[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 191 (Thursday, December 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8840-H8853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JAMES M. INHOFE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1512) providing for the
concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 7776, with an
amendment.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
(Text of H. Res. 1512, see Book II of this Record.)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam 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. Res. 1512.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume. I rise to urge Members to support this piece of
legislation. I thank everyone who worked on this process. All told,
from the beginning of it, to now, over 2,000 Member requests were
considered in some form or another, either in committee, on the House,
or as we worked with the Senate.
With that open, collaborative, and bipartisan process, we have
produced, I think, an excellent product. First, and foremost, we
support the men and women who serve in the United States military in
this bill. Most specifically, we serve the people who are economically
struggling the most by a 4.6 percent pay raise, increase in the basic
housing allowance, increase in the basic needs allowance, making sure
that the price of items at the commissary do not go up so much as to
price people out of it.
We support the men and women who serve in the military in this bill,
and that is the number one most important role that we have.
This bill also continues on the work that we did on last year's
efforts to reform how sexual assault is handled in the military by
including sexual harassment in the portions that are under the
jurisdiction of the special victim prosecutor.
There is a laundry list of things we do to really improve the quality
of life for servicemembers and to exercise our oversight.
This bill also contains a number of other oversight bills; the
Intelligence oversight bill, the Foreign Affairs oversight bill, the
Coast Guard authorization bill--authorization was the word I was
looking for--as well as the Water Resources Development Act.
All told, this bill is Congress exercising its authority to authorize
and do oversight of the executive branch on behalf of the American
people; and I think that is enormously important.
We are a coequal branch of government. It is our responsibility to
exercise that oversight and represent the people.
Now, obviously, the most direct, sort of blunt force way that we do
it is through appropriations, the money we spend. That is incredibly
important as well.
But the authorizing portion of what we do matters a great deal. It is
our opportunity, as individual Members of Congress, to set policy for
this country at the Department of Defense, first and foremost but, as I
said, also in this bill on intel and foreign affairs and the Coast
Guard and elsewhere. It is really important that we get that job done
and we do it really, really well.
I can't go through every single item that is in this bill, but I can
tell you that just about every Member of this House has something in
this bill that is important for policy, important to their district. I
know because they have been talking to me for the last 6 months about
it.
This is important policy that makes a huge difference for the people
of this body and the people of this country, and I would urge us to
support it.
I want to say two more quick things before I yield to my partner--
actually, three more quick things before I yield to my partner, Mr.
Rogers, on this.
First of all, I really want to thank him, the staff, and everybody
involved in all of that. To field that many requests takes a lot of
time. The staff on the Armed Services Committee has been outstanding,
and we are a bipartisan staff. We work together in a collaborative
process.
All of the committee members, Republican and Democrat, have worked
well together. Heck, in this moment I will even say something good
about the Senate. They worked well with us also in a bipartisan,
bicameral way. I really thank them for putting that process together.
Second, I do want to just briefly address, there is always a lot of
controversy about issues not within our jurisdiction and whether or not
they go into the bill. What has to happen on that is the committees of
jurisdiction have to agree. Democrat, Republican, House, Senate, you
have got to get all four. If you get all four, great, we are happy to
carry it. If you don't, we can't.
I know it is important to you. I know you wish we could, but we can't
because we don't have the votes for it. So I hope people understand
that as we work with them on those outside issues.
Lastly, I do want to address the vaccine issue, and I want to make a
couple of things perfectly clear. Number one, the policy that the
Department of Defense put in place in August of 2021 requiring
servicemembers to be vaccinated was the absolute right policy.
It saved lives and it improved readiness for the United States
military while it was in place because it was absolutely clear that
that vaccine made an enormous difference in protecting people from the
disease. It was the absolute right policy; that is number one.
Number two, servicemembers who refused to follow that order had to be
disciplined. Orders are not optional in the United States military. You
cannot function that way, and we are not going to undo that.
But number three, right now, today, what is it, December whatever, in
2022, a policy that says you have to have gotten the first shot, and
that is what the policy is that we are undoing in this bill. It says
that you have to have gotten that first shot way back in 2021, either
one Johnson & Johnson shot or the two-shot Pfizer or Moderna deal.
[[Page H8841]]
Right now, the science does not support that that makes you any safer
today; it just doesn't.
I urge the Department of Defense to go back now and look at that
policy and think about what the right and best policy would be. But it
does make sense to repeal that order from August of 2021.
Personally, I would have preferred the Department of Defense do it on
their own rather than the legislature telling them to. But since they
didn't, I think this makes sense, and I think we ought to do it.
Again, let me just conclude by saying this has been an excellent
process. We have a nearly 4,000-page bill that exercises the
authorizing and oversight authority of the United States Congress on
behalf of the American people. We did it very well.
We have accomplished a lot in this bill. I think every Member of this
body can vote for it and feel really good about that. So I urge you to
vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7776, the James
Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act.
Providing the authorities and resources our warfighters need to
defend our Nation and defeat our adversaries is the greatest
responsibility that we have in this Congress. We fulfill that
responsibility with this NDAA.
We put our servicemembers first, providing a 4.6 percent pay raise
and expanding benefits for military spouses and families.
To counteract the effects of record inflation on our military
families, this bill increases housing allowances and lowers prices at
commissaries, which offset the skyrocketing costs for rent and food;
and it expands eligibility for low-income military families to receive
additional allowances to cover basic needs.
This bill also ends the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The mandate has
been needlessly forcing out thousands of talented and experienced
servicemembers. I am pleased that we have reached an agreement on this.
This bill is also focused on ensuring our warfighters are the best
equipped and trained in the world.
We increase funding for readiness, reversing cuts in military
construction and housing projects; expanding training availabilities
for servicemembers; and improving the safety of the ships, aircraft,
combat vehicles, and facilities where our warfighters serve.
We also divest of over $6 billion in the legacy systems that do
little or nothing to deter China, or our other adversaries.
We reinvest those savings in emerging technologies, such as IA,
quantum computing, hypersonic weapons, and autonomous systems. These
are the technologies we need to ensure our warfighters prevail in
future battlefields. The threats against us are rapidly evolving.
H.R. 7776 is laser-focused on preparing our military to counter
threats from China and our other adversaries. It makes critical
investments in new systems capable of surviving in contested
environments.
It includes provisions that will further harden our supply chain and
industrial base against filtration from China; and it reaffirms our
support to allies in the region, especially Taiwan.
Finally, it strengthens our European alliance, as these democracies
face grave threats from that crackpot in the Kremlin.
I am very proud that we have, once again, come together in a
bipartisan, bicameral fashion to fulfill our constitutional duty and
produce a fiscal year 2023 NDAA. I urge all Members to support it.
Also, like the chairman, I thank our staff for doing an incredibly
good job of helping pull this together. I couldn't have a better
partner in running this committee than Chairman Smith. So I thank him
very much for his leadership.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1215
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information
Systems.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this year's National
Defense Authorization Act.
I want to begin by thanking Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Rogers,
and Ranking Member Banks for their leadership on this critical
legislation.
As chairman of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies,
and Information Systems, I am proud of all of the work that we have
done in this year's bill, from cyber, to research and development, to
artificial intelligence, as well as our efforts to combat climate
change, including shifting towards developing sustainable alternative
aviation fuels. It is this subcommittee, in particular, that works to
deliver cutting-edge technologies into the hands of the warfighter. For
the past 22 years, it has been my job to ensure that our troops never
enter a fair fight.
As I prepare to depart from Congress at the end of this year, I will
always cherish the opportunity I have had to work across the aisle to
provide for our national defense. I thank my colleagues and staff,
without whom many of these accomplishments would not be possible. But
most of all, I would like to thank each and every servicemember and
civilian who has dedicated their life to the U.S. military and
protecting our way of life.
To honor their sacrifice, I urge all of my colleagues to support the
NDAA.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).
Mr. LAMBORN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the
James N. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year
2023.
As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, there
are several provisions I am excited about. The bill directs the
establishment of a national hypersonic initiative and requires a
strategy to use unconventional capabilities to defeat hypersonic
threats.
The bill also fully funds nuclear triad modernization, restores
funding for the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile, and prohibits
retirement of the B-83 gravity bomb.
It funds two additional Patriot batteries in the Guam defense system,
and it advances planning for an East Coast missile defense site.
The NDAA also requires a public strategy for the protection of
satellites and directs the establishment of resilient and responsive
space capabilities. Additionally, it replenishes American stocks of
munitions that have been provided to Ukraine and have begun to be
depleted.
Finally, I am very supportive of the provision to rescind the COVID-
19 vaccine mandate and end separations, protecting the rights of our
servicemembers.
I conclude with one final public thank you to my good friend and
colleague, Jim Cooper, for his service and steadfast partnership.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the
bipartisan fiscal year 2023 NDAA.
Madam Speaker, as you know, Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution
mandates that Congress ``shall provide and maintain a Navy.'' The
Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee's work does exactly that.
Our mark increased the number of battle force ships from 8 requested
to 11 and invests in the workforce and supply chain necessary for their
construction. The bill also authorizes the Maritime Administration, for
the first time, to buy 10 new-build sealift vessels to recapitalize our
National Defense Reserve Fleet built in American shipyards by American
workers.
Also included is the first congressional action in support of the
AUKUS security agreement between the U.S., Australia, and U.K. which
establishes joint nuclear training for U.S. and Australian naval
officers, which is critical for an Australian nuclear-powered submarine
fleet of their own.
I thank my colleagues on the subcommittee, particularly Ranking
Member Rob Wittman, our outstanding
[[Page H8842]]
staff: Jay Vallario, Kelly Goggin, Dave Sienicki, and Naajidah Khan,
and our defense fellow, Lieutenant Logan O'Shea, all who contributed so
much to this measure.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and join Chairman Smith and
Ranking Member Rogers in fulfilling our constitutional duty to our
Nation.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rogers for yielding.
Yesterday, we remembered the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl
Harbor. The United States was surprised by the audacious Japanese
attack and our national security was placed in peril. Times have
changed, though, and Japan is now a bedrock ally of the United States
today. I can't help but wonder if we learned the hard-earned lessons of
Pearl Harbor or whether we are drifting into strategic malaise and will
be caught unprepared by another attack on our national security.
Frankly, we are not ready. With a Navy fleet that continues to tread
water in overall force structure and an Air Force that continues to
cede combat firepower, I am not confident of our trajectory.
That is why I am pleased to have rejected a multitude of reckless
national security objectives proposed by the Biden administration. This
bill authorizes a 20 percent increase in ship construction, partially
rejects an ill-advised divest-to-invest strategy and blocks a multitude
of poison pills that were haphazardly tacked on to this legislation.
While this is a good bill worthy of support, I look forward to the
next Congress where we can assert with greater certainty a revised
trajectory for our national security. We need to better assure our
partners and allies and avoid our pre-World War II hubris by decisively
deterring future aggressors. We have much work to do.
I thank Ranking Member Rogers and his leadership during the top-line
debate this year. We are adopting his budget vision today, a vision
that ensures real growth for defense. I also particularly thank
Chairmen Smith and Courtney for their desire to reach bipartisan
consensus.
My friends, this is a good bill that advances the national security
of the United States. I urge all Members to support the bill.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi), the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Readiness.
Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, the Subcommittee on Readiness continues
its works to ensure that our bases and our personnel are prepared for
anything, from climate change to floods, fires, housing, and the like.
Mr. Speaker, as I look at you there on the podium, I am saddened. I
am going to miss you. I am going to miss the work that you have done
and the extraordinary efforts you have made over your many, many years.
Behind me is another woman who I am also going to miss, Jackie
Speier, and Jim Cooper, who is not with us this morning. An
extraordinary group of people, the three of you. You have carried this
committee. You have carried all of us, and we thank you.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I will concur with my friend and colleague from California. You are
going to be missed, not only as a member of our committee but as a
Member of this body. We have been fortunate to have had the privilege
of serving with you.
Similarly, I would like to recognize my friend and colleague from
Missouri, who is also going to be sorely missed. She has been a very
valuable member of our committee for a long time and a leader on our
committee.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri
(Mrs. Hartzler).
Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, it has been the honor of my life to serve
on this committee.
I rise in strong support today of the National Defense Authorization
Act for fiscal year 2023.
I thank Ranking Member Rogers and Chairman Smith for the work in
developing this comprehensive bill. I also thank the TAL subcommittee
chairman, Representative Norcross, for his leadership and
collaboration, not only for this NDAA but over the past several years.
This legislation would not have been possible without the hard work and
dedication of the entire committee staff, including Kelly Repair; my
chief of staff, Chrissi Lee; and Defense Fellow Steve Azab. I
appreciate all of their efforts.
The NDAA is always a bipartisan product, and it has been an honor to
contribute to the development of these bills for the past 12 years.
As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land
Forces, I am pleased this bill reverses President Biden's cuts to our
national security and restores funding for the procurement of vital
platforms needed to continue to rebuild and modernize our military.
Specifically, I am pleased that this bill authorizes funding for 8 F/
A-18 Super Hornets, to address the Navy's severe strike fighter
shortfall; 24 F-15EX aircraft, to ensure the Air Force has both the
capability and capacity to meet both current and future threats; and
continued investments in Army ammunition facility modernization. This
has been a top priority of mine since coming to Congress, and I am
pleased at the progress Chairman Norcross and I have made in working
with the Army to ensure proper investments are made for our ammunition
facilities.
Additionally, I am pleased this bill includes language to protect CID
training at Fort Leonard Wood, language to ensure chaplains can use
their resources for resiliency and suicide prevention programs, and
several programs to combat the threat posed by China.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this with a ``yes''
vote.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier), the chair of
the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, this NDAA moves us forward in reforming the
military justice system. We took sexual assault out of the chain of
command last year in the NDAA. This year, we take sexual harassment out
of the chain, and we require trained investigators who will investigate
cases outside the brigade. Both are critical for the safety of military
personnel because sexual harassment begets sexual assault.
Suicide in the military is a crisis. This year, I visited bases in
Alaska twice that were hit hard by suicide deaths. This bill expands
the military and civilian behavioral health workforce. It authorizes
cold-weather pay and offers each servicemember stationed in Alaska a
paid trip home in 2023.
We need to increase the pay of military childcare center workers. We
have 19,000 families on waiting lists and are only using a third of the
capacity in our facilities. This bill provides for a study. I hope we
will do the right thing and make sure that these childcare providers
are making more than those who are flipping burgers at the local
restaurant. This bill also preserves crucial leave and paid travel for
servicewomen who must go to another State to receive an abortion.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this measure. I thank my committee
and the personal staff.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I do want to say, I am going to
miss the gentlewoman from California. She has been a great member of
our committee and has really championed some important issues that she
just addressed. We will miss her.
I do want to respond to her last remark and make a point. There is
nothing in this bill that authorizes leave and paid travel for
servicemembers to get an abortion. There is no policy in place in the
Department for this.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi
(Mr. Kelly).
Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of Jim Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act. He is my friend, and
he will be missed. He also will be missed as the former chairman and
ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
I thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers for their hard work
and my subcommittee friend,
[[Page H8843]]
Ruben Gallego, who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence
and Special Operations.
We have done many things in the area. We have gotten new authorities
for them to operate. We have gotten resources for them to operate
throughout the world, to help us both in the counterterrorism fight and
global power struggle with some of our competitors.
Our Nation faces unprecedented challenges. I am very proud that this
includes the COVID mandate being removed, that we will not be losing
any more soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines; that we also will not
keep recruiting to stay low; that we will have more people who join a
force that now is not hitting its commitment goals.
I am committed to free-cost healthcare for all of our servicemembers,
which includes our National Guard and Reserve.
I thank Ms. Speier, who I served with on the Subcommittee on Military
Personnel. We are going to miss her and also you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross), the chair of the Subcommittee on
Tactical Air and Land Forces.
Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member
Rogers for what they have done in ushering this through.
The Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee portion of this year's
NDAA manages our Nation's security risk and keeps America's land and
air forces the best in the world.
I especially thank our ranking member, Mrs. Hartzler--this will be
her last NDAA--for her partnership and always putting America above all
others.
Certainly, this is an issue before us. It is a bipartisan bill, and
we have the oversight of many programs, including the F-35, while
reducing risks to the industrial base, particularly when it comes to
munitions.
{time} 1230
I can't adequately express my frustrations once again that the buy
American provisions that would have strengthened our industrial base
have been left out.
Finally, I thank the professional staff who made it possible for what
we do here each and every day, and I thank the men and women who built
and maintain this great industrial base, the finest military in the
world.
Certainly, without my professional staff--Bill, Liz, Heath, Carla,
Mike, and Payson--and my personal staff of Katie and Kevin, it wouldn't
be possible.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote for this bill.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher), my friend and colleague.
Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker, I stand before this Chamber today in
strong support of this bipartisan defense bill that will help protect
this country and take care of the young men and women who sacrifice for
our freedom on a daily basis.
We got a lot of good things done in this year's process. We have an
$858 billion top line, an increase of $45 billion over President
Biden's defense budget request. We continue to support and improve the
lives of our servicemembers and military families by authorizing a
military basic pay raise of 4.6 percent. We also have $500 million for
additional housing allowances to counteract the skyrocketing cost of
rent.
I also support the repeal of DOD's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
We have a number of provisions looking at improving mental health
services for servicemembers and their families.
The conference agreement also reinforces that parents of children
attending DOD schools have the right to review curriculum,
instructional materials, and disciplinary policies.
Also critically important is ensuring that our professional military
education is geared toward warfighting.
I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier), our chair, for
her work with me on looking into the state of our professional military
education enterprise and for all the work that we have done together
over the last 2 years.
I will end by thanking the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr.
Langevin), as well, for his remarkable service. We worked together on
the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. As I like to say, Jim was sounding
the alarm about cyberspace before it was cool. He is a remarkable
intellectual leader in that regard.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much
time remains on each side.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Langevin). The gentleman from Washington
State has 9\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentleman from Alabama has 9
minutes remaining.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gallego), the chair of the Intelligence and
Special Operations Subcommittee.
Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7776, the
James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2023.
First off, the bill is a win for servicemembers, providing a 4.6
percent pay raise, increased funding for basic housing allowances, and
improved women's healthcare.
The bill also authorizes a range of critical provisions to address
strategic challenges from China and Russia.
We provide $6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, $800
million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $225
million for the Baltic Security Initiative, all of which is much-needed
support for Ukraine and our NATO allies and partners.
As chair of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, I
am proud of the bipartisan work of our subcommittee members, including
historic reforms to the defense intelligence enterprise, Special
Operations Forces, and our approach to the issue of civilian harm.
The bill authorizes up to $50 million to support NATO Special
Operations Headquarters, an effort that will improve relationships
among Special Operations Forces of NATO countries.
It also establishes an oversight framework for information
operations, ensuring that Congress is notified no later than 48 hours
after DOD approves a new military information support operation, and
the bill delivers on our commitment to address civilian harm.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30
seconds to the gentleman from Arizona.
Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, it requires the establishment of a civilian
protection center of excellence and provides $25 million to implement
the civilian harm mitigation response plan.
Finally, and more importantly, I thank my subcommittee ranking
member, Trent Kelly, for his contribution to this bill and his strong
bipartisan work.
I also thank my subcommittee staff, Shannon Green, Craig Greene, Will
Braden, and Patrick Nevins, and, of course, my MLA Michelle Shevin-
Coetzee and defense fellow Charlie Juhl.
Mr. Speaker, it is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support
it.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).
Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not just to support the NDAA
but some other provisions that are contained therein, one of which is
very important to this country, as well, and that is the Water
Resources Development Act of 2022, or WRDA, as we know it.
Continuing the bipartisan, biennial tradition, in May, WRDA 2022
passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a voice vote.
Later in June, it passed this Chamber with an overwhelming vote of 384-
37. Since then, of course, we have been working with our Senate
colleagues to finalize this very important piece of legislation.
WRDA came together with input from Members from all across the
country and is an example of what can happen when Congress works
together to find solutions for their constituents and the American
public.
This year's WRDA authorizes several Chief's reports, studies, and
environmental infrastructure projects. It brings focus and priority to
many important projects in my home State of North Carolina and
throughout the country to better protect our communities from flooding.
The legislation also supports fundamental Corps missions, such as
navigation and storm damage reduction,
[[Page H8844]]
which in turn support our economy and help keep the supply chain
moving, literally.
I am honored to have had the opportunity to help craft this important
bill, with critical input from my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle. I especially want to thank Chairman DeFazio and Chair
Napolitano, as well as Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, for their leadership and
work on this vital, very commonsense legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I
appreciate their doing so.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria), the vice chair of the Armed
Services Committee.
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this
year's National Defense Authorization Act. This is a product of
bipartisan work, from all across Congress, and especially within our
Armed Services Committee.
It is a historic investment in our defense. It makes a strong step
forward in our important priorities within the Pacific, for some of our
most challenging areas of the world, the investments in the Pacific;
the continuing assistance to Ukraine; as well as making advancements in
shipbuilding and preventing the decommissioning of some ships and
platforms that remain relevant in this very challenging time.
We can and should continue to do more in the future, and I trust my
colleagues to make those investments as we move forward.
As I wrap up my term here on the Armed Services Committee and in the
House, I thank the committee staff on both sides of the aisle, as well
as my staff in my congressional office and district office, for their
unrelenting focus on the issues that are covered in the NDAA. I am
proud to say that we had 23 items in this year's bill that provide
significant, tangible results for our national defense, for the Navy,
and for the Hampton Roads region.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my friend and colleague.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this
legislation. I first thank the chairman and the ranking member for
focusing our efforts with this piece of legislation on the threats, the
most complex threat environment that we have faced, I believe, in our
history, and getting rid of things that distracted us, like a vaccine
mandate where we saw elite military forces having to make a choice that
I believe was unconstitutional. I believe that focus is so necessary
right now.
For those that are in Killeen, Texas, in the Fort Hood area, which is
home to the largest Active-Duty armored military installation in the
free world, you have much-needed military construction funds that are
coming to you to enhance your readiness.
For those at Goodfellow Air Force Base, we are proud of the 12,000
airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines, and guardians that are trained
there every year in the preparation of intelligence.
We have to remain focused. It is a complex threat environment.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of
legislation and the most solemn duty that we face, which is supporting
our military men and women and their families.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), the chairman of the full
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, today is a historic day for our water
resources and for bipartisan and bicameral work in the Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a joint explanatory statement to
accompany the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 and a letter to
Chairman Smith.
