic wrong that has gone unresolved for more than three decades.
Nearly 40 years ago, an oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, spilling over 11 million gallons of crude oil across 1,300 miles of pristine Alaskan coastline. In the aftermath, the Federal Government used settlement funds to acquire roughly 231,000 acres of surface land for conservation, but it never acquired the subsurface rights underneath. Those belong to Chugach Alaska Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
The result was a split estate. The Federal Government owned the surface. Chugach owned the subsurface, and neither side could act. Conservation goals were incomplete, and Chugach's Alaska Native shareholders were locked out of their lands.
This bill fixes that. Under H.R. 3903, Chugach trades its approximately 231,000 acres of unusable subsurface estate, land beneath Federal conservation holdings that cannot be practically developed, in exchange for approximately 65,000 acres of fee simple land identified by the Bureau of Land Management as economically viable and culturally significant.
Through this action, the Federal footprint in Alaska is actually reduced by approximately 65,000 acres. Not 1 acre is added to the Federal estate. This is a true win-win. It perfects the conservation purpose of the original oil spill recovery program by unifying the surface and subsurface estates, and it finally gives Chugach Alaska Corporation and its Native shareholders the opportunity for the foundation that ANCSA intended.
Congress recognized this problem in 2019, when it directed the Department of the Interior to study this issue. BLM delivered its report in 2022, confirming the conflict and identifying lands for exchange.
This legislation is built on those findings, the product of years of work by Chugach Alaska Corporation, by the Alaska delegation, through bipartisan work in the House Natural Resources Committee, and this body.
Mr. Speaker, the people of the Chugach region have waited 36 years for this resolution, and this bill delivers it.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3903. I thank the House Natural Resources Committee for its unanimous bipartisan support.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 aligns Federal surface and subsurface ownership of conservation lands while resolving a decades- old program by authorizing a land exchange between the Chugach Alaska Corporation and the Federal Government.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3903, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5419) to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan for ensuring timely review of communications use authorizations, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on H.R. 5419, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act, introduced by Representative Kean.
In today's economy, broadband is a necessity, not a luxury. An affordable connection to high-speed internet is critical, particularly for rural communities that rely on the internet for telehealth appointments, public safety updates, and online learning. Yet in too many rural and Tribal communities, reliable broadband is still costly, rare, or even nonexistent.
Building networks across rural America presents many challenges due to low population density, vast distances, and rugged terrain. To reach these areas, broadband developers must install infrastructure on Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the U.S. Forest Service. Too often the Federal permitting process adds unnecessary costs and years of delay, sometimes taking 5 to 10 years to complete a single broadband project.
That is because broadband providers seeking to connect households and businesses face layered permitting requirements, redundant reviews, and spotty coordination among Federal land management agencies when applying for broadband land-use authorizations. This uncertainty drives up costs and causes rural areas to lag behind urban and suburban areas in connectivity, exacerbating the digital divide.
H.R. 5419 takes a practical approach to this problem. Representative Kean's legislation recognizes that funding alone cannot connect our rural communities when the permitting process is still broken. This bill focuses on fixing what is actually delaying broadband deployment by requiring agencies to identify and report on permitting bottlenecks, coordination deficiencies, and bureaucratic redundancies that impede the efficient processing of broadband land-use authorizations.
This bill is an important first step in making the Federal Government a better partner in getting modern infrastructure to the communities that need it most.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kean for his leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5419, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5419 directs the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to evaluate policies, rules, and regulations related to the siting and permitting of broadband infrastructure on public lands. This bill is a commonsense step to help update and modernize our broadband infrastructure.
Public lands host a lot of communications infrastructure that Americans rely on every day to connect our smartphones, laptops, and televisions. Broadband isn't just for entertainment. It is what people use to do their jobs, access healthcare, and file their taxes.
Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Oregon recently received Federal approval to move forward with the largest broadband infrastructure investment in our State's history. This will connect over 100,000 unserved and underserved Oregonian households and businesses to affordable, high-speed, and reliable internet services.
However, in States like Oregon and in districts like the one I have the honor to represent with large amounts of Federal land, broadband infrastructure projects often require additional levels of permitting and coordination across local, State, and Federal Government.
H.R. 5419 will help us look for opportunities to address any broadband permitting barriers and update the rules in a measured and responsible way.
This bill will help balance two critical obligations: building out the infrastructure we need for vital technology and upholding our commitment to the health and stewardship of our public lands. We can and must meet both obligations.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Kean) for introducing this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 5419, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my legislation, H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act.
Even as our world increasingly relies on the internet to access daily needs, communities across the country still lack a reliable wireless connection, especially in the most rural and Tribal communities.
The process of obtaining permits to improve broadband and communications infrastructure in these areas is often duplicative, inconsistent between agencies, and can set projects back by years.
Outdated bureaucratic processes, inefficiencies, and delays should not stand between American communities and access to a reliable internet connection.
My legislation directs an interagency review of the procedures used by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to process permitting requests for communications infrastructure. This will allow Congress to direct smart and targeted reforms to improve efficiency, timeliness, and help accelerate access to the internet.
For government to work at its best and most responsive, we must invite regular reevaluation of its procedures, judge what works and what doesn't, and implement process improvements so that the Federal Government can better serve American people into the future. This legislation does just that.
H.R. 5419 ensures a coordinated interagency approach to making the government run more efficiently so our Federal Government is an active participant in, not an obstacle to, bridging the digital divide.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the partnership of Chairman Westerman and bipartisan colleagues as this bill passed through the House Committee on Natural Resources earlier this month. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5419 is a bill that cuts red tape, streamlines approvals, and accelerates broadband access by addressing the permitting barriers that slow broadband development on Federal lands. By identifying areas to improve coordination, reduce onerous reviews, and strengthen the permitting processing at the Federal level, this bill will help close the digital divide that exists in rural and Tribal communities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Representative Kean's legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5419, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan for ensuring timely review of broadband land use authorizations, and for other purposes.''.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 755) to amend the Energy Act of 2020 to include critical materials in the definition of critical mineral, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material to H.R. 755, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 755, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act, which accomplishes the important task of unifying the U.S. Geological Survey's list of critical minerals and the Department of Energy's list of critical materials.
The Energy Act of 2020 defined ``critical minerals'' and directed the United States Geological Survey, or USGS, to publish a list of critical minerals every 3 years. The same act directed the Secretary of Energy to develop a critical materials list that includes all of the same minerals on the USGS list but adds: ``any non-fuel mineral, element, substance, or material that the Secretary of Energy determines: (i) has a high risk of supply chain disruption; and (ii) serves an essential function in one or more energy technologies, including technologies that produce, transmit, store, and conserve energy.''
The discrepancies between the lists make it difficult for regulators and producers to determine what emphasis to place on each resource and how to allocate efforts toward resource recovery.
