Markup of Bills: Indian Health, Wildfire, Ivory, Water, Jobs, Hydropower, Drill

Committee will come to order. The chair notes the presence of a quorum pursuant to committee rules. Members of the committee may submit written opening statements for the record, ask that members may revise and extend their remarks on the bills to be considered at this mark-up, and have those remarks included in the record. Without objection? So ordered. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recess of the committee at any time. Pursuant to Committee Rule three I, the Chair announces that he may postpone further proceedings today on the question of approving any measure, or matter adopting an amendment on which a recorded vote is ordered. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Uh, good morning and welcome and thank you for joining us to our full committee mark-up. We're considering a bill under regular order that will help unleash American energy create good paying jobs and support rural communities across the West. hr seventy four eighty seven the rural jobs and hydropower expansion act sponsored by representative Boebert provides important clarification when developing new hydropower projects within a bureau of reclamation project currently unless a reclamation project is specifically authorized for hydropower nonfederal hydropower development using reclamation facilities requires multiple layers of review across FERC and reclamation This includes extensive reviews on the front-end to determine whether the applicant needs further review and approval from reclamation, from FERC, or from both. The Rural Jobs and Hydro-Power Expansion Act builds on the committee's work to streamline the permitting process for development of energy projects in the United States. Specifically, the legislation will eliminate duplicative permitting processes by giving reclamation exclusive authority to develop hydropower within projects under its jurisdiction. The common sense change will ensure that nearly twenty projects currently in development will not be delayed due to duplicative permitting processes and reviews. Permitting reform is crucial for building much needed infrastructure and delivering a supply of affordable reliable energy to American families. Without it, we will not be able to unleash our vast energy resources, lower the cost of living, and support rural communities. As we discussed yesterday with Secretary Burgum, if our nation is to remain energy dominant, we must continue to unlock our resources and build the critical infrastructure that we need to power America. This Congress, we have worked diligently to cut red tape and develop domestic energy resources. Today's mark-up of HR seventy-four eighty-seven is another step towards achieving that goal. Now is the time to unleash American energy. In addition, we will also consider five bills on which the committee has reached bipartisan agreement. First, we have a bill from the subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, HR seventy-one. or seven forty-one that redesignates the director of the indian health service as assistant secretary for indian health within the department of health and human services. This change will give indian health leadership a more senior role in department wide coordination and provide tribes with a clear point of engagement within the department. Next we have two bills from the subcommittee on water, wildlife and fisheries, hr fifty six ninety four from representative begich which protects the right of alaska natives to sell authentic native hand craft handicrafts and and interstate commerce. H R seventy two fifty from representative Downing reauthorizes the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of two thousand to allow for the completion of critical water infrastructure serving the Fort Peck Reservation and surrounding communities in northeastern Montana. From the subcommittee on federal lands we will consider H R thirty nine twenty four, which aims to strengthen our nation's understanding of and response to the growing wildfire and forest health process. by requiring the departments of agriculture the interior and homeland security to conduct a comprehensive review of the us wildfire landscape every four years the bill establishes a structured reoccurring evaluation process to assess management challenges and examine the public health implications of wildfires finally we will consider hr seventy eight thirty one from the subcommittee on energy and mineral resources introduced by representative kennedy of utah this legislation reauthorizes existing fees for oil and gas ensuring that the bureau of land management field offices have the staff and resources needed to permit projects quickly and efficiently. I thank the ranking members for their dedicated work on these bills. I appreciate ranking member Huffman and his team's work on getting another package of uh of bills uh that we can unanimously agree on, and I look forward to the discussions today. I yield back my time and recognize ranking member Huffman for any opening statement he may have.