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, December 8, 2022.
Hon. Adam Smith,
Chair, House Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: I am writing to further explain the
intentions of Section 11252, Strategy for Retention of
Cuttermen, of the James M. Inhofe National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
In 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in
Bostock v. Clayton County (590 U.S._(2020)) that the term
``sex'' included sexual orientation and gender identity for
purposes of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Specifically, the Court determined that ``homosexuality and
transgender status are inextricably bound up with sex. Not
because homosexuality or transgender status are related to
sex in some vague sense or because discrimination on these
bases has some disparate impact on one sex or another, but
because to discriminate on these grounds requires an employer
to intentionally treat individual employees differently
because of their sex.''
This rationale is applicable to a range of laws that
prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex or gender.
Indeed, federal courts both prior and subsequent to the
Court's decision in Bostock have determined that our nation's
federal laws that prohibit sex or gender discrimination also
prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity
including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, the Fair Housing
Act, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The Supreme Court
in numerous decisions, such as United States v. Virginia (518
U.S. 515 (1996)), has used the terms sex and gender
interchangeably.
Our nation's nondiscrimination laws must be construed
broadly to achieve Congress' aim of eradicating
discrimination. In keeping with these cases and the current
understanding of gender, I want to explicitly state on the
record that the reference to discrimination based on gender
in Section 11252(c) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 also includes
discrimination on the basis of gender identity. I understand
that the Coast Guard shares this view and understanding of
Section 11252(c).
It is critical that the Coast Guard attract and retain a
qualified workforce serving on Coast Guard cutters and that
such a workforce includes underrepresented minorities and
servicemembers from rural areas. I thank you for including
this important section in the NDAA and look forward to
reading the Commandant's strategy for retention of cuttermen.
Sincerely,
Peter DeFazio,
Chair.
____
Joint Explanatory Statement to Accompany Title LXXXI of Division H of
Senate Amendment to H.R. 7776, With An Amendment, the Water Resources
Development Act of 2022--James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2023
H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022
(WRDA 2022) as passed by the House of Representatives and
amended by the Senate is the legislative vehicle for the
National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2023. This
joint explanatory statement, submitted on behalf of Chair
Peter DeFazio and Ranking Member Sam Graves of the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Chair Tom
Carper and Ranking Member Shelly Moore Capito of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works, reflects the view
of the bicameral Chairs and Ranking Members responsible for
managing negotiations to develop a final version of WRDA
2022, hereafter in this statement referred to as ``the
managers.'' This statement of the managers describes the
intent of the final legislation and the manner in which
provisions in disagreement between the House of
Representatives and the Senate have been resolved.
Background
WRDA 2022 primarily addresses the Civil Works program of
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The bill supports
the nation's global economic competitiveness and
environmental resilience by authorizing the Corps to
undertake projects, programs, and initiatives in their Civil
Works program relating to navigation, ecosystem restoration,
flood and coastal storm risk management, hydropower,
recreation, emergency management, and water supply.
A water resources development act (WRDA) is the authorizing
legislation for the programs and projects of the Corps' Civil
Works program. Ideally enacted every two years, such an act
is the main vehicle for authorizing water resources
development projects to be studied, planned, and developed by
the Corps. WRDAs typically authorize new water resources
development projects pursuant to completed feasibility study
reports from the Chief of Engineers, modifications to
existing projects pursuant to reports from the Director of
Civil Works, other modifications to existing projects, study
authorizations for new projects, the authorization of
miscellaneous projects consistent with the Corps' programs
that also demonstrate a Federal interest, and other
programmatic changes to the Corps' authorities. Projects and
programs contained in WRDAs fall within one or more of the
Corps' Civil Works' missions and authorities, which include
navigation, ecosystem restoration, flood and coastal storm
risk management, hydropower, recreation, regulatory,
emergency management, and water supply.
General Overview WRDA 2022
Title LXXXI of Division H is broken down into four subtitles:
Subtitle A addresses general policy changes to the Civil
Works program authorities. These changes include, among
others:
[[Page H8845]]
increased support for coastal-related restoration and
infrastructure; enhanced authority for the Corps to modernize
projects during the performance of maintenance and emergency
repair activities; greater flexibility for non-Federal
sponsors of Corps projects; changes to ensure the efficient
and effective delivery of water resources development
projects, programs, and other assistance, including
assistance to Tribal communities, economically disadvantaged
communities, and states with water supply concerns; improved
accessibility to Corps expertise and increased affordability
of Corps projects for economically disadvantaged, rural, and
Tribal communities; and increased support for research and
development, technical assistance, and planning assistance to
states.
Subtitle B authorizes critical new feasibility studies to
be conducted by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works (Secretary), who jointly implements the projects and
programs of the Corps with the Chief of Engineers and directs
certain existing studies to be expedited to completion. The
Secretary is also authorized or directed to complete
assessments or reports pertaining to, among other things,
dredge capacity, reservoir sedimentation, socially and
economically disadvantaged small business concerns, and the
economic valuation of preservation of open space,
recreational areas, and habitat associated with project
lands.
Subtitle C identifies antiquated or outdated projects, and
parts of projects, that are no longer needed for a Federal
purpose for deauthorization. This subtitle also modifies
existing projects and related provisions, including
environmental infrastructure authorities, and calls upon the
Secretary to expedite the completion of specified projects
and studies.
Subtitle D authorizes 25 new projects and six project
modifications based on reports submitted to Congress by the
Secretary or the Chief of Engineers. These projects address
various mission areas of the Corps, including ecosystem
restoration, flood and coastal storm risk management,
navigation, and water storage for water supply.
Discussion on Specific WRDA 2022 Provisions
2. The transformative nature of the last four WRDA bills on
the Corps' Civil Works program has provided the Corps and
non-Federal interests (sponsors) with a tremendous number of
new opportunities for advancing projects more quickly. The
managers expect the Corps to issue implementation guidance on
the new provisions contained within WRDA 2022 in an
expeditious and transparent manner, and where appropriate, to
solicit the views of, and consult with, a wide array of
stakeholders in the formulation of implementation guidance.
In that light, the managers direct the Corps to provide
periodic, bipartisan briefings to the staffs of the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works on the status of
implementation of WRDA 2022, and any other unimplemented WRDA
provision enacted by Congress since 2014, with the first
briefing to be hosted no later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of WRDA 2022.
Generally, WRDA 2022 authorizes or directs the preparation
of several assessments. The managers intend for the Secretary
to conduct these assessments at Federal expense.
Additionally, it is the managers' expectation that studies
included in WRDA 2022 to modify authorized projects prior
to or during construction, including studies to extend
Federal participation in periodic nourishment, will
continue to be initiated without a new start designation,
in accordance with well-established budget policy.
WRDA 2022 includes several provisions intended to increase
support for economically disadvantaged communities in both
rural and urban areas. The managers included this direction
to ensure that the Secretary gives equal consideration to
economically disadvantaged communities in rural areas and in
urban areas when implementing the applicable authorities. The
managers do not intend for this direction to affect the
Corps' ongoing rulemaking to define the term ``economically
disadvantaged community.''
In addition, in each of the last few WRDAs, Congress has
directed the Corps to make greater use of natural and nature-
based features and other measures to enhance resilient
solutions through all the Corps' missions and authorities.
However, despite this clear direction, which is enhanced
through additional policy provisions authorized in WRDA 2022,
the managers are concerned that these enacted provisions are
not being fully implemented by the Corps and directs the
Secretary to ensure that the availability and suitability of
these approaches are explored in each of the Corps' Districts
and Divisions.
WRDA 2022 includes several significant provisions intended
to enhance the Corps' authority to formulate, construct,
maintain, and repair projects in a manner that holistically
addresses the impacts of sea level rise and increasingly
frequent and severe extreme weather events. Section 8102 of
WRDA 2022 provides the Corps with increased flexibility to
modify federally authorized hurricane and storm damage
reduction projects during the performance of emergency repair
and restoration activities to ensure that they perform
adequately in response to changing conditions. In relation to
this provision, the managers note that they received a
request to authorize the construction of enhancements,
including additional gulf side breakwaters, to improve the
performance of the Grand Isle and Vicinity, Louisiana Beach
Erosion and Hurricane Protection Project, Jefferson Parish,
Louisiana. Accordingly, the managers direct the Secretary to
consider the changes to section 5(a)(1) of the Act of August
18, 1941 (commonly known as the Flood Control Act of 1941)
made by this section when repairing or restoring this project
to account for increased storm damage.
Section 8103 of WRDA 2022 includes amendments to section
212 of WRDA 1999 that streamline the authority and
incorporate shoreline protection and restoration into its
scope. The managers intend for the Secretary to use this
authority to give priority consideration to the protection
and restoration of shorelines, riverbanks, and streambanks
from erosion and other damaging impacts of extreme weather
events. While the managers intend for the Secretary to
address these hazards using nonstructural measures, natural
features, and nature-based features to the maximum extent
practicable, the formulation of projects that rely primarily
on structural solutions is not precluded. Such solutions,
however, must meet traditional economic or life safety
justification standards if they do not otherwise satisfy the
alternative standard in section 212(d) of WRDA 1999. Finally,
while section 212, as amended, provides general authority for
the Secretary to initiate studies, the managers do not intend
for individually authorized studies, or studies carried out
under programmatic authorities such as section 118(b) of WRDA
2020, to be excluded from implementation under the terms of
section 212 if such studies otherwise fall within the scope
of the section.
Section 8106(a) of WRDA 2022 requires the Corps, when
requested by a non-Federal sponsor for a study for flood or
hurricane and storm damage reduction, to expand the scope of
the study to include the formulation of measures to address
damages attributable to all drivers of flood risk in the
study area. When section 8106(a) is applied to a study for
flood damage reduction, the federal interest in the
formulation of measures to address flood risk in the study
area will no longer be limited by the Corps' policy on
minimum flows. When section 8106(a) is applied to a study for
hurricane and coastal storm damage reduction, the Federal
interest in the formulation of measures will extend to
drivers of flood risk that do not coincide with coastal storm
events, including flooding and erosion associated with sea
level rise and so-called ``sunny day tides.'' Further, the
managers expect the Secretary to continue to account for the
effects of sea level rise, including an increase in the
extent, magnitude, and frequency of tidal flooding, in the
formulation of both flood and coastal storm risk management
and ecosystem restoration projects by fully implementing
existing authorities such as section 113 of WRDA 2020.
Additionally, section 8106(b) of WRDA 2022 expands the
Secretary's authority to formulate alternatives for any water
resources development project, at the request of the non-
Federal sponsor for such project, in a manner that increases
a community's resilience to drought conditions. This
provision will allow the Secretary to include individual
measures for water supply and water conservation in a
recommendation for a water resources development project as
well as to design the water resources development project
itself in a manner that maximizes the project's incidental
benefits for those purposes.
WRDA 2022 includes several provisions to enhance support
for Tribal communities. Section 8111 of WRDA 2022 amends the
Tribal Partnership Program established by section 203 of WRDA
2000. The amendments clarify that coastal storm risk
management and erosion control projects fall within the
program's scope. Additionally, section 8111 provides an
alternative standard for justifying flood and coastal storm
risk management projects, including erosion control and
streambank stabilization projects, when such projects do not
otherwise satisfy traditional standards for justification on
the basis of economics or life safety.