Under H.R. 755, each agency would determine what to include in its own list, but a new, combined list called the ``critical minerals and materials list'' would be published by the Department of the Interior.
Moving forward, all Federal agencies would be required to use this unified list when administering programs involving critical minerals or critical materials. These changes promote accessibility, clarity, and consistency for regulators, producers, and members of the public.
I thank Representative Ciscomani for his work on this important legislation. I support this commonsense bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Congress codified the critical minerals list in the Energy Act of 2020 to identify which minerals are most important to our economic and national security and at risk of supply chain disruption.
The United States Geological Survey was required to create and update that list, following a transparent, science-based process.
At the same time, Congress directed the Department of Energy to create its own list focusing on critical minerals and materials for energy needs.
Both lists provide crucial strategic direction for Federal decisionmakers to secure our most critical and vulnerable supply chains.
H.R. 755 provides administrative clarity by creating a unified critical minerals and materials list, which incorporates the lists from both USGS and DOE, while allowing the agencies to maintain the scientific integrity of their individual processes.
I thank the bill's sponsors and my colleagues across the aisle for working with committee Democrats to incorporate changes to the original bill to better coordinate agency analyses without fully losing the individual purposes of the two lists.
Unfortunately, a lot of careful policymaking and scientific work to identify critical minerals and materials is actively being undone.
First, these lists are only useful if they are unbiased, and the current administration has blatantly violated the law by including metallurgical coal and uranium in the 2025 USGS critical minerals list, despite the Energy Act of 2020 explicitly prohibiting the inclusion of fuel minerals on the list.
They provide no public data or analysis to justify these inclusions or prove whether they meet the Energy Act of 2020's criteria for critical minerals.
Political interference in the critical minerals list undermines the United States' economic and national security. We should target Federal investments and interventions toward the most important at-risk minerals and materials and supply chains.
Additionally, designating minerals and materials as critical only matters if we can actually use these lists and designations.
Much of the latest critical minerals legislation that has passed on a partisan basis this Congress actually makes no distinction at all about prioritizing critical minerals. These bills have often provided deregulation across the board to every industry, from gold to coal.
Again, I thank the majority for working with us on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 755, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act, introduced by my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani). The Energy Act of 2020 took a significant first step, recognizing the importance of critical minerals and critical materials to the American economy and our strategic national security.
While the respective lists developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Energy have been helpful in ensuring we have policies in place that increase and stabilize our access to these critical minerals and materials, they are not hitting the mark and require further direction from Congress.
The two agencies use different criteria and do not take into consideration the same parameters, sometimes leading to different lists. Notably, the USGS list does not account for forward-looking data and analysis, such as international demand and growth trajectories, which the DOE list does. Currently, DOE automatically adopts any minerals USGS deems critical for their own critical materials list, but it doesn't work the other way around.
H.R. 755 fixes this and amends the Energy Act of 2020 to automatically place DOE's deemed materials on the USGS list.
Under this legislation, each agency would still be responsible for reviewing elements under their unique purview based on their own technical expertise. It would simply streamline interagency coordination and ensure USGS is taking into account the full picture and the best, most complete information when developing its critical minerals list.
This legislation is a small yet important step in ensuring we have access to the critical minerals and materials that are necessary for our national security, along with our ability to compete and win in this 21st century. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I want to say that the chairman, who is on the floor, is a good friend of mine and one of, I think, our best leaders in the Congress. I thank him for his continuing efforts and his willing to work together across the aisle.
I rise, Mr. Speaker, to address the American public, of course, through the Speaker. We are at war, Mr. Speaker. When I rise in support of this bill,
Within that bill are things critically important to the security of our country, particularly at a time like this. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, has a piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker, that funds all the items on which we agree. That ought to be easy. It particularly ought to be easy at a time of crisis when we are at war and homeland security is so important.
The bill that Ms. DeLauro has put on the floor would fund the Office of the Secretary and the executive management. It would fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It would fund the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It would fund the Coast Guard of the United States. It would fund the Secret Service, charged with the responsibility of defending the President of the United States and other officials. It would fund the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, as it is called. It would fund the Transportation Security Administration. It would fund the Science and Technology Directorate.
It would not fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement nor Customs and Border Protection.
Now, they are tied in one bill, but surely, I hoped, Mr. Speaker, my remarks would be compelling without us being at war, which we have been now for, I suppose, almost 96 hours. However, certainly at this point in time, we ought to come together at a time when we are at war on things on which we agree.
All of the ones I listed we have already voted for. They need to be funded. They are critical to our national security, and surely men and women of goodwill and patriotism should stand for funding things on which we agree.
Now, there are two things on which we do not agree, and, frankly, our disagreement is not relevant to our national security today or tomorrow or perhaps for at least 24 months.
Why?
It is because ICE and CBP, the Border Patrol, were funded in another bill that has already passed and been signed by the President, and approximately $74.8 billion has been set aside for those two agencies already, so they are operating. Presumably their people are getting paid because we have already appropriated money for those two.
However, we have a substantial disagreement on the operations and activities being conducted by those two agencies, and therefore we don't have agreement on that. It is irrelevant to their present operations because we have already appropriated money which, by the way, none of us voted for on this side of the aisle. We have a very substantial difference, based upon our constitutional concerns, that those two agencies are not acting within the strictures of the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the United States, or the norms of police activity in the United States of America. That is a legitimate and honest difference of opinion, and we ought not to hoist on the petard of the differences we have on these two agencies to preclude funding the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Transportation Security Agency, and the Science and Technology Directorate.
What person of common sense sitting around their kitchen table would say: Yes, we agree on those, but at a time of war, we will not give unanimous consent to fund all of these agencies I just mentioned.
Why?
It is because we have a legitimate difference. By the way, that legitimate difference is supported by more than 50 percent of the American people. As a matter of fact, it is somewhere in the sixties.
I rise on this bill which is not about this because I would not get time to speak about it otherwise, and I think it ought to be compelling to each one of us in this body and every American citizen to be concerned at a time of war when we are allowing a difference on one segment of a bill to preclude us from agreeing to the segment so critical to our domestic and international security.
I am hoping, Mr. Speaker, that my Republican colleagues, and as I said, Mr. Westerman is not involved in this other than I am speaking on his bill, but I hope the logic of what I am saying appeals to the patriotism in every one of us that we ought not to allow these agencies I have read and on which we have already voted, on which we already agree, and which the President ought to sign, because we are holding hostage all of them to the legitimate disagreement that we have on two of the agencies within this bill.
Surely, I don't believe the American citizens would say that that is a commonsense thing to do, nor do I think they would say that it was within the best interests of this country to do.