Thank you, Chair Westerman. Uh, we have six bills on the mark-up uh agenda today, and I appreciate that you've brought us a a broad mix of bills across the committee's jurisdiction uh just very briefly that starts with uh Representative Stanton's HR seven forty-one, the stronger edu uh stronger engagement for Indian Health Needs Act uh i would elevate the Director of Indian Health Service to the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within HHS. And uh I believe this is an important elevation. Uh, the Indian Health Service delivers health care services to two point eight million American Indian and Alaska Native people. And this will allow them, this additional authority, uh, will allow them to hire key personnel like doctors and nurses to, uh, engage more directly with the HHS secretary to meet the needs of tribal health. So, um, I'm glad that this is on our mark-up and I look forward to advancing it. We also have Representative Neguse's Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act, which would require a quadrennial review of wild uh the uh the wildfire landscape by directing the Department of Agriculture, Interior and Homeland Security to assess wild wildfire management challenges and evaluate the intersection of wildfire and public health. Uh, it's this is uh appropriate, this is uh something that is both a land management issue but also a public health and emergency response issue. So federal wildfire planning needs should be collaborative. They should reflect and prepare for that full range of challenges that communities are facing and I'm glad uh to see this bill moving forward as well. Uh also we have the Artist Act, HR fifty-six ninety-four, which would support Alaska Native artists by clarifying uh that they're uh they can create and sell authentic Native handicrafts and clothing made from marine mammal material. Um, I like the fact that this bill supports native artists and maintains federal oversight for depleted species while helping ensure that state ivory bands don't unfairly block traditional work already recognized under federal law. And we have a H R seventy two fifty, which would reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of two thousand uh and extend the key completion deadlines through December of twenty eight. Um, this is about clean water for the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and surrounding communities in Northeastern Montana. Uh, a bill that gives the project additional time to move forward, which uh seems very appropriate. Uh, and then we have uh, H R seventy-eight thirty-one, the License to Drill Act, which would extend BLM's authority to collect applications for uh, drilling permits and fees through twenty thirty-seven. Those fees help BLM process drilling permits, conduct inspections, and carry out environmental review and compliance work for oil and gas development on public lands. And uh, the way we see it, uh, if oil and gas operators are applying to drill on public lands, they can help pay for the staff and oversight needed here to process applications responsibly. So, uh, that brings us to the last bill, H R seventy-four eighty-seven, representative Boebert's uh, Rural Jobs and Hydro-power Expansion Act. Let me just start by saying I like hydropower. Uh, we support hydropower, wanna see it improved and expanded. We wanna see the licensing process, um, streamlined and improved wherever that is possible. But, uh, we should be able to do that without eliminating long-standing core safeguards in the permitting process for tribes and our environment. And unfortunately, as it's currently drafted, I believe that's what HR seventy-four eighty-seven would do. Uh, specifically, the bill would require many projects that are now subject permitting pr uh processes to instead be permitted by the Interior Department. And it would do that without requiring Interior to follow the same FERC licensing requirements that Congress has very carefully and specifically put in place under the Federal Power Act for important reasons, uh, to protect tribes, public lands, fish, wildlife, and recreation. FERC currently oversees most non-federal hydropower development in the US through a licensing process. that Congress has exhaustively debated and amended, uh, under the Federal Power Act. And we'll talk more about this in detail in just a bit, but um, I just wanna note that Congress included all these protections for very important reasons. And if we're gonna move this authority over to the Department of Interior, those protections should be moved and re-incorporated as you do that. Poorly planned hydropower projects or projects operated on by unscrupulous

Thank you, Ranking Member Huffman. Pursuant to the mark-up notice, it is now in order to consider HR seventy-four eighty-seven, the Rural Jobs and Hydro-Power Expansion Act. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open to amendment at any point. Does any member wish to be recognized for purpose of debate on the bill?

Mister Chairman.

Representative Boebert, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mister Chairman. Today I urge my colleagues to support HR seventy four eighty seven, the Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act, to streamline non-federal hydropower development on Bureau of Reclamation facilities, create rural jobs and expand clean, reliable domestic energy production. Currently, the permitting process for non-federal hydropower uh development on uh on uh Bureau of Reclamation projects are unnecessarily complex uh they fall under Reclamation's lease of power privilege contract, a federal energy regulate regulatory commission license, or in many cases both. If a Reclamation project was authorized for federal hydropower development, nonfederal devel developers must obtain a lease of power privilege. However, If the project was not, current law places it under FERC's jurisdiction. This jurisdictional split has resulted in roughly sixty-nine uh non-federal projects being subjected to duplicative permitting processes with approximately twelve additional projects currently in the development pipeline facing the same obstacles. H R seventy- four eighty-seven offers a common sense solution. The bill amends the reclamation project act nineteen thirty nine to provide the bureau of rec uh with exclusive authority for non-federal hydropower development within reclamation projects this will eliminate the dual permitting regime reduce unnecessary delays and costs and provide regulatory certainty for developers this legislation builds upon the strong bipartisan precedent established in the one hundred and thirteenth congress which authorizes reclamation to contract for small conduit hydropower development. This bill passed four sixteen to seven, with even ranking member Huffman voting in support of H R seventy four eighty seven, simply expands that successful approach to all reclamation facilities. I've been working on this bill for years now. Last Congress had a hearing on the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries subcommittee hearing. The Biden appointee, David Palumbo, Deputy Commissioner Commissioner at the US Bureau of Rec testified that this bill, quote, builds on past successful bipartisan efforts to streamline the permitting process, spurring additional non-federal hydropower development on reclamation projects. And that reclamation, uh, supports the intent of the legislation to streamline the permitting process. My office and the committee staff here, have also worked extensively with reclamation, WAPA, CRETA, and uh the power customers of um in the Colorado River Basin who all support the A and S. I am proud that this bill is bipartisan, and I thank Representative Adam Gray for his partnership in introducing this legislation. Together, we are advancing a common sense bipartisan bill that will create jobs and expand clean and reliable hydropower generation and support rural economies while making better use of existing federal infrastructure. And I would very much like to convince the ranking member to join us in supporting this, and uh the rest of the committee here today, um and uh favorably pass HR seventy-four eighty-seven. Mister Chairman, I yield.