Section 8113 of WRDA 2022 clarifies the Secretary's
authority to develop a comprehensive plan to replace Indian
villages, housing sites, and related structures impacted by
construction of The Dalles Dam, Bonneville Dam, McNary Dam,
and John Day Dam in Washington and Oregon. The managers
intend for the Secretary to work with the affected Tribes to
develop the plan. With the clarifications made in this Act,
section 204 of the Flood Control Act of 1950 should no longer
be interpreted as restricting the Corps' authority to provide
housing assistance at multiple village sites to mitigate
impacts from construction of The Dalles Dam or from the
construction of any of the other three dams.
Further, section 8114 of WRDA 2022 amends section 1156 of
WRDA 1986 to clarify that the cost share waiver for Tribes
and territories is to be applied to reduce only the non-
Federal share of study and project costs. In response to this
amendment, the managers intend for the Secretary to correct
the implementation guidance for section 1119 of WRDA 2016,
which mistakenly provides for the waiver amount to be applied
to shared study costs instead of the non-Federal share of
study costs.
Section 8130 of WRDA 2022 directs the Secretary to develop
a strategic plan that identifies opportunities and challenges
relating to furthering the policy of the United States to
maximize the beneficial use of sediment
[[Page H8846]]
obtained from the construction and operation of the Corps'
water resources development projects. In carrying out this
section, the managers are aware of ongoing scientific
research into the use of nutrient-rich dredged materials as a
potential source of fertilizer for plant growth. The managers
encourage the Corps, through its Engineer Research and
Development Center (ERDC), to undertake an assessment on
the beneficial use of sediment for such purposes,
including an assessment of whether such use is cost-
effective, sustainable, and safe for human health and the
environment.
Section 8146 of WRDA 2022 authorizes the Secretary to carry
out capital improvements for the Washington Aqueduct. The
managers intend that the definition of customers found in
this section means the existing legal entities that purchase
potable water from the Washington Aqueduct, namely the
Fairfax County Water Authority, the District of Columbia
Water and Sewer Authority, and Arlington County, Virginia.
Section 8152 of WRDA 2022 authorizes the Secretary to
provide assistance to pump stations when the failure of such
pump stations would demonstrably impact the function of the
federally authorized flood or coastal storm risk management
project, which includes the impairment to water drainage from
areas interior to a federally authorized flood or coastal
storm risk management project. Congress directs the Secretary
to consider this authority to provide such assistance to the
Pointe Celeste Pump Station in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.
Section 8154 of WRDA 2022 authorizes the Secretary to carry
out a pilot program to evaluate the extent to which the
provision of temporary relocation assistance enhances the
completeness, effectiveness, efficiency, acceptability, and
equitable implementation of nonstructural flood and coastal
storm risk management projects involving the elevation or
modification of residential structures. The managers intend
for the Secretary to offer the non-Federal interest for each
project covered by the section an equal opportunity to
participate in the program.
Section 8155 of WRDA 2022 directs the Secretary to continue
construction projects that exceed or are expected to exceed
maximum project cost limits during the period beginning on
the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 31,
2024. Though the Corps is still required to submit all
relevant documentation to the House and Senate as required
under section 902 of WRDA 1986, section 8155 ensures that
supply change disruptions, inflation, and other factors
contributing to rapid and unavoidable cost increases do not
jeopardize the Corps' ability to execute the increased
amounts of funding provided to the agency during this
Congress to reinforce the nation's water infrastructure.
Finally, in light of the number of Corps projects potentially
requiring statutory cost increases that have only recently
come to the attention of Congress, section 8155(b)
establishes a new, permanent requirement that the Corps
notify the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works of any water resources development project that
exceeds or is expected to exceed its maximum cost under
section 902 of WRDA 1986.
Section 8158 of WRDA 2022 directs the Secretary to
establish a Western Water Cooperative Committee to help
mitigate the potential for conflict between the operation of
Corps projects and state water rights. A bipartisan coalition
of 19 Western Senators wrote to the Office of Management and
Budget on September 17, 2019, in opposition to the proposed
rulemaking entitled ``Use of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Reservoir Projects for Domestic, Municipal & Industrial Water
Supply'' (81 Fed. Reg. 91556 (December 16, 2016)), describing
the rule as counter to existing law and court precedent. On
January 21, 2020, the proposed rulemaking was withdrawn. The
Corps should consult with the participating Western States to
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that operation of
flood control projects in such States is consistent with the
principles of the first section of the Act of December 22,
1944, and section 301 of the Water Supply Act of 1958.
Furthermore, the Western Water Cooperative Committee shall
make recommendations that only apply to the defined list of
Western States and ensure that any recommended changes or
modifications to policy or regulations for Corps projects
would not adversely affect water resources within other
states.
Section 8160 of WRDA 2022 modernizes the Corps' authority
to carry out research and development activities. Included in
this section is a temporary authority for the Corps to
utilize transactions other than contracts, cooperative
agreements, and grants for purposes of prototype projects.
The managers intend for the Corps to expedite implementation
of this authority by relying on, to the maximum extent
practicable, existing U.S. Department of Defense guidance on
other transaction authority.
WRDA 2022 includes several provisions to support and
enhance the delivery of public recreation benefits at Corps
projects. The Corps operates more recreation areas than any
other Federal or State agency, apart from the U.S. Department
of the Interior. Nationally, visitors to nearly 600
Corpsmanaged dams and lakes spend an estimated $12 billion
per year and support 500,000 jobs. Lakes managed by the Corps
are economic drivers that support local communities. The
managers remain concerned with the costs of ongoing operation
and maintenance of these public recreation sites, which
provide an enormous benefit to the country. Specifically,
section 8161 of WRDA 2022 expresses the sense of Congress
that the Secretary spend at least 80 percent of the revenue
generated by each site on activities for the operation,
maintenance, and upkeep of such site to encourage their
continued use and economic benefit.
Section 8212 of WRDA 2022 directs the Corps to provide the
County of San Luis Obispo, California, with right of first
refusal for any potential conveyance of the project for
Salinas Dam, California. The managers are aware that the
County and the Corps have engaged in negotiations for several
years regarding the disposition of the Salinas Dam project
and associated infrastructure and reservoir. The managers
direct the Corps to engage in a collaborative process with
the County with the goal of transferring the facility to the
County as expeditiously as possible under conditions that are
acceptable to all parties. Further, the managers direct the
Corps to not take any action that would preclude the Corps
from serving as the Federal agency solely responsible for
disposal of the facility unless the County agrees with an
alternative approach and the managers are satisfied that all
parties are best served by the alternative approach. In
addition, the managers direct the Corps to not take any
action that would in any way assign responsibility for the
facility to any military installation or other Federal agency
until collaborative negotiations are complete, and all
parties are in agreement with a disposal plan.
Section 8303 of WRDA 2022 includes additional locations to
an existing pilot program to utilize forecast informed
reservoir operations (FIRO) at Corps owned dams and
reservoirs. Additionally, the section authorizes a new pilot
program in the North Atlantic Division. The managers urge the
Secretary to ensure that sufficient budgetary resources are
allocated to FIRO projects to more fully utilize this process
in appropriate situations and to provide for the update of
existing water operations control manuals to incorporate FIRO
at reservoirs identified under the two pilot programs.
The final version of Section 8327 of WRDA 2022
substantially incorporates the language contained in the
original section 309 of the Senate amendment to H.R. 7776.
Although an authorization of appropriations has been added to
subsection (c) of section 8327 for future major maintenance,
the managers do not intend for this paragraph to impose a
requirement for additional funds to be appropriated to
implement this subsection for the currently planned major
maintenance if sufficient amounts are available in the
existing allocation for major maintenance of the Indian
River Inlet navigation project.
Section 8346 of WRDA 2022 authorizes and directs the Corps
to carry out water level management activities as part of the
operation and maintenance of the navigation channel projects
on the Upper Mississippi River and on the Illinois River
(also called the Illinois Waterway) to help redress
sedimentation and to improve the quality and quantity of
habitat available for fish and wildlife. Because studies have
shown that water level management activities carried out by
the Corps produce important ecosystem benefits, the managers
intend that such activities be routinely carried out and
conducted as part of the operations and maintenance of the
navigation channels as quickly as possible, and prior to the
routine update of water control manuals for the covered
projects.
Section 8363 of WRDA 2022 states that the non-Federal
interest for the project for hurricane and storm damage risk
reduction, Colleton County, South Carolina, may be eligible
to receive credit for construction and design work carried
out by the non-Federal interest before a partnership
agreement is executed for the specified project. The managers
have agreed to this language based on the understanding from
the Corps that all applicable laws and regulations, including
the Davis-Bacon Act, would need to have been complied with
for the work of the non-Federal interest to be creditable.
WRDA 2022 authorizes significant new Federal investments in
environmental infrastructure for communities across the
nation. The managers intend for the Secretary to interpret
all environmental infrastructure authorities to include, at a
minimum, assistance for water supply storage, distribution,
and treatment; wastewater collection and treatment; drainage;
stormwater management; surface water resource protection and
development; and water quality enhancement. Additional
purposes may be expressly authorized for individual programs.
With respect to implementation of specific programs, the
managers intend for the additional appropriations authorized
under section 8376(b)(8) for the environmental infrastructure
authority authorized under section 594 of WRDA 1999 to be
administered in a manner consistent with the previous funding
authorized under section 594. Further, the managers intend
for the Water Replenishment District of Southern California
to be eligible for assistance under Section 219(f)(93) of
WRDA 1992, as amended by section 8375(b)(2)(C) of the WRDA
2022.
Other Policy Matters
Both the House and Senate committee reports on the
chambers' respective WRDA 2022 bills include direction on
implementation of previously enacted authorities. To the
extent consistent with the Act and this statement, the
managers intend for the Secretary
[[Page H8847]]
to follow the direction on previously enacted authorities
provided in those reports.
In addition to the direction in the House and Senate
committee reports on previously enacted authorities, the
managers encourage the Corps to continue to explicate
comprehensive documentation of benefits in project planning.
As the Secretary implements the Principles, Requirements, and
Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources
Implementation Studies, as directed by section 110 of WRDA
2020, the managers expect these agency-specific procedures to
foster a comprehensive, consistent, and clear assessment in
project planning documents that allows for full participation
by project sponsors.
Further, the managers seek to clarify the scope of existing
authorities for periodic renourishment and mitigation of
shore damages attributable to Federal navigation projects.
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary is
directed to provide periodic nourishment in accordance with
subsection (c) of the first section of the Act of August 13,
1946, and subject to section 156 of WRDA 1976, for projects
and measures carried out for the purpose of restoring and
increasing the resilience of ecosystems to the same extent as
periodic nourishment is provided for projects and measures
carried out for the purpose of coastal storm risk management.
For all future projects to mitigate shore damage
attributable to navigation projects under section 111 of the
River and Harbor Act of 1968, the Secretary is instructed
that shores damaged by navigation features and projects for
which the Corps has assumed responsibility through any
method, including the Cape Cod Canal, are eligible for
assistance under the section. Although the Cape Cod Canal
jetties were initially constructed by private interests, the
Cape Cod Canal project has been under Federal control for
over 100 years. The Federal Government owns the project and
has reconstructed, operated, maintained, repaired, and
rehabilitated the project numerous times since acquiring the
channel. The project does not have a non-Federal sponsor.