Surely, as a democracy, we should not take the position that if we can't agree on one of the issues, then we won't agree on any of the issues. I suggest that would be irrational.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the DeLauro bill, of which I am a cosponsor, and there are some 50 others of us who are cosponsors, to ask that the Republicans who are in charge, who are in the majority, and who can make this decision, I ask them to give consent, unanimous consent, to the passage of the DeLauro bill so that, and I will mention once again, we can fund within the Department of Homeland Security a Secretary in the executive management of Homeland Security, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and we have big snows, big winds, big storms, and crises around this country that require action for domestic security as we require international security.
There is not one of us who wants to defund the Coast Guard. There is not one of us who wants Coast Guard personnel going to work and not getting paid. There is not one of us who wants the U.S. Secret Service to be working and not getting paid. They have got to work because we deem them essential employees, as the Coast Guard are essential employees.
Under the present circumstances, where we can't get unanimous consent, and I hope we can, I urge that we do, I urge my Republican colleagues to say: On this we agree, and, therefore, we will move it forward. We will send it to the President for signature, and we will pay the members of the Coast Guard, we will pay the members of the U.S. Secret Service, we will give emergency relief around this country from FEMA, we will pay those who are working in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and we will pay the people at TSA whom all of us rely on to make sure that skies are safe.
I don't think there is a Member among us who wants to say: I don't want to pay them. I don't want that agency to be operating.
Now they are operating because they are essential, but we are not paying them. That is not right. In any event, we all know we are going to pay them at some point in time when, hopefully sooner rather than later, we open up the authority and the funding for those agencies.
We are considering suspension bills now. We expect them to get over 290 votes, and I will be one of those 290 votes on suspension bills.
Why?
It is because we agree, and it makes sense.
I welcome anybody who wants to come to the floor and say: I don't think the Coast Guard ought to be paid. I don't think FEMA ought to be paid, and I don't think Secret Service ought to be paid.
I welcome them to come to the floor. I don't think they are there. I think they do agree.
Mr. Speaker, do not take hostage those employees because we have a fundamental constitutional difference.
Now, by the way, you may think that, oh, well, we don't have a difference. Yes, we do. We don't believe that the two agencies we want to exempt are following the law.
Now, let me quote the border czar. His name is Tom Homan. The President of the United States sent him to Minneapolis to work at bringing the
However, when a court ruled that what Border Patrol was doing was inconsistent with law and the Constitution, what was his response? Tom Homan said: I don't care what the judges think. I don't care.
I tell my friends in the House--through you, Mr. Speaker, of course-- that we all ought to care that we have a law enforcement officer, the czar of our border, who says: I don't care what the judges say.
Mr. Speaker, we are a Nation of laws, and the laws are determined, finally, by the courts of our Nation and ultimately by the Supreme Court.
That is why we are not prepared to vote for a bill that includes those two agencies. Why opposition to that is so hard to believe is because they are already funded, notwithstanding our disagreement.
We are going to continue to make the point, unlike the Vice President of the United States who said the officers who killed two people in Minneapolis had total immunity. The Vice President of the United States said that. We don't agree with that. We want to debate that, and we want to change that. We want to offer amendments. We want to have the House consider it because I would be appalled if the whole House on either side of the aisle wants to have law enforcement officers who say: I don't care what the judges say.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my friends: When Ms. DeLauro asks for unanimous consent to fund the agencies--I will not read them again, but they are critical--I will ask them to give their consent and pass those bills for which we have agreement.
America deserves that. Frankly, our men and women in uniform in the Middle East deserve that. Our men and women in uniform who are here and who may be deployed deserve that. More importantly, every citizen in this country and every person who is in this country deserves to know that we follow our Constitution and laws of our Nation. We take an oath to that. Our citizens expect us to do that.
I hope that as of no later than tomorrow we will pass a unanimous consent request to fund the personnel who are protecting this country in a way on which we all agree and then move at some point in time to a legitimate discussion in this body about what CBP and ICE are doing within or without the law.
Mr. Speaker, back to H.R. 755. This bill will provide the certainty needed to grow domestic production of minerals like lithium, graphite, copper, and many other minerals necessary for the advanced technologies that will ensure national security, energy security, and economic competitiveness.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 755, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend the Energy Act of 2020 to harmonize the lists of critical minerals and critical materials, and for other purposes.''.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1945) to designate the America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1945.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 1945, the America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act, sponsored by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder).
This bill recognizes a place of global consequence in the heart of small-town America: America's National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.
On March 6, 1946, on the heels of a devastating world war, Sir Winston
For five decades, the museum in Fulton has conserved the speech's history and allowed the public to experience that pivotal moment. It is also home to a remarkable structure, the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, a 12th century church which was transported from London to Fulton in the 1960s to commemorate Churchill's speech. Today, the entire site serves as a civic center of engagement and educational programming that brings to life the story of Winston Churchill.
H.R. 1945 builds on that historic legacy. Representative Onder's bill would designate America's National Churchill Museum as a national historic landmark. In doing so, the museum would be able to enter into cooperative agreements with the National Park Service to protect historic resources and support public programming. This is a simple bill that strengthens stewardship of a unique historical site without adding to the Federal estate.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1945, the America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1945 will designate America's National Churchill Museum as a national historic landmark. It would also direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine whether the museum is eligible for inclusion in the National Park System.
This museum is located on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where former Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered his famous ``Iron Curtain'' speech at the outbreak of the Cold War. It contains exhibits about Churchill, his life, and his impact, all of which play a role in our story here and in London.
The museum exhibits include a continuous section of the Berlin Wall, the gymnasium where Churchill delivered the ``Iron Curtain'' speech, and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, a historic building which survived the air raids in London during World War II and was moved to Fulton in the 1960s.
These are wonderful exhibits and a truly significant historical location that is worthy of national recognition. I am proud to support the designation of this museum as a historic landmark.
However, I also want to mention my deep concern about how this administration is working to rewrite and whitewash history throughout the National Park System. We must provide the Park Service with the resources and autonomy it needs to preserve, protect, and share our Nation's stories, warts and all.
Winston Churchill himself once famously told the House of Commons, ``Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.''
We cannot learn from history if we erase history. We cannot see how far we have come if we erase the things that don't fit into the current idea of the way things should be. We can't sit idly by as this administration selectively edits our country's past.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the National Park Service in this bill and beyond, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder), the lead sponsor of this bill, a gentleman who cannot only pronounce the Aldermanbury Church correctly but has been to the Aldermanbury Church.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 1945, America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act.
This legislation will formally recognize America's National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri, as a national historic landmark, a designation long overdue and deeply deserved.
Nearly 80 years ago this week, in 1946, Westminster College hosted one of the most consequential speeches of the 20th century: Winston Churchill's ``Sinews of Peace,'' better known as the Iron Curtain speech. With President Harry Truman at his side, Churchill warned the world of the division descending over Europe. Many historians marked that moment as the beginning of the Cold War. It was also a call to defend democracy, restore alliances, and uphold freedom.