And lady yields back for further discussion on the bill. Mister Perry, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mister Chairman. Expanding hydropower is uh crucial for energy production and uh water storage frankly throughout the West. Um Despite what seems to be bipartisan agreement or consensus uh this Congress around domestic energy production, the federal permitting process, uh you know I'm joined on the Speed Act, uh Mister Chairman, and some of the other efforts to move things along, the federal permitting process for hydropower remains unnecessarily slow, costly and dysfunctional. This is exactly why I joined Congressman Boebert in inducing the Rural Jobs and Hydro-Power Expansion Act. Currently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permitting and relicensing process uh is a nightmare to navigate. Projects can spend more than a decade waiting to move through the process, often dealing with duplicative studies, new and unrealistic requirements. and endless delays, driving up costs for water operators and rate payers. In my district there are several major hydropower relicensing efforts underway before FERC, many of which are submitting applications for relicensing under a Biden-era rule due to the administration's inability to update the Clean Water Act section four O one. These districts have dealt with burdensome state and federal relicensing requirements that consume enormous amounts of time and enormous amounts of resources. They aren't trying to build something new and untested. In fact, they have responsibly operated these facilities for over a hundred years, while delivering affordable electricity, irrigation, water, recreational opportunities, and environmental stewardship for our community. Yet the current FERC process punishes these operators with uncertainty and delay. It takes over ten years to prepare and secure approvals. Projects become more expensive, and investments in our environment are postponed. If we're serious about increasing our water supply and our energy reliability, we cannot continue to allow projects to be held up by these types of processes. Delivering water and generating hydropower is dependent on finding workable solutions between federal agencies and operators. This is not about eliminating environmental review. It's about making the process efficient and predictable. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman, now you're back.

Do you want me to yield this back? Is there further discussion? Mister Huffman, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, I I appreciate the gentlelady from Colorado pointing out that there there is precedent for a a Huffman Boebert collaboration on these matters uh and and there's actually a way to get there on this bill too so I will you know, try to lay that out as as fairly as I can, but what it comes down to is that uh this move uh of jurisdiction for some projects from FERC over to Interior Might make sense. I'm I'm open to that possibility, but if you're gonna move all of that authority from FERC to interior, you need to move the safeguards that have been built over many years uh along with it. And as it's currently drafted, that is not the case. If we fail to do that, if we just move it over uh as a blank slate, that could have very significant impacts because FERC of course oversees most non-federal hydropower, through um the federal power act process where congress has worked for many, many years debated, amended, improved that law to promote not only hydro uh but also the protection of other very important public interests, including public lands, fish and wildlife, and tribal resources. And that broader focus is very important because hydropower projects are great, but they can have major impacts on rivers, fisheries, recreation, tribal resources, especially if they're poorly conceived or designed or operated. So, um, what are some of the Federal Power Act protections that would no longer apply as currently drafted and this is the part that I think needs to be fixed. One is the major protection for uh federal reservations. That includes tribal reservations, national forests, and other areas set aside as reserved for public purposes. Under the Federal Power Act, before for licenses or relicenses of affecting any of these reservations, forecast to determine that the project won't interfere with or be inconsistent with the purposes for which that reservation was created. Federal Power Act also helps protect tribes. Tribal resources and tribal treaty rights uh are affected by non-federal hydropower development, and uh so we give tribes and federal agencies with trust and resource responsibilities a formal role. in shaping hydropower license conditions. Uh, unfortunately, I think we all know there's a long history of poorly conceived hydrop hydroprojects, damaging tribal trust lands, rivers, fisheries, and culture resource cultural resources as well. And that's why FERC um, the FERC process has been updated over the years to help ensure tribal interests are considered and respected during the licensing process. Federal Power Act also includes specific protections for public recreation, and fish and wildlife that would no longer apply to projects under this legislation as drafted. Uh, but under FERC, uh, the agency is directed to give equal consideration to recreational opportunities, fish and wildlife, and other environmental values affected by a hydro project. And in certain cases, uh, FERC must consider recommendations from federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, and include license conditions to protect and mitigate damage to fish and wildlife affected by the project. So those requirements give federal land and resource managers important tools to protect these values. Uh, these and other protections embedded in the FERC process are enforceable safeguards that Congress has put in place for very important reasons over the years. Uh, I'm not necessarily against the direction of this bill, but we do need to keep working together, uh, and I will give you a chance to do that with an amendment here at a moment, uh, to make sure that those safeguards are transferred along with the jurisdiction and authority. And with that, I yield back.