This section provides clear authority for the Secretary to
implement mitigation measures to address the shore damage
caused by the Cape Cod Canal jetties at full Federal expense.
The Secretary is directed to exercise this authority without
further delay. Further, the Secretary is directed in the
future to apply this section in a manner that does not
preclude Federal participation in the cost to mitigate
damages caused by a navigation project or feature solely
because the project or feature was initially constructed by a
nonFederal entity.
The managers remain concerned about the impacts of drought
to the nation's water supply, including the current drought
in the State of California and other arid States. Section 221
of WRDA 2020 directed the Corps to submit a report to
Congress on the benefits and consequences of including water
supply and water conservation as a primary mission of the
Corps. Section 221 of WRDA 2020 directed this report be
transmitted to Congress by June 2022; however, the Corps has
now significantly missed this statutory deadline on an issue
of critical importance to communities concerned about long-
term water supply availability. The managers direct the Corps
to prioritize and expedite completion of this report, and to
provide a bipartisan briefing to the House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works within 90 days of the date of
enactment of this Act on the status of such report.
During consideration of WRDA 2022, the managers received a
request related to public safety at federally authorized
hurricane and storm damage reduction projects, such a the
project at Cape May Beach in Cape May, New Jersey. The
managers encourage the Secretary to work with the State of
New Jersey, the non-Federal sponsors of similar hurricane and
storm damage reduction projects in the region, and other
interested stakeholders and public safety officials to
examine whether the rate of head, neck, and spine injuries
sustained at Cape May Beach as reported by the New Jersey
Department of Health and the City of Cape May Beach Patrol is
similar to or differs from those reported at other federally
authorized projects in the region.
The managers received a request related to the Corps' use
of its existing authority to perform advance maintenance of
the nation's federally authorized navigation channels. These
channels are essential to keeping the international supply
chain open and operating efficiently during this period of
economic recovery. The managers strongly urge the Corps to
make optimum use of available authorities to ensure that
these waterways are adequately maintained and able to
accommodate global shipping needs and generate economic
benefits during this critical time. The use of advance
maintenance can be particularly impactful in channels with
high shoaling areas. Over time these areas naturally silt in
and are especially vulnerable to the advent of more intense
storms, and repeated advance maintenance efforts may be
necessary to guard against depth reductions which can lead to
draft restrictions for larger global vessels. The managers
encourage the Corps to maintain Federal channels at their
approved advance maintenance depth.
The managers are aware that the Corps utilizes a wide range
of platforms, sensors, and other technologies to conduct a
range of research and monitoring activities, including the
use of uncrewed platforms and sensor packages. The managers
encourage the Secretary, in coordination with the Corps'
Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), to consider
establishing an Uncrewed Systems Innovation Center to ensure
the appropriate development and utilization of innovative
uncrewed technologies, including autonomous, remotely
operated airborne, terrestrial, and maritime vehicle systems.
The managers received a request to consolidate the
management of all active Miami-Dade County water resource
projects into the Jacksonville District. The managers
encourage the Corps to transfer project management of the
Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Feasibility Management
from the Norfolk District to the Jacksonville District.
The managers received several requests related to the
potential modification of lock and dam structures on the
inland waterways system to allow for remote operations,
including concerns with the vulnerability of remote
operations to cyber-attacks and the potential impact of
remote operations on current Corps' employees. The managers
remind the Secretary that section 222(b)(1)(B)(V) of WRDA
2020 set forth a security framework for studies carried out
by the Corps. Results from that effort should be used to
address cyber security concerns for Corps structures,
particularly locks and dams, that utilize remote supervisory
control and data acquisition (SCADA) type products for
automation control systems as part of the Corps' national
security interests. The managers request a bipartisan
briefing on these activities. The managers also recognize
that remote lock operations along commercial and recreational
waterways can increase the availability and capacity of the
locks, especially in lower-use waterways, and can support
other economic drivers in counties throughout America. The
managers received a request to consider potential expansion
of remote operations to additional locations, such as in the
Upper Allegheny Locks in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
However, the managers remind the Secretary of recent
Congressional action to statutorily declare Corps' lock and
dam employees as inherently governmental and direct the
Secretary to report to the managers on any potential
workforce impacts of any proposed automation and remote
operations activity before they are carried out, and to
ensure that any recommendations in a completed study will not
result in the loss of jobs for current lock and dam
employees.
As part of the Isabella Lake Dam Safety Modification
Project in Kern County, California, the Corps is building the
U.S. Forest Service a new visitor center to replace a
facility that was demolished due to this project. The
managers note discussion on this visitor center started a
decade ago, but understands the Corps is now in the process
of acquiring private property on which to build this facility
from a willing seller. Accordingly, the managers support the
Corps efforts on this project and direct the Corps to
continue to work expeditiously to bring this visitor center
to fruition.
The managers direct the Corps to consult with the Indian
Wells Valley Groundwater Authority and the Naval Air Weapons
Station China Lake to validate proposed solutions to resolve
water supply needs and eliminate overdraft in the Indian
Wells Valley groundwater basin in California. This validation
effort shall review and develop measures needed to provide
water supply resiliency in the basin and for the critical
Federal defense assets that overlie it, including, but not
limited to, the preparation of comprehensive plans for the
development, implementation, utilization, conservation, or
importation of water, infrastructure needs, and related land
resources in the basin. Such plans shall consider the
potential and projected water supply needs of the critical
defense assets and future growth within the basin. The Corps
is directed to report to the House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works within 180 days of enactment of
this Act on the validation effort.
The Success Reservoir Enlargement Project was authorized by
section 101(b)(4) of WRDA 1999 to improve both flood damage
protection and water supply in Tulare County, California. In
House Report 116-460, the managers previously encouraged the
Corps to advance this project. The managers note their
support for this project and continue to encourage the Corps
to expedite this project through completion.
The managers received a request related to completion of
the Comite Diversion project, Louisiana, authorized as part
of the project for flood control, Amite River and
Tributaries, Louisiana, pursuant to section 101(11) of WRDA
1992. The managers direct the Secretary and any other
relevant agencies to take all steps necessary to ensure
completion of the project as quickly as possible. The
managers request, within 90 days of the date of the filing of
this report, that the Secretary provide a bipartisan briefing
on the status of completion of the project.
The Port Fourchon, Belle Pass Channel, Louisiana,
navigation project, authorized in WRDA 2020, features as a
key component 100 percent beneficial use disposal of project
dredge material. The managers are encouraged that progress
has been made between the Corps and the non-Federal sponsor
in designating a beneficial use disposal site
[[Page H8848]]
that will meet National Economic Development goals, as well
as satisfy the local community's need for beneficial use
disposal at impacted coastal areas. The Corps is expected to
provide the non-Federal sponsor with a revised Project
Management Plan (PMP), delineating tasks and costs associated
with addressing remaining conditions contained in the Port
Fourchon, Belle Pass Channel, Louisiana, authorization,
including a revised dredge material disposal plan that will
designate the beneficial use disposal site. As such, the
managers direct the Secretary to negotiate and complete a PMP
that is satisfactory to the Secretary and the nonFederal
sponsor, including the selection of a beneficial use disposal
site agreed upon by the nonFederal sponsor, as soon as
possible.
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes history as the fifth
consecutive water resources development bill, the first time in the
history of the United States Congress this has been done.
It authorizes 25 construction reports of the Chief of the Corps of
Engineers, essential to Portland, Oregon; Tacoma, Washington; Selma,
Alabama; and right here in Washington, D.C.
The bill also meets the challenge of climate change, even though some
deny it exists, by rebuilding and maintaining critical navigation
jetties and breakwaters to dimensions necessary to address sea-level
rise and extreme weather events, impacts of coastal storms, and inland
flooding. It also addresses future water supply needs in the arid West
and works to make communities more resilient.
For the first time in over a decade, it significantly expands the
Corps' environmental infrastructure authorities to assist more
communities in addressing their drinking water and wastewater needs.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30
seconds to the gentleman from Oregon.
Mr. DeFAZIO. Finally, it also includes the Don Young Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 2022, authorizing $13.6 billion and $14.5 billion
for the next year for much-needed shoreside infrastructure.
It also authorizes a third polar security cutter. The Russians have
20 icebreakers. The Arctic is opening up. We need a third cutter, and
then we need the smaller cutters.
I thank Ranking Member Graves, Chair Napolitano, Ranking Member
Rouzer, Chair Carbajal, Ranking Member Gibbs, and all of my staff for
their tremendous work on this committee.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr.
DeFazio on those icebreakers. It is just inexcusable that we don't have
that capability.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the balance of my
time until the chairman is ready to close.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I know how hard the chairman works. I
would have preferred the mark of the President's budget, but this is
hard fought and hard won.
I thank the chairman for the raise that has been given to our
servicemen, their housing allowances. Let me thank him for this
important research stream to the historically Black colleges and for
Ukraine.
Let me also thank him for what we have fought for in the name of
Vanessa Guillen, and that is a new protocol for the sexual assault that
occurs in our military branches. Let me not point out a particular one.
Let me also stand on this floor and say hostage Brittney Griner has
come home. That is a testament to what America is all about. I thank
all those who played a role and indicate that, as she has come home and
her family is ecstatic, I remind everyone that former marine Paul
Whelan should be brought home, as well.
I thank President Biden for working on making sure there is an
authorization bill that really responds to the people of the United
States military. I am delighted that the amendments dealing with breast
cancer that I offered were included, $10 million for triple-negative
breast cancer. I am delighted for the PTSD funding, $2.5 million, that
I offered, as well, to ensure that the people of the military are taken
care of. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to recognize the importance.
Brittney Griner is home.
Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to express my support
for the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 7776, the
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2023.
Congress has the solemn duty to ensure that those who wear the
uniform of the United States--and those civilians who provide
logistical and operational support--have the equipment, training, and
resources needed to carry out and complete their mission.
And we must never forget that a grateful nation has a sacred
obligation, in the words of President Lincoln, ``to care for him who
has borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.''
This legislation rises to meet that mandate admirably in myriad ways,
from providing a 4.6 percent pay raise for service members to
increasing funding for housing, childcare, and improved food for
service members.
Importantly, the bill provides over $131 million in funding for
research at HBCUs--a 22.8 percent increase--which improves integration
of HBCUs into our country's national defense research and development
infrastructure.
These are important measures because, as the DoD is the largest
federal agency, the wide scope of activities covered by the NDAA impact
every sector of our economy and every facet of American life. The
activities funded by the NDAA are, in effect, a microcosm of the
activities of the United States, and, as such, they must set the tone
for how these issues are to be addressed in our country's other
industries and communities.
Of course, the main purpose they serve is to protect our country and
strengthen our national defense. So, I am pleased that this bill
reinforces our capacity to meet the challenges posed by Russia's
aggression in Ukraine, China's increasing agitation in the South China
Sea, non-state terrorist groups, cyber-attacks, and other threats to
our country.
I am especially pleased that this bill adopts a modern yet long-term
approach to our national defense by embracing innovative strategies,
emerging technologies, workforce diversity and inclusion, preparation
for asymmetric combat, and operational continuity and resilience.
In furtherance of these essential principles and methods, I offered
amendments to the NDAA when it came to the floor of the House in July,
and I am very pleased that the legislation before us today includes my
amendments which I would like to summarize.