To honor Churchill's words and legacy, Westminster College embarked on an extraordinary project. Rather than erecting a statue or plaque, the college acquired, transported, and reconstructed a Christopher Wren-designed church from London, a building more than 900 years old. St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, survived the great fire of London in 1666, was rebuilt by Wren, and was nearly destroyed again during the blitz of World War II. Its walls stood in ruin for two decades before being shipped stone by stone across the Atlantic and rebuilt in Fulton as a memorial to Churchill's leadership.
This building is more than an architectural marvel. It is a symbol of resilience, partnership, and the enduring fight for freedom. Built by the British, bombed by the Germans, and rebuilt by the American Midwest, it stands as a powerful testament to our shared history and values.
Over the decades, the site has continued to shape history. Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev, Prime Minister Thatcher, and other leaders have stood at Westminster College to address the world on peace, security, and democracy using the same lectern Churchill used in 1946. The museum also houses Churchill's own annotated draft of his Iron Curtain speech, rare artifacts, and a sculpture crafted from sections of the Berlin Wall.
In 1972, the museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places and was formally renamed by Congress in 2009 as ``America's National Churchill Museum.'' H.R. 1945 will elevate that recognition to the level of national historic landmark. This is more than a title. It is a commitment to preserve the site, support education, and honor the unique role this institution plays in telling our Nation's history.
At a time when we continue to grapple with challenges to freedom and democracy around the world, there is no better moment to reinforce the lessons of Churchill's call to vigilance and cooperation. I thank Chairman Westerman and the Natural Resources Committee for their support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill and ensure that America's National Churchill Museum receives the recognition it clearly merits as a national historic landmark.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
H.R. 1945 does ensure that America's National Churchill Museum receives recognition equal to its educational impact and importance to 20th century history.
Designating the site as a national historic landmark will bring further prominence to the special place and allow future generations of Americans to learn about the moment that marked the start of the Cold War and the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. I commend Representative Onder for his leadership on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this very important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1945.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 681) to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the ``Long-Term Leasing Act''), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material to H.R. 681, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 681, introduced by Representative Keating, would authorize the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, both of Massachusetts, to lease lands held in trust for up to 99 years, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Interior.
Congress has long recognized that Tribes need the ability to lease their lands to support housing, commercial activity, and community development. While the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act allows leasing of trust lands, longer lease terms have often required Tribe-specific legislation. Over time, Congress has granted 99-year leasing authority to a number of Tribes to accommodate long-term planning and investment.
H.R. 681 simply extends that same authority to these two Tribes in Massachusetts. The bill ensures these Tribes are treated consistently with others that have already received 99-year leasing authority.
By providing parity and leasing authority, H.R. 681 supports local economic planning and development and promotes fairness and opportunity for these Tribal communities while maintaining Federal oversight through secretarial approval.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Mr. Keating's bill to amend the Long-Term Leasing Act for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
Under the Long-Term Leasing Act, Tribes are generally limited to lease terms of 25 years with an option to renew for an additional 25 years.
This restriction, as we mentioned earlier, often has hindered economic development in Indian Country where growth is essential to providing services and opportunities for Tribal citizens.
To address this barrier, Congress has repeatedly passed bipartisan, noncontroversial bills allowing individual Tribes to secure long-term leases, just as H.R. 681 seeks to do.
Representative Keating's bill would authorize the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to enter into lease agreements for up to 99 years, providing parity with other Tribes that already have that authority.
Extending lease terms from 25 to 99 years will provide certainty that lenders, investors, and development partners need to make meaningful, long-term investments with the Tribes, helping promote economic stability and address the Tribes' ongoing housing challenges.
This bill respects Tribal sovereignty and advances self- determination. It removes barriers to the Tribes' housing and economic development efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 681, again, provides equal leasing authority to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, aligning them with the other Tribes that have already received 99-year leasing authority from Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 681, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 681, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the ``Long-Term Leasing Act''), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.''.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3692) to reauthorize the Young Fishermen's Development Act, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3692, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3692, the Captain Accursio ``Gus'' Sanfilippo Young Fishermen's Development Act, sponsored by Representative Moulton from Massachusetts.
This bill is named after the captain of the Lily Jean, who tragically lost his life, along with six others, when the fishing vessel sank off the coast of Massachusetts in January.
Our thoughts are with his family and the families of those who lost their lives in this terrible accident.
The Young Fishermen's national competitive grant program supports the training and education of the Nation's next generation of commercial fishermen. This legislation would reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2031, supporting the education of America's future fishermen and a competitive and sustainable American seafood economy.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3692, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, as the Representative of Gloucester, Massachusetts, America's oldest seaport, I am proud to lead this critical bill to reauthorize the Young Fishermen's Development Grant Program for another 5 years.
This national competitive grant program supports the training and education of the Nation's next generation of commercial fishermen. Commercial fishing is at the heart of Massachusetts's identity and economy, but this legacy will not endure if we don't help the next generation get started.
These grants help the industry expand and evolve. I am proud that this money will give new opportunities to young people who are interested in working at sea and supplying our communities with fresh seafood, so we don't buy it all from unregulated fisheries overseas.
This bill has been renamed the Captain Accursio ``Gus'' Sanfilippo Young Fishermen's Development Act in honor of the captain of the fishing vessel Lily Jean.
Under this program, young fishermen across New England have received critical vocational training to enter the industry, develop into competitive deckhands, and transition to the wheelhouse as captains like Gus.
I thank Congressman Nicholas Begich from Alaska for partnering on this effort and making this a strong bipartisan bill. I am proud to lead the effort with him to keep this vital program funded every year. I also thank Representatives Tokuda, Radewagen, and Golden for their partnership.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to say a few words about Gus. On January 30, 2026, the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean sank roughly 25 miles off Gloucester, Massachusetts. Tragically, all seven crewmembers, including Captain Sanfilippo, were lost.
Gus hailed from a family of fishermen and first learned the ropes of the industry from his father, Antonino, a Sicilian immigrant who owned the St. George II. Under his father's guidance, he developed the values of hard work and perseverance and a deep respect for the sea.
The lessons Antonino taught Gus remained with him throughout his life. He later purchased his own fishing vessel, the Lily Jean, named after his daughter, and carried forth his family's legacy as the next generation of Sanfilippos to fish commercially.
With his beloved wife, Lorie, Gus had two children, Lily Jean and Anthony. An adoring husband and father, he was also a father figure at sea. Captain Sanfilippo mentored countless young men and women who joined his crew. He enjoyed teaching them essential skills such as net mending, electronics, navigation, and vessel maintenance. Most importantly, he stressed the value of teamwork and looking out for one another on the open ocean.
Captain Sanfilippo took young workers under his wing, showing them not only how to succeed in the industry but how to carry themselves with responsibility and courage. He ran a tight ship, valuing rules, structure, and safety. He took great pride in his role as captain and was, above all else, courageous and selfless.
Captain Sanfilippo is currently being considered posthumously for a Mariner's Medal in recognition of his historic rescues of multiple fishing vessels in distress.
As a father, he led by example with kindness, patience, steady guidance, integrity, and a generous heart. As a captain, he shared the same values with the young members of his crew.
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to rename the Young Fishermen's Development Act on behalf of Captain Accursio ``Gus'' Sanfilippo.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3692 will reauthorize the Young Fishermen's Development Act through fiscal year 2031, ensuring the next generation of commercial fishermen has the support they need to enter and sustain careers in this vital industry.
The Young Fishermen's Development Grant Program addresses challenges by providing competitive grants of up to $200,000 to support training, education, and technical assistance programs.
Since its implementation, the program has delivered nearly $2 million in direct support to workforce training programs nationwide, successfully lowering the barriers to entry and enabling practical apprenticeship programs.
This bipartisan legislation maintains the $2 million annual authorization and is supported by Democrats and Republicans in both Chambers of Congress.
I have the honor to represent two-thirds of the Oregon coast. Commercial fishing is a very important part of our community and our traditions.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 3692 and investing in the future of America's commercial fishing industry.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, again, this bill promotes continued investment in both the next generation of American fishermen and the American seafood industry as a whole. I commend my friend, Mr. Moulton, for bringing this forward, and I support this bill, H.R. 3692.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3692, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 723) to require the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process and complete all mortgage packages associated with residential and business mortgages on Indian land by certain deadlines, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 723, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 723, the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Thune, would establish firm timelines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to review and approve residential and business mortgage applications on Tribal trust land. This bill also increases transparency and accountability in the mortgage review process and modernizes outdated systems that have contributed to delays.
Since trust land is held by the United States on behalf of Tribes and Tribal members, mortgages on that land require approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs before they can close. While current law provides review timelines for certain leaseholds and rights-of-way mortgages, there is no statutory deadline for trust land mortgages.
As a result, applicants and lenders have faced prolonged uncertainty. Reports have highlighted cases in which borrowers waited more than 1 year for their required title status reports, creating significant barriers to homeownership and business development in Indian Country. These delays can discourage lenders and limit access to capital in communities that already face housing shortages and economic challenges.
S. 723 addresses these concerns by setting enforceable timelines for BIA review, requiring notice to lenders and a report to Congress, supporting the digitization of records, improving access to information, and creating a realty ombudsman to help resolve issues. By reducing delay and uncertainty, this bill makes it easier for Tribes and Tribal members to secure financing for homes and businesses.
I commend Senator Thune and Representative Dusty Johnson for their leadership on this issue and for working to improve housing and economic opportunity in Indian Country.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act would codify existing Bureau of Indian Affairs procedures for reviewing and processing mortgage packages on Indian lands. The bill seeks to improve access to homeownership in Tribal communities.
Homeownership rates in Tribal communities continue to lag behind the national average due, in part, to administrative delays in the Federal review process.
In Oregon, State lawmakers have worked to address this challenge by creating a flexible grant program that Tribes can use to address their own local housing needs, but it is still the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide sufficient resources.
Years of underfunding and understaffing at the BIA have reduced agency capacity and slowed down the review and approval of mortgage and leasing packages. Given the urgent housing needs in Indian Country, it is essential that the BIA conduct these reviews in an efficient and timely manner.
S. 723 would help expedite the mortgage review and processing procedures and, ultimately, help to promote Tribal ownership.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill, S. 723, is identical to a bill that I had introduced here in the House, H.R. 2130. It made its way through the Natural Resources Committee and had a hearing, for which I am very thankful to the chair and ranking member of that committee. It passed out of that committee unanimously. This is a strong piece of commonsense legislation.
Mr. Speaker, what does it do? First off, we know that our country is facing a housing affordability crisis. In Indian Country, it is even worse.
This legislation addresses specific and solvable problems that contribute to this problem on Tribal land. Frankly, it is hard to understand what a big problem this is in Indian Country. People can't get their hands on the proper mortgage documents because, today, mortgages on Tribal trust land, whether they are residential or commercial, must be reviewed and approved by BIA before they can be finalized.
Mr. Speaker, the BIA has established timelines for that process, but those timelines are rarely met, and that contributes to serious delay.
As a result, Native Americans living on Tribal trust land face a reduced opportunity, a reduced access to homeownership, a piece of the American Dream.
Mr. Speaker, off reservation, accessing documents like title records can be done in minutes, and insurance policies can often be issued in just a few weeks.
However, on Tribal trust land, that same process is not completed in a few weeks. It often takes a few months. In some instances, it has taken as long as 1 year. In 1 year, that sale can fall apart.
A family ready to buy a home should not have to wait months because of bureaucratic inefficiencies. When the BIA fails to do its work in a timely manner, it is families and lenders and the marketplace that pay the price.
The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition told me of a scenario where they went to the BIA offices to try to find out how they could expedite these processes. As a part of that meeting, they discovered that 25 mortgage-related documents were stalled on the desk of the BIA agency superintendent.
Mr. Speaker, that is 25 families, businesses, and individuals whose futures were unnecessarily delayed because of bureaucratic inefficiency. What a profound and unnecessary harm.
This legislation does as the chairman said. It improves transparency and accountability. It establishes clear timelines. Importantly, it does not undermine Tribal sovereignty or in any way weaken the Federal trust responsibility. It simply makes sure that this process functions as intended.
Mr. Speaker, I have been proud to partner with Senator John Thune, who has expertly guided this through the Senate, and I am particularly grateful to the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. They have done incredible work advocating for this solution.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, S. 723 promotes certainty, accountability, and transparency in the trust land mortgage process.
By establishing clear timelines and modernizing mortgage administration, the bill removes unnecessary barriers to homeownership and business development for Tribal communities.
I thank my colleague from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) for leading the House companion to this legislation and the entire South Dakota delegation for their coordinated effort on this important issue.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 723, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 723.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4386) to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to clarify entrance privileges for vehicles with respect to the America the Beautiful interagency pass, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4386, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Chairman Walberg's America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act, a commonsense bill that restores fairness and clarity for the millions of Americans who travel to our national parks and public lands every year by motorcycle.
For years, annual entrance passes to our national parks allowed entry for one vehicle and its passengers or, for motorcycles, two bikes traveling together. This arrangement was practical, predictable, and reflected how riders actually experience our Federal lands.