My amendment #191 authorizes a $2.5 million increase in funding to
combat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and I thank my colleagues
on the Armed Services Committee for adding the full $2.5 million
increase into this legislation.
PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war
veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such
as torture, being kidnapped or held captive, bombings, or natural
disasters such as floods or earthquakes. According to the NIH, an
estimated 3.6 percent of U.S. adults had PTSD in the past year.
People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb
(especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close),
lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling
affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become
violent.
Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts
during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called
flashbacks. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and
believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.
My amendment recognizes that the soldiers afflicted with PTSD are,
first and foremost, human. They carry their experiences with them. Ask
a veteran of Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan about the frequency of
nightmares they experience, and one will realize that serving in the
Armed Forces leaves a lasting impression, whether good or bad.
My amendment will help ensure that ``no soldier is left behind'' by
addressing the urgent need for more outreach toward hard-to-reach
veterans suffering from PTSD, especially those who are homeless or
reside in underserved urban and rural areas of our country.
My amendment #194 authorizes a $10 million increase in funding for
increased collaboration between the DoD Office of Health and the
National Institutes of Health to research and combat Triple Negative
Breast Cancer. I am very pleased that my colleagues added the full $10
million increase into the bill.
As a Member of Congress, a mother, a sister and a spouse, and a
breast cancer survivor, I feel a special responsibility to do all I can
to ensure that every American can defeat all types of cancer, and
especially triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). We must increase our
efforts to protect women in the military, and women who are spouses of
service members, from this virulent and lethal illness.
The 13-25 percent of breast cancers that are triple-negative
disproportionately afflict
[[Page H8849]]
Black women. Although the rate of all breast cancers is 10 percent
lower in Black women than white women, Black women are 3 times more
likely to suffer from triple negative breast cancer than are white
women. In 2013, the American Cancer Society estimated that 27,000 Black
women are diagnosed with the illness annually.
African American women who are diagnosed with triple negative breast
cancer--an especially aggressive type of cancer which often occurs at
younger ages than other breast cancers--have a five year survival rate
of 78 percent after diagnosis as compared to 90 percent for white
women.
The key to beating this cancer is early detection, and the DoD's
health care system for women service members and women who are spouses
of service members can enable early detection.
A 2007 study of more than 50,000 women with all stages of breast
cancer found that 77 percent of women with triple-negative breast
cancer survived at least 5 years, versus 93 percent women with other
types of breast cancer. Another study of more than 1,600 women
published in 2007 found that women with triple-negative breast cancer
had a higher risk of death within 5 years of diagnosis.
By prioritizing this very lethal condition, the DoD can make great
strides in protecting women from triple negative breast cancer's worst
effects.
My amendment #199 directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure that
candidates granted admission to attend a military academy undergo
screening for speech disorders and be provided appropriate
opportunities and supportive services.
Academy students should have the option of undergoing speech therapy
to reduce speech disorders or impediments.
I am pleased that Report Language was added that cites the DoD's
recent attention to this issue, and states, in part, that the DoD is
now ``noting the availability of medical waivers in certain
circumstances for physical or medical standards, providing the Reading
Aloud Test administered to applicants,'' and very importantly,
``describing the availability of speech therapy.''
My amendment #195 directs the Secretary of Defense to audit current
practices for the administration of sexual harassment claims and submit
a report detailing efforts to prevent sexual harassment and protect
service members, and compiling data and research on sexual harassment
prevalence in the military, cases reported, legal proceedings, and
convictions.
Sexual assault is endemic in our military, especially for female
service members. Streamlining and auditing the process of reporting
sexual assault protects victims and is a necessary step in weeding out
abusers.
I am very pleased that this bill advances key reforms to the Uniform
Code of Military Justice to prevent sexual harassment and abuse by:
placing sexual harassment and related sexual offenses in the
jurisdiction of the Special Trial Counsel;
requiring independent trained investigators outside of the immediate
chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment;
requiring the randomization of court-martial panels;
expanding reporting requirements on the implementation of the New
Special Trial Counsel program; and
permitting the Secretary of Defense to expand restricted reporting of
sexual assault for civilian employees rather than relegating them to
only filing unrestricted reports with the military.
In light of these measures to reform the enforcement process against
sexual offenses, I am pleased that, as a result of my amendment, Report
Language has been added, stating that, ``. . . the matters addressed in
this provision are routinely addressed in the Department's Annual
Report on Sexual Assault in the Military.''
My amendment #190 requires a report to be submitted to Congress
within 240 days following enactment on the risks posed by debris in low
earth orbit and to make recommendations on remediation of risks and
outline plans to reduce the incident of space debris.
Man-made objects in Earth's orbit that become space debris no longer
serve a useful function, yet their impact can pose serious risks to
personnel in orbiting spacecraft, satellites, and essential systems
since they travel at speeds up to 17,500 miles per hour. Space debris
includes nonfunctional spacecraft, abandoned launch vehicle stages,
mission-related debris, and fragmentation debris.
I am very pleased that my amendment led to inclusion of bill language
requiring the Secretary of Defense to respond to a reporting
requirement regarding space debris that was included in the Joint
Explanatory Statement accompanying the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2022 specific to defense and national security
space assets.
My amendment #198 requires the National Guard Bureau, in coordination
with the Secretary of Defense, to submit to Congress and others in
2023, 2024, and 2025 a report identifying the personnel, training, and
equipment needed by the non-federal National Guard to prevent,
mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters.
Hurricane Harvey's impact in Texas was so severe that it lingered for
years. The storm's footprint covered over 9,000 square miles, including
the city of Houston. Hurricane Harvey dropped over 52 inches of rain in
the Houston area. At its peak, one-third of Houston was underwater,
leaving 34,575 evacuees in shelters across Texas.
The scope and magnitude of these dueling disasters tested the
National Guard and Reservists in unprecedented ways. To prepare for
major natural disasters in the future, this amendment requires a
readiness report by the National Guard and Reservists to make sure they
have what they need to assist communities in need of disaster
assistance.
My amendment will help the National Guard help communities prepare
for disasters, respond to them, and rebuild from them. It will improve
the ability to support the important mission of the National Guard and
Reservists to engage in disaster response.
Thus, I am pleased that bill language was included to require the
Chief of the National Guard Bureau to include in the National Guard
Bureau unfunded priorities list any unfunded priorities related to non-
Federal National Guard responsibilities in connection with natural and
man-made disasters.
My amendment #197 requires the Secretary of the Navy, not later than
180 days after enactment of this Act, to submit to Congress a report on
desalinization technology's application for defense and national
security purposes to provide drought relief to areas impacted by sharp
declines in water resources.
I am pleased my amendment resulted in Report Language stating that,
``We are aware of the importance of expeditionary desalinization
capabilities to crisis scenarios, including natural disasters.
Accordingly, we direct the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report to
the congressional defense committees, not later than August 1, 2023,
outlining the current inventory and usage of desalinization systems,
planned future investments into technologies and systems, and any
current and projected future needs for expeditionary water purification
that may not be met by current and planned capabilities.''
My amendment #189 requires a report to be submitted within 220 days
following enactment on the Capacity to Provide Disaster Survivors with
Emergency Short Term Housing.
As we witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, as well as
other major natural disasters, enormous swaths of the population are
displaced, communities are unlivable with no prospect for near-term
rebuilding or restoration, and there is an enormous unmet need for
emergency housing.
Because of the need to prepare for the consequences of future major
natural disasters, I thank my colleagues on the Armed Services
Committee for including bill language that effectuates my amendment by
directing the development and submission of a report that will help
enable disaster survivors to access emergency short term housing.
My amendment #59 recognizes that Black men and women have played an
integral role in our nation's defense: from the bravery of Crispus
Attucks, an escaped slave, during the Boston Massacre, to today. The
amendment would address the historical and current barriers to Black
Americans' participation and equal treatment in the Armed Services.
The racial inequality and mistreatment of Black men and women that
has historically permeated our military continues to this day, with
more than 750 complaints of racial or ethnic discrimination from
service members in fiscal year 2020 alone.
But discrimination doesn't exist just within the military rank-and-
file, as in FY2020, civilians working in the financial, technical and
support sectors of the Army, Air Force and Navy filed 900 complaints of
racial discrimination and over 350 complaints of discrimination by skin
color, as data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
reveals.
According to a report by the Defense Department's Diversity and
Inclusion Board, while the enlisted ranks of the active and reserve
military were ``slightly more racially and ethnically diverse than its
U.S. civilian counterparts,'' the opposite was true for the officer
corps.
We owe it to those brave men and women who have proven time and time
again to be an integral part of our military to examine the Armed
Services' history of discrimination and to determine the necessary
steps to repair the harm caused by these inequities.
I am very pleased by the inclusion of report language acknowledging
the history of inequities and stating in part, ``Therefore, we direct
the Secretary of Defense to brief the Committees on Armed Services of
the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than May 1,
2023, on those current and future efforts in support of a more
inclusive force. The brief
[[Page H8850]]
shall include resources allocated, lessons learned, how such efforts
advance our strategic national security and readiness postures in
support of the National Security Strategy and the Department's National
Defense Strategy, and any such other information as the Secretary deems
appropriate.''
My amendment #193 condemns the actions of Boko Haram and directs that
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense
and the Attorney General, submit a report on efforts to combat Boko
Haram.
I am pleased that, as a result of my amendment, report language was
included stating that, ``We direct the Secretary of Defense, not later
than June 1, 2023, to brief the congressional defense committees on the
activities and initiatives undertaken by the Department of Defense to
assist the Government of Nigeria and countries in the Lake Chad Basin
to combat Boko Haram, al-Qaeda affiliates, and other terrorist
organizations while respecting and protecting human rights and
promoting respect for the rule of law.''
My amendment #192 requires the Secretary of Defense to report to
Congress about programs and procedures that ensure students studying
abroad through Department of Defense National Security Education
Programs are trained to recognize, resist, and report against
recruitment efforts by agents of foreign governments.
Because of the need for American students who are studying abroad to
be protected from risks and dangers presented by agents of foreign
governments, I am pleased that my amendment has resulted in bill
language that effectuates my amendment by requiring that a report
developed and submitted to Congress about the programs and procedures
that are being undertaken to protect these Americans studying abroad.
My amendment #196 directs the Secretary of Defense to report to
Congress in not less than 180 days the actions taken to protect U.S.
armed service personnel from armed attacks conducted by militants and
terrorists in pursuit of bounties and inducements the agencies,
organizations, or entities aligned with the Russian Federation.
I am pleased that my amendment resulted in the inclusion of report
language stating in part, ``. . . we direct the Secretary of Defense,
not later than June 1, 2023, to provide a briefing to the Committees on
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on
actions taken to protect servicemembers and U.S. personnel from armed
attacks conducted in pursuit of bounties or inducements offered by
agencies, organizations, or entities aligned with Russia.''
Madam Speaker, I applaud my colleagues on the Armed Services
Committee, as well as their Senate counterparts, and the committee
staff in each chamber for their extraordinary work crafting this
extensive, multi-faceted, visionary legislation that will strengthen
our national defense both in the current fiscal year and for many years
to come.