Yet in 2024, the Biden administration unilaterally reversed that longstanding policy and restricted coverage to just one motorcycle per pass. This placed unnecessary financial burdens on riders, discouraging motorcyclists from recreating on public lands, while offering no benefit to park operations. This change also hurt gateway communities, as motorcycle tourism is a key driver of many small, rural economies.
Last year, President Trump and Secretary Burgum overturned this decision, restoring access to two motorcycles per entrance pass ahead of our Nation's 250th anniversary celebrations this year. This bill simply codifies that decision and restores what worked.
By permanently codifying the traditional two-motorcycles-per-pass standard, the legislation ensures parity for motorcyclists and restores long-term affordable access to our Nation's most iconic landscapes. In doing so, this bill directly supports the goals of President Trump's executive orders on celebrating America's 250th birthday and making America beautiful again by improving our national parks.
Keeping our parks welcoming and accessible while improving the visitor experience should be a goal that we all strive for.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Chairman Walberg for his hard work on this America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the America the Beautiful pass is an annual interagency pass that covers entry fees to over 2,000 recreational sites across the country.
In 2024, an update to the pass program had the unintentional effect of reducing the number of motorcycle riders covered under a single pass from two motorcycles to one.
H.R. 4386 reverses that unintended consequence and reestablishes a fair policy for motorcyclists, allowing one America the Beautiful pass to cover the entry for a second motorcycle and its guest. This bill corrects a bureaucratic error and improves public access to Federal recreation sites.
I do have concerns that this administration is unnecessarily politicizing the America the Beautiful pass by putting an image of the President directly on the pass. Federal law requires a competition open to the public to determine the image used on the pass, which has traditionally showcased America's landscape or wildlife. These popular and nonpartisan passes should celebrate our shared natural and cultural heritage, not prop up political leaders.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Michigan and co-chair of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, Representative Walberg, for his work on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4386 and to support access to recreation on our public lands. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman for yielding me the time and for his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, as a lifelong motorcycle rider, it is a privilege to be here today and to speak in support of my legislation, the America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act, which will ensure fair access to our Nation's national parks and public lands for motorcyclists.
Historically, the America the Beautiful pass has permitted entry for one noncommercial passenger vehicle with multiple passengers, two motorcycles, or a group of bicyclists accompanying one passholder. However, in 2024, the Biden administration changed its policy, I believe, to unfairly restrict access for motorcycles to one bike per pass instead of two. Thankfully, President Trump and Secretary Burgum have restored common sense, and in November, they announced the America the Beautiful pass would once again allow for entry for two bikes per pass.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we can ensure motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country have access to our Nation's national parks. These most magnificent places are testaments to America's greatness and the majestic landscapes that stretch across our great Nation.
By restoring parity for motorcycle riders, we will expand access opportunities, strengthen local economies that depend on tourism as well, and allow our fellow Americans to explore our historic landmarks in the best way possible: on two wheels in the open air.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again thank Chairman Walberg for his leadership on behalf of millions of motorcyclists who will benefit from the America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act. Whether people choose to access our public lands by car, bicycle, motorcycle, or on foot, the price you pay at the gate should not be a barrier to entry. Chairman Walberg's bill makes our national parks and public lands more affordable, encourages greater motorcycle tourism, and restores commonsense parity for millions of motorcycle enthusiasts.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4386, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4386, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4307) to direct the Secretary of Labor to train certain employees of Department of Labor how to effectively detect and assist law enforcement in preventing human trafficking during the course of their official duties, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 4307.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Michigan?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4307, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. I thank my friend and colleague, Representative Lucy McBath, for her partnership on this important legislation.
In my time on the Committee on Education and Workforce, I have come to the realization that the Department of Labor employees have a frontline view to detect patterns of human trafficking and labor exploitation.
This is where my bill, H.R. 4307, comes into play. Specifically, this legislation directs the Department of Labor to educate appropriate staff in how to effectively detect instances of human trafficking, ensure personnel regularly receive information on current trends and best practices, and establish a clear course of action for referring suspected instances of human trafficking to law enforcement. In other words, it turns Department of Labor employees into an early warning system against human trafficking.
One of the greatest obstacles in the fight against human trafficking is a
By arming these employees with critical information on how to identify potential trafficking situations, we can strengthen our ability to intervene quickly and efficiently to hold traffickers accountable and protect those who are most vulnerable.
I am proud to say that, last Congress, this legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, with a vote of 407-0. Protecting more people from falling victim to the scourge of human trafficking is not political.
I urge my colleagues to put an end to this modern-day slavery and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4307.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4307, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act.
This bipartisan bill is led by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath). It directs the Secretary of the Department of Labor to develop and implement effective training to ensure that the Department of Labor enforcement personnel continue to be educated on identifying and responding to human trafficking.
It also ensures that Department of Labor employees are aware of how to refer potential cases of human trafficking to the Department of Justice and other appropriate authorities.
It requires a new annual report to Congress on the Department of Labor's trafficking prevention efforts, which will help guide the committee's future oversight efforts.
The Department of Labor's worker protection agencies play an essential role in enforcing Federal labor standards, ensuring workers are paid what they have been promised by their employers, and protecting health and safety in the workplace. Adequate training ensures that investigators are equipped to recognize red flags, such as confiscated identification documents, withheld wages, restricted movements, threats, coercion, and other indicators of forced labor.
These efforts should be appropriately funded, and the Department of Labor must continue to play a key role in fighting human trafficking. Wage and Hour investigators are often on the front lines and may be the only Federal officials in a position to encounter workers trapped in exploitative conditions.
Unfortunately, President Trump's fiscal 2026 budget request proposed cutting funding for the Wage and Hour Division by nearly 10 percent and reducing staffing by roughly 250 employees for non-H-1B activities.
Over the course of the past decade, the number of Wage and Hour staff has fallen from a little over 1,400 in fiscal year 2017 to just under 1,200 in fiscal year `25, an 18 percent decline, even as the Wage and Hour Division has tracked a 150-percent increase in child labor violations over the same period.
It is critical to follow up this authorization with additional funding because, without the additional funding, this bill could result in even fewer resources available for the Department to carry out their core missions because it imposes additional burdens on agency staff. Additional funding could allow the Department to continue its core functions and fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the bill.
No one should be forced to work under threats, abuse, or intimidation. This legislation recognizes the essential role the Department of Labor and worker protection agencies play in protecting vulnerable workers and holding traffickers accountable.
For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan proposal, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the introduction. I am very happy and pleased to be a cosponsor of this measure.
As we know, human trafficking is modern-day slavery, Mr. Speaker, and traffickers abuse and exploit millions of victims, especially children, girls, and women, all for commercial gain. This is a serious problem around the globe, Mr. Speaker, and even here at home.
We must do more to raise awareness of this crime.