I would also like to express my appreciation to my colleagues on the
committee for recognizing the value that my amendments bring to our
national defense infrastructure and maintaining them in the final
language that is before us today.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1245
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
There are so many people to thank in this process, and we have done
that, and there are a number of Members who are leaving committee,
staff members who are leaving, as well. But I do want to take just a
moment to thank three Members in particular on the Democratic side:
certainly, Mr. Langevin, who is presiding over this appropriately; Ms.
Speier; and Mr. Cooper, who are our three subcommittee chairs.
During the 4 years that we were in the majority, all three chaired
subcommittees, and delivered as much consequential legislation on the
Armed Services Committee as I have seen.
The leadership on all the different areas has just been invaluable.
It will be very difficult to replace. Certainly, Jim's leadership on
the Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems
Subcommittee--the only thing about it is your subcommittee is a
mouthful to keep up with. I would just say ``CITI,'' trying to remember
what exactly it all stands for, but it is information technology, it is
cyber, it is the guts of what makes our national security apparatus
run, basically; the information systems that we have to make sure they
are robust, effective, and protected.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30
seconds to myself.
Mr. Cooper, of course, more than anything brought us the Space Force,
and his leadership on space has been invaluable.
Ms. Speier's leadership on personnel; I cannot imagine a more
tenacious advocate for protecting the men and women who serve in our
military than Jackie Speier. Her leadership has delivered real results
and made a very strong statement.
All three of you will be sorely missed.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I
thank him for his tremendous leadership to protect and defend the
American people and our Constitution. I thank the gentleman for his
kind words about my colleague from San Francisco, Jackie Speier, for
her leadership on behalf of the men and women in uniform.
Mr. Speaker, what an honor it is to speak on this important
legislation with you in the chair, a champion for the security of the
American people, whether on the Armed Services Committee, the
Intelligence Committee, other initiatives, whether it is cybersecurity
or the rest, you have been a leader. You have taught us a lot about
your areas of expertise and more, and because of you, we were able, on
one of the anniversaries of the ADA, to change the infrastructure of
the House so that you could preside.
Mr. Speaker, you were the first to preside, and now as we come to the
end of your service and your leadership in the Congress--not in the
world--that you should be in the chair is an honor for all of us. You
bring honor to this Congress, to that position, and I thank you for
your service and your leadership, Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this year's strong bipartisan,
bicameral National Defense Authorization Act, the foundation of
America's national security priorities.
This legislation honors our fundamental charge under the United
States Constitution to provide for the common defense. That is why
Democrats have fought tirelessly to invest in our Nation's greatest
sources of strength, from our heroic servicemen and -women and their
families to promoting American leadership around the globe.
Thanks to the distinguished chair of the Armed Services Committee,
Adam Smith, as well as the ranking member, Mike Rogers, and all the
members of the committee and staff for your tireless work assembling
this bipartisan, bicameral legislative package. That is what makes it
stronger, its bipartisanship.
I would like to talk about some of the things that are in the
legislation because as our country grows and our needs are greater, the
cost goes up, as well. But how those resources are prioritized is very
important to our colleagues who are making their vote known to the
public to whom we are accountable to understand our definition of
strength.
That starts with the deeply deserved 4.6 percent pay raise to help
ease the sting of inflation for our men and women in uniform. We are
also empowering the Pentagon to raise the basic housing allowance,
bringing down food prices by directing more funding to commissaries,
and expanding support for childcare services; meaning the personal
needs of our personnel are so very important, and this legislation does
just that.
Building on the sweeping progress in last year's NDAA to combat
sexual assault in the military, this year we require independently
trained investigators outside the immediate chain of command to
investigate claims of sexual harassment, as well. Our colleague Jackie
Speier was so important in all of that.
Importantly, we blocked an anti-choice demand to eliminate the right
to travel to access legal abortion for servicemembers stationed in a
State that criminalizes reproductive health. Because for Democrats,
health freedom is a value for every woman everywhere.
Additionally, this legislation delivers a record amount of funding
for research and development at America's HBCUs and steers additional
funding to
[[Page H8851]]
other minority-serving institutions. This is so important because
Democrats--and now Republicans--know that we must build a diverse,
inclusive national security workforce, one reflective of our Nation.
By investing in these essential engines of opportunity, we expand the
talent pipeline and make sure our Nation's brightest minds will help
solve our toughest national security challenges with inclusiveness,
with diversity, with our best.
At the same time, we are investing in America's global preeminence.
It is a national security imperative to honor our troops with cutting-
edge technologies, equipping them to tackle complex 21st century
threats. You know this so well, Mr. Speaker, as does our chair and
ranking member. We are harnessing the power of clean energy to ensure
that our defense facilities and vehicle fleets are resilient to climate
change.
Meanwhile, we are nurturing a growing semiconductor industry which we
reinvigorated earlier this year with the CHIPS and Science Act.
Now, the NDAA will require government contracts to use chips that are
made in America: creating good-paying jobs here at home, securing our
supply chains, and bolstering our economic competitiveness.
This year's NDAA also makes robust progress to promote American
leadership in the global arena. The safety of families here at home
depends on international security and stability.
So with this legislation, we ensure that America and our allies
maintain a military and qualitative edge in strategic regions across
the world, investing more than $11 billion in the Pacific Deterrence
Initiative; securing more than $6 billion for the European Deterrence
Initiative; and further support for Ukraine's fight for freedom through
the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Indeed, Democrats know that the security of our Nation is not only
measured in our military might, but also in the health, strength, and
our well-being, and the respect we have for our partners.
As I draw to a conclusion--I didn't say close--I just want to salute
the people of Ukraine and President Zelenskyy for their courage. In
fighting for their democracy, they are fighting for our democracy and
the democracies of their neighbors in Europe, as well, and really
throughout the world. So, we have a moral responsibility, as well as a
practical one, to support our Ukraine initiatives.
Importantly, there are two additional provisions the Democrats fought
to attach to this legislative package. The first is a version of the
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, a long-sought Democratic priority to
make it easier for Federally employed firefighters who contract certain
diseases to qualify for Federal workers' compensation.
Our firefighters are our nobility. They risk their lives, putting
their lives on the line to protect our families, our homes, our
communities from devastation. With this provision, we take another step
to deliver the benefits they are entitled to that they have earned.
The second initiative, and very consequential, is the oceans package.
It is a very important and, I understand, bipartisan initiative closely
negotiated with military leaders. This bipartisan legislation is a
force for America's national security and economic competitiveness.
Mr. Speaker, 4 in 10 Americans live in coastal counties, and the
well-being of every family depends on strong, secure water sources. By
taking action to conserve our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, we are
protecting jobs and businesses, ensuring resilient access to clean
water, and preserving invaluable aquatic life and their natural
habitat.
Our military leaders repeatedly have told us that the climate crisis
is a top threat facing our Nation. The climate crisis is a security
issue. So we are also modernizing the NOAA Corps and securing more
hurricane hunter aircrafts to help protect communities from extreme
weather and climate disaster.
Mr. Speaker, today, we are confronting threats to democracy here and
around the world. Again, I would, in closing, once again salute
President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. Their fight for
democracy is ours, as well. We have not only a moral but also a
strategic responsibility to continue to support their fearless fight as
we do in this legislation.
In order to uphold our sacred responsibility and ensure that
Americans are safe and America is secure, I urge a strong bipartisan
vote for the NDAA. Then, we will send it to the Senate and on to the
President to become the law of the land. My understanding is that there
is agreement between the House and the Senate in a bipartisan way as we
send this on.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rogers for his great leadership in all of
this.
On a separate note, we are overjoyed that Brittney Griner is on her
way home after the President's tireless and focused work to secure her
release. Earlier today, we passed the Marriage Protection Act, and we
are so happy that she will be joining her wife when she comes home.
Again, Congress remains firmly committed to supporting the
administration as it continues to work to secure the release of Paul
Whelan and all those who Putin has unjustly detained. I just saw on the
news as I was coming over here that Paul Whelan said the President made
the right decision to get Brittney, trade for that, and then keep the
focus to get him free.
Again, I support Chair Smith and Ranking Member Rogers for their
great leadership in accomplishing a bipartisan, strong bill that again
keeps our country strong and measures our might in terms of our
hardware, of course, but also, in terms of the people who keep us
strong. We are deeply in their debt.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan vote.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
I want to close by thanking Chairman Smith. There is no better
partner that I could have, and I am grateful for his leadership.
I also want to thank Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Inhofe. As many
know, Jim Inhofe is retiring at the end of this Congress. Throughout
his decades of service, he has been a consistent champion for our men
and women in uniform. It was very fitting and appropriate that we name
this year's NDAA after Jim Inhofe.
Finally, I thank our staff on both sides of the aisle for their
tireless work on this product. I thank the staff of legislative counsel
and the CBO for their tremendous contributions, as well.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the 81st anniversary of the devastating
attack on Pearl Harbor. In its aftermath, we built the strongest
military in the world with a mission to protect the greatest Nation on
Earth. This bill before us today will ensure our military can continue
to carry out that sacred mission.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support it, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
Mr. Speaker, I can't say it any better than the Speaker said. I think
that was just an outstanding summary of the work we have done, why that
work matters, and of the policy that we have put forward here.
Once again, we have come together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to
pass an excellent piece of legislation that reflects our values and
supports the men and women who serve in our military. It gives us the
opportunity to meet our national security requirements. It has been an
outstanding process with pretty much everybody in this body
participating in it in one way or another and producing an outstanding
product.
I will close by urging all Members to vote in favor of the National
Defense Authorization Act for 2023. I thank everyone for their work,
and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Chairman DeFazio,
Ranking Member Graves, and Ranking Member Rouzer in bringing to the
floor the bipartisan and bicameral Water Resources Development Act of
2022.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
December 8, 2022, on page H8851, in the third column, the
following appeared: Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Chairman DEFAZIO, Ranking
Member GRAVES, and Ranking Member ROUZER in bringing to the floor
the bipartisan and bicameral Water Resources Development Act of
2022.
The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. Speaker, I
yield back the balance of my time. Ms. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I
am pleased to join Chairman DEFAZIO, Ranking Member GRAVES, and
Ranking Member ROUZER in bringing to the floor the bipartisan and
bicameral Water Resources Development Act of 2022.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The Water Resources Development Act is our legislative commitment to
investing in and protecting our communities from flooding events,
restoring our environment and ecosystems, and keeping our Nation's
competitiveness by supporting our ports and harbors.
[[Page H8852]]
Through the biennial enactment of WRDA legislation, the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has addressed local,
regional, and national needs through authorization of new U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers projects, studies, and policies that benefit every
corner of the Nation.
We held 4 hearings in preparation for this bill including a Member
Day hearing. We had a formal process to receive legislative, policy and
project ideas from Members which resulted in over 1,500 ideas submitted
to us by Members. I thank all Members for engaging with the Committee
on this bill and advocating for the needs of your districts. We were
able to incorporate most of the requests from Members into this bill.
I am particularly thankful that we were able to make a commitment in
this WRDA to address the needs of tribal and disadvantaged communities.
The bill requires the Army Corps of Engineers to improve outreach to
these communities by creating liaison programs in each Corps district
region across the country. WRDA includes provisions to develop
technical assistance programs that provide guidance to tribal
communities on water resource projects, identify opportunities and
challenges on existing Corps projects, and provide planning assistance
for future projects. The bill gives Corps personnel the training and
tools to effectively address issues on tribal lands of ancestral,
historic, and cultural significance, including burial grounds.
WRDA also continues the effort that we started 10 years ago to
improve water supply at Corps dams by addressing managed aquifer
replenishment so that dams can hold water for recharge to local ground
water basins. The bill addresses the buildup and removal of sediment in
reservoirs to improve the operations and capacity of dams. The bill
requires the Corps to take a particular focus on infrastructure in the
west to evaluate opportunities to improve water management, water
supply, and address the impacts of climate change.
The bill continues congress's goal of improving dam safety by
assessing the status of all dams maintained by the Corps and
determining the needs for rehabilitation, retrofit, or removal.
The bill includes bipartisan legislation Ranking Member Rouzer and I
introduced titled H.R. 7762, the Army Corps of Engineers Military
Personnel Augmentation Act. It amends an outdated 1956 law, which is
prohibitive against current soldiers who have the technical skills to
provide engineering support to the civil works mission of the Army
Corps.
In 1956, there were very few NCOs with advanced degrees, so it was
presumed that only commissioned officers would be properly trained to
handle Civil Works responsibilities. However, since that time and the
development of the professional army, there are many NCOs, National
Guard Officers, and Warrant Officers with advanced engineering and
technical skills, and it no longer makes sense to exclude them from
positions in Civil Works. This change is supported by the Secretary of
the Army, the Chief of Engineers, and the National Guard Association of
the United States.
The bill also provides for hundreds of local concerns throughout the
country. I am proud that this bill transfers the authorization of 31
debris basins in my region to the Los Angeles County Flood Control
District. These debris basins are locally owned, and have been
successfully operated and maintained by Los Angeles County for decades.
This provision will formalize the current operation of these debris
basins.
WRDA includes authorizations for the development of stormwater,
sewer, and ecosystem restoration projects in the San Gabriel Valley and
greater Los Angeles County. This will improve flood protection and
boost local water supply at the same time by investing in spreading
grounds, dam infrastructure, and treatment operations.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the many people who have helped
this bill become a reality. Thank you to the leadership at the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Assistant Secretary Connor, Lieutenant General
Spellmon, and their incredible staff who have worked through over a
thousand submissions we received for WRDA 2022.
I am very fortunate to have some of the best water leaders in the
country in my district and Southern California who provided valuable
input for this bill including Col. Julie Balten of the Los Angeles
District, Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Kathryn
Barger, Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella,
California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and San Gabriel
Valley Watermaster Tony Zampiello.
I would particularly like to thank the Subcommittee Ranking Member
David Rouzer for his friendship and collegiality through the hearings
and meetings that led to this bipartisan accomplishment. And most
importantly I would like to thank the incredible water subcommittee
staff including Alexa Williams, Logan Ferree, Michael Bauman, Ryan
Seiger, Ryan Hambleton, and the rest of the majority and minority
staff.
I urge my colleagues to support WRDA 2022.
Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In addition to critical resources for
our defense programs and our service members, this bill also includes
two critical bills from the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee, the Don Young Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2022, and
the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. This bill also includes
the Intelligence Authorization Act, including my new requirements to
address the threat of hypersonic weapons.
The underlying bill also includes my amendment authorizing an
increase in funding to fight pancreatic cancer, which sadly claimed the
lives of our beloved colleagues John Lewis and Alcee Hastings. The $5
million dollar increase will help develop better and earlier detection
of pancreatic cancer, which will help save lives.
Another provision included in this bill is my amendment to the
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, which improves access to benefits,
and provides injured firefighters or their families more time to file
documentation for assistance claims.
These are all important provisions, but I'd like to take a few
moments now to highlight the long-overdue changes to safety
requirements for passenger vessels.
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act will increase maritime safety and
efficiency, including my Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act, which is now
Section 11502 in the NDAA. I am especially grateful to Chairman DeFazio
for working with me over several years to develop this language, which
will finally address the persistent problems with unsafe vessels, and
including my Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act in today's NDAA.
My Duck Boat Safety requirements will finally implement safety
regulations for amphibious passenger vessels, particularly those known
as Duck Boats. These safety recommendations were made by federal
agencies to address repeated problems associated with Duck Boats that
have resulted in far too many injuries and fatalities that may have
been prevented.
I learned about these problems when my constituents in Indianapolis,
the Coleman family, were involved in a horrible Duck Boat accident on
July 19, 2018 in Branson, Missouri. Tia Coleman was one of only two
survivors from her family of 11, losing her husband Glenn, and her
children Reece (nine years old), Evan (seven years old), and Arya (one
year old). Tia's 13-year-old nephew, Donovan Coleman, was the other
surviving family member, losing his mother Angela, his younger brother
Maxwell (two years old), his uncles Ervin (76 years old) and Butch (70
years old), and his aunt Belinda (69 years old). Boarding a Duck Boat
on Table Rock Lake started out as a fun outing for family members, but
it turned into an unspeakable tragedy when the boat capsized and sank.
Seventeen of the 31 passengers on board were killed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and U.S. Coast Guard
have separately investigated the incident and Congress must act now. We
know from past incidents that more can and should be done to make these
vessels safer. Since 1999, more than 40 people have died in Duck Boats
accidents, the vast majority of them from drowning when the vessel
sinks. In 2002, the NTSB issued recommendations to improve the safety
of these vessels in flooding or sinking situations, but little has been
done to implement those measures--until today.
Duck Boats are hybrid vehicles that can travel on roadways and
waterways, so the safety measures must be updated for both land and
waterborne operations.
The Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act will require vessel operators to
implement common-sense boating safety measures, including:
Improving reserve buoyancy and watertight compartmentalization to
prevent sinking,
Requiring more monitoring and adherence to severe weather alerts and
warnings,
Requiring release of road safety seatbelts when Duck Boats become
waterborne,
Requiring stronger crew safety training and certification,
Removing or reconfigure canopies and window coverings for waterborne
operations,
Requiring personal flotation devices for waterborne operations,
Requiring installation of better bilge pumps and alarms,
Installing underwater LED lights that activate automatically in
emergencies, and
Complying with other Coast Guard boating safety requirements.
These changes will help save lives and prevent future tragedies.
I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting today's bill to make
common-sense corrections to the persistent safety problems facing Duck
Boats. If we act today, we can help ensure that no other family has to
suffer
[[Page H8853]]
the kind of tragedy faced by my constituents on Table Rock Lake.
I urge the House to support these safety provisions, and all of the
reauthorizations in this year's NDAA.
{time} 1300
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1512.
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. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res.
1512 will be followed by a 5-minute vote on the motion to suspend the
rules and pass S. 1617.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 350,
nays 80, not voting 2, as follows:
[Roll No. 516]
YEAS--350
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Axne
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bass
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice (OK)
Bishop (GA)
Blunt Rochester
Boebert
Bost
Bourdeaux
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady
Brown (MD)
Brown (OH)
Brownley
Buchanan
Bucshon
Budd
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Calvert
Cammack
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cole
Comer
Connolly
Conway
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crow
Cuellar
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Demings
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Duncan
Dunn
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Estes
Evans
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Flores
Foster
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (CA)
Garcia (TX)
Gibbs
Gimenez
Golden
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gooden (TX)
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Harder (CA)
Harshbarger
Hartzler
Hayes
Hern
Herrell
Herrera Beutler
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Hollingsworth
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Huffman
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson
Jackson Lee
Jacobs (CA)
Jacobs (NY)
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kahele
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Keller
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaMalfa
Lamb
Lamborn
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawrence
Lawson (FL)
Lee (NV)
Leger Fernandez
Lesko
Letlow
Levin (CA)
Lieu
Lofgren
Long
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luria
Lynch
Mace
Malinowski
Malliotakis
Maloney, Sean
Manning
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCarthy
McCaul
McClain
McCollum
McHenry
McKinley
McNerney
Meeks
Meijer
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (IL)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Moolenaar
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Morelle
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (NC)
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Norcross
O'Halleran
Obernolte
Owens
Palazzo
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Pelosi
Peltola
Pence
Perlmutter
Peters
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Price (NC)
Quigley
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Ross
Rouzer
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Rutherford
Ryan (NY)
Ryan (OH)
Salazar
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schneider
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sempolinski
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Speier
Stansbury
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Suozzi
Swalwell
Taylor
Tenney
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Timmons
Titus
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Valadao
Van Duyne
Vargas
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (TX)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
NAYS--80
Auchincloss
Barragan
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Bowman
Brooks
Buck
Burchett
Bush
Cawthorn
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Clarke (NY)
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cohen
Davidson
Davis, Danny K.
DeSaulnier
Donalds
Doyle, Michael F.
Espaillat
Garcia (IL)
Gohmert
Gomez
Good (VA)
Gosar
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Harris
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Jayapal
Jones
Khanna
Lee (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lowenthal
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Mann
Massie
McClintock
McGovern
Mooney
Moore (WI)
Nadler
Nehls
Newman
Norman
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Payne
Perry
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Raskin
Rice (SC)
Rosendale
Roy
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Schweikert
Steube
Takano
Tiffany
Tlaib
Van Drew
Velazquez
Watson Coleman
Welch
Williams (GA)
Yarmuth
NOT VOTING--2
Kinzinger
Zeldin
{time} 1339
Messrs. SCHRADER and CAWTHORN changed their vote from ``yea'' to
``nay.''
Mrs. FLORES, Messrs. CARTER of Texas, STANTON, and RESCHENTHALER
changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and
the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress
Axne (Pappas)
Baird (Bucshon)
Bass (Cicilline)
Beatty (Neguse)
Brooks (Fleischmann)
Burgess (Weber (TX))
Cuellar (Correa)
DesJarlais (Fleischmann)
Dingell (Pappas)
Doyle, Michael F. (Pallone)
Ferguson (Kustoff)
Gibbs (Smucker)
Gohmert (Weber (TX))
Gomez (Escobar)
Gonzales, Tony (Gimenez)
Gonzalez (OH) (Moore (UT))
Gosar (Weber (TX))
Hayes (Neguse)
Herrera Beutler (Stewart)
Huffman (Levin (CA))
Jacobs (NY) (Sempolinski)
Jayapal (Cicilline)
Johnson (LA) (Graves (LA))
Johnson (OH) (Fulcher)
Johnson (TX) (Pallone)
Kahele (Correa)
Khanna (Meng)
Kildee (Pappas)
Kirkpatrick (Pallone)
Lawrence (Garcia (TX))
Lawson (FL) (Evans)
Lieu (Beyer)
Lofgren (Takano)
Long (Fleischmann)
Loudermilk (Fleischmann)
Maloney, Sean P. (Pappas)
Meeks (Meng)
Napolitano (Correa)
Neal (Beyer)
Nehls (Mace)
Newman (Correa)
O'Halleran (Pappas)
Palazzo (Fleischmann)
Pascrell (Pallone)
Payne (Pallone)
Peltola (Correa)
Porter (Neguse)
Pressley (Neguse)
Rice (SC) (Weber (TX))
Ruppersberger (Sarbanes)
Rush (Beyer)
Ryan (OH) (Correa)
Sewell (Cicilline)
Simpson (Fulcher)
Sires (Pallone)
Suozzi (Cicilline)
Swalwell (Correa)
Titus (Pallone)
Wasserman Schultz (Soto)
Welch (Pallone)
Wexton (Beyer)
Williams (GA) (McBath)
____________________