The U.S. Department of Labor is on the front lines of detecting human trafficking. In 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline's data showed that there were 21,865 victims, and that is only what we know was reported.
Mr. Speaker, one in six endangered runaways is a likely victim of child sex trafficking. We have a moral and ethical obligation to empower Federal agencies to prevent, detect, and address these horrific crimes.
This bipartisan, commonsense bill raises awareness of human trafficking and establishes effective and timely educational programs to train Department of Labor personnel.
This bill establishes a framework for employees to assist law enforcement, requires reports to Congress on the scope of the issue, and ensures U.S. DOL personnel have the tools they need to detect forced labor and sexual exploitation when they investigate labor law violations.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for this measure to help address, prevent, and crack down on this terrible practice.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation and the policies it supports have been important to me for quite some time. That is because behind every statistic is a name, a face, and a heartbroken family.
Human trafficking doesn't just rob these individuals of their dignity. It robs them of their future.
Department of Labor personnel already interact with workplaces, review labor conditions, and identify irregularities. H.R. 4307 ensures that when red flags appear, they are recognized for what they are and are acted upon swiftly and responsibly.
The earlier they can intervene, the greater the chance we have to stop exploitation before it becomes prolonged abuse. That proactive approach is both compassionate and common sense.
This approach also utilizes resources and tools already in place. It supports law enforcement without expanding government unnecessarily. It honors taxpayers by making better use of the workforce we already have.
H.R. 4307 better arms DOL employees to disrupt criminal enterprises and uphold justice, but most importantly, it helps bring victims back home to safety.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4307, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6392) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to recognize students who have completed secondary school education in a home school setting as high school graduates, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6392.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Michigan?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, every student deserves to have their hard work recognized.
Unfortunately, many homeschooled students face unjust barriers when applying to college simply because they didn't attend a traditional school.
On average, homeschoolers do remarkably well, better than their public school peers, on tests. Yet for some reason, colleges arbitrarily and unfairly subject homeschooled students to additional hoops, like taking a GED exam, to prove they are fit for admission.
The Home School Graduation Recognition Act sends a clear and simple message to colleges and universities: Homeschooled students are just as qualified to attend college as any other high school graduate.
The Home School Graduation Recognition Act also reaffirms House Republicans' commitment to expand educational opportunity and school choice for American families.
As chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am grateful to serve alongside Members like Congressman Harris who are eager to sponsor legislation that empowers students of all ages on their respective educational journeys.
I am glad to have the opportunity today to stand up for homeschoolers and against the needless discrimination they face in the college application process. Today, we have a chance to stand up for homeschooled students and families who have transformed kitchen tables into significant classrooms.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6392, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act. The bill reinstates and clarifies present law to make clear that homeschooled students are eligible for Federal student aid so that they can pursue higher education.
Under the Higher Education Act, students who complete a home school program recognized under their State's law qualify for title IV aid, including Pell grants and Federal student loans. Each State sets its own requirements for the education of homeschooled students.
The HEA confirms that homeschoolers must meet their State's eligibility requirements to receive Federal student aid if educated at home according to those State rules. HEA does allow schools to set their admission standards for students, including those educated at home, but no homeschooled student should be denied Federal higher education assistance just because they do not technically have a regular high school diploma. This bill clarifies that eligibility if they have qualified under their State laws.
Mr. Speaker, I do urge my colleagues to support the bill in its efforts to clarify the laws to ensure students access to higher education. Of course, that being said, the bill may clarify some students' right to Federal student aid, but the action does not go far enough to mitigate the damage done since the Trump administration came in about 1 year ago. By illegally dismantling much of the Department of Education, firing critical Federal financial aid staff, and limiting access to Federal aid in the big, ugly law, the Trump administration has only put higher education further out of reach for many.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris), who is the bill's sponsor and a member of the Education and Workforce Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walberg for his incredible leadership, and I am so grateful for this bill.
Mr. Speaker, would you believe that Federal law actually refers to students who have completed their home school education as students who are not high school graduates?
Mr. Speaker, strangely enough, it does.
While most colleges eagerly admit and help homeschooled students secure financial aid, some compliance-minded schools point to this language as a reason to make a homeschooled applicant jump through extra hoops to prove that their diploma is worth the same as that of their public- or private-school peers. This language makes it seem like the homeschooled student is not eligible for student aid as they are going through the application process.
This might seem like a small problem to fix, but it represents a real burden for the students and families who are impacted by it.
Mr. Speaker, a diploma is a diploma, whether it was earned in a classroom or at the kitchen table. My bill makes one simple but critically important clarification to fix this problem once and for all. It states plainly that a homeschooler who earns a diploma recognized under State law is a high school graduate. If a student has lawfully completed their education, the Federal Government must recognize them as a high school graduate when determining eligibility for Federal student aid.
Today's vote is about honoring the constitutional role of the States and parents in education. Federal agencies or college admissions offices can no longer use unclear statutory language to undermine State-recognized diplomas.
For decades, millions of American families have chosen to educate their children at home. In fact, nearly 3 million students today are receiving a quality education in a home school setting, guided by devoted parents who take their responsibility seriously to prepare the next generation for success. In my home State of North Carolina alone, more than 165,000 students are homeschooled under the authority and recognition of State law.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the Home School Legal Defense Association for their steadfast advocacy and for all they do to ensure homeschooled students are protected under the law. Their work has been instrumental in bringing clarity to this issue.
I thank our Senate co-leader, Senator Ashley Moody, for standing with families and leading this effort in the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense clarification: Homeschooled graduates are high school graduates. They deserve to be treated as such under Federal law.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6392 because the bill makes it clear that homeschooled graduates have access to higher education.
By further clarifying the intent of the Higher Education Act, this bill would ensure that students who complete a home school program recognized under their State's law can continue to qualify for title IV aid, including Pell grants and Federal student loans.
Fortunately, this bill will help ensure that these students can access an affordable, high-quality degree while this action taken by this body is reducing and denying aid to others.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that we pass the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and ranking member for his support on this legislation as well.
Homeschooled graduates are graduates plain and simple. They should not be penalized because their families chose a learning environment that met their specific needs and actually goes back to the beginning of time.
That is why we must pass H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, and tell colleges that it is completely unnecessary to subject homeschooled graduates to needless exams to prove they have, in fact, graduated.
I am proud to do my part in removing these roadblocks and helping more students pursue higher education.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6392, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6472) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for in-state tuition rates for certain residents of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will control 20 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Michigan?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6472, sponsored by Congressman James Moylan of Guam, which allows residents of U.S. territories to access in-State tuition rates at public universities across the U.S.
I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 6472, which ensures students of the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands receive in-State tuition at public universities across the country.
I am pleased that all of the Delegates from each U.S. territory are original cosponsors of the bill and that it received strong bipartisan support in the committee markup.
Under H.R. 6472, public postsecondary institutions will be required to offer in-State tuition rates to residents of U.S. territories. Through this bill, a student from Guam would pay the same tuition at a public university just as any in-State student.
This isn't a novel idea. Under current law, servicemembers and their families already receive in-State tuition rates, creating new pathways for more Americans to get high-quality educations at a competitive cost.
However, H.R. 6472 doesn't just help students. It helps the territories, too. After graduation, students can return home with advanced degrees and credentials they can reinvest back into their homes and local economies.
This isn't just an investment in our students. It is an investment in the economic strength of American territories. Students can contribute their newfound expertise to help develop new industries and drive economic development.
That investment also strengthens American national security. As competition with our adversaries, like China, intensify in the Pacific and drug trafficking continues in South and Central America, we must ensure our territories have the infrastructure and brainpower needed to promote a strong national security posture in the region.
Last year, we passed the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which included some of the most conservative reforms to higher education in decades, massively lowering costs and helping create new pathways for students to chase the American Dream.
We now have a chance to build off that success of the Working Families Tax Cut Act and lower postsecondary education costs for U.S. residents in U.S. territories so they can continue supporting our vital military operations.
Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I look forward to passing H.R. 6472 and supporting our territories.
Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6472, which would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for in-State tuition rates for certain residents of Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, the American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands.
I support this initiative in principle because we cannot ignore the needs of these States. However, we also should not ignore that States and public colleges set their own tuition rates based on State budgets and priorities.
When this bill was marked up in committee, Democrats proposed an amendment to require the Federal Government to foot the bill for these costs instead of the public colleges themselves. This approach has a similar goal to the District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant, the DCTAG program, which provides Federal funding for D.C. residents to help pay the difference between the higher out-of-State tuition and the lower in-State tuition at public universities across the country.
The DCTAG program was established because Washington, D.C., does not have an adequate number of public universities. The territories involved in this bill face a similar challenge. Most of the territories do not have a robust public university system that offers a variety of majors for students to choose from. Regrettably, the full committee did not agree to this amendment to provide Federal funding.
Mr. Speaker, while I support the bill because we must ensure that all students have access to low-tuition college education, I still have concerns about the funding mechanism. It is the Federal Government's responsibility to bear the cost of this mandate rather
Further, while I appreciate my colleagues' interest in expanding college access and affordability for students from these territories, I would be remiss if I overlooked the fact that congressional Republicans made it harder for these same students to afford colleges. That is because of cuts to the Pell Grant Program, changes to loan limits, and elimination of affordable loan repayment plans enacted in their big ugly law. Nevertheless, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill and reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan), the sponsor of the bill and a great member of the Education and Workforce Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Chairman Walberg, for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Guam's students and strongly urge my colleagues to vote for my bill, H.R. 6472.
This bill delivers a targeted approach to make college more affordable, strengthen workforce pipelines, and support critical national security efforts in the U.S. territories.
H.R. 6472 provides tuition rate guarantees to U.S. nationals who live in Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. High costs associated with education in the States, not ability, limit educational opportunities for students in the territories.
None of our islands have doctorate, law, or medical degree programs. Lack of access to these programs leads to workforce shortages in critical sectors. Lowering barriers to access will lead to greater capacity building in the territories.
Some examples of past folks are: Honorable Peter C. Siguenza, who attended California State University and returned home after law school to become Guam's first Chief Justice.
Then there was the late Dr. Chris Perez, who went to UC San Francisco, who came home to be a good doctor for the island.
There was also our first president of the University of Guam, Dr. Antonio Yamashita, who attended the University of North Carolina.
We currently have leaders on our island, such as Dr. Enriquez, who is the president of our University of Guam. She attended the University of Maryland.
We also have Dr. Aguon, who attended the University of Hawaii and is now running our Guam Memorial Hospital, and our Governor ``Lou'' Leon Guerrero attended UCLA.
Every doctor and lawyer in Guam studied elsewhere, returned home, and has made an incredible impact on our community.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is about empowering our residents to seek degrees that we need but are not available at home and to return home to strengthen our communities.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, our students, and our community.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding time, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 6472, the Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act.
Mr. Speaker, since my first term in Congress, expanding access to higher education for students from the United States territories has been a priority. Today, I am proud that the House is considering meaningful, bipartisan legislation to address this issue.
I want to point out that the United States small territories face unique geographic and economic challenges. Small populations, remote locations, and constrained local economies make it difficult for residents to pursue specialized training or many degrees close to home.
Students from small territories who seek degrees or majors not available locally must attend college on the mainland. That is the reason why Puerto Rico is not included in this legislation. Puerto Rico has multiple universities on that island. In the smaller territories, however, we do not.
For example, in the Virgin Islands, we do not offer degree programs for engineering, economics, international relations, French, or history to name a few. For many of our students, costs, not ability, is what prevents them from earning a degree. The lack of access to higher education limits workforce development, economic growth, and long-term stability in the territories as discussed by the chairman.
Our brain drain is exponentially greater due to our isolated location. This legislation directly addresses this challenge. H.R. 6472 amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require public colleges and universities receiving Federal funds to charge eligible small territory residents no more than in-State tuition rates. As you heard from Ranking Member Scott, there is no cost presently in this legislation to the Federal Government's budget.
By removing this barrier, we reduce families' financial burden, expand access to programs unavailable on the islands, and strengthen the workforce pipelines that territorial economies depend on to sustain their future.
I am deeply grateful to Congressman Moylan, former Congresswoman Radewagen, Congresswoman King-Hinds, as well as Congressman Hernandez for cosponsorship and partnership. I especially thank Chairman Tim Walberg as well as Ranking Member Bobby Scott of the House Committee on Education and Workforce for their bipartisan leadership in moving this legislation through the committee.
Mr. Speaker, the residents of the United States territories serve in this Nation's Armed Forces, pay Federal taxes, and are bound by its laws. They are American citizens in every sense of the word. Federal support for access to multiple degrees in higher education should extend to all of us. This bill does that without being a burden on the Federal Government's budget.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to vote in favor of H.R. 6472.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, as President Trump said in his State of Union Address last week, America's military is the strongest in the world, but we continue to have enemies around every corner of the globe who would like to undermine our power.
That is why H.R. 6472 is so important. This bill ensures residents of U.S. territories receive vital workforce training and skills as our U.S. military continues to operate out of these critical geographical outposts.
The working families tax cuts were a strong step in lowering costs for students and borrowers. Now, we are continuing these efforts and supporting our military and our territories.
As chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am steadfast in my commitment to reducing college costs and opening up workforce pipelines. I thank Congressman Moylan again for sponsoring this legislation and helping expand educational opportunities for residents of U.S. territories.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6472, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 5 o'clock and 25 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.