Gentleman yields back. Is there further discussion on the bill?

Mister Chair.

Mister Stauber, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Mister Chair. I I rise in strong support of of uh Representative Boebert's bill. I want to congratulate uh Representative Gray for this bipartisan effort. Um, this is a very, very good piece of legislation, the duplicate duplicative uh reviews that continuously go on, we need to get this hydro power, this energy online, we're gonna need this energy. And you have two members uh on the opposite side of the aisle that can agree on this. Uh, I think this is a very good bill. It streamlines the permitting and project reviews. It puts one federal agency in charge, and it does not bypass any permitting or project reviews. All p- covered project would still need to go through the extensive project promoting reviews by the Bureau of Reclamation. This is a, this is the exact type of legislation that we need to allow energy to come online, uh, in uh, uh, in this country. So, with the remainder of my time, I'm gonna yield it to the, uh, Representative Bo- uh, Boebert, the sponsor of the bill.

Thank you. Um, you know, I, I heard, uh, the ranking member mentioned, um, that, that he likes hydro. Um, I did not hear the ranking member, uh, mention that he likes rural jobs. And so I would hope it's not the gentleman position that he hates rural jobs. We are looking to expand um these jobs um in water storage and energy production. Uh I I you know just listening to my colleague uh Congressman Gray and the common sense language he uses around this bill um talking about the reduction of permitting anywhere you go everyone uh is uh frustrated at uh the burdensome regulations the duplicative processes within the federal government um, And in this committee, I would I would think most of us, especially those in in the west, um our top three issues are water, water, water. And and so this is a huge focus in in my district and throughout the west. Um I understand, you know, in some parts in the east, you know, you can stick a shovel in the ground and water's gonna come out, but we we don't have uh that uh out west. But we want to end um the slow process, um the endless delays that are impacting um these projects. We of course want clean water. We want to do this responsibly. Uh we are good stewards of our land. And and so just because we are in these western states, we aren't going to become the wild west uh just by moving this um to the Department of Interior and streamlining this process, making it more efficient. Um I I I again strongly urge support of this. And uh you know when it comes to FERC, I see FERC as a four letter word that

yeah thank you very much uh again it's a good piece of legislation mr. chair you're back

so many yields back is there further discussion on the bill i recognize myself for five minutes not to uh rise in strong support of representative Boebert and representative gray's bill uh hr seventy four the Rural Jobs and Hydro-Power Expansion Act. I commend them for working on another bipartisan issue to help uh strengthen our in- our country's energy infrastructure. And you know, oftentimes we face complicated issues in Congress, but to me this one's kind of a low hanging fruit, because we're talking about a form of power that uh almost everybody likes hydropower. There's something in hydropower for everyone. It is uh there's no carbon emissions with hydropower, it's renewable, it offers storage. I know in our uh hearing yesterday, Mister Huffman submitted a a battery to the record, which I had to check with staff to make sure we could put a battery in the record. Uh, I can't really put a uh a reservoir in the record,

Oh.

but I could I could lift a bottle of water, uh which illustrates contained water that's elevated, that has all that potential energy, and we know that a dam just converts that potential energy into kinetic energy. And when it rains, it fills the reservoir back up. And we're talking about dams that are already in place. Now there's, there's no perfect energy out there. You can say if we, if we disturb nature we've, uh we've done some kind of harm, but it's uh, it's hard to find much that's wrong with, with hydropower. especially when we've got dams that are out there that could be that could have hydropower added to them you know the bureau of reclamation looked into i believe it was five hundred and thirty dams uh that that are out there and a hundred and ninety one of them uh had some hydropower potential and they say that seventy sites show potential for economic development of hydropower those seventy sites could yield an additional generating capacity of two hundred and twenty-five megawatts. So that's two hundred and twenty-five megawatts of renewable clean base load power. It can be base load power, it can be peaking power. That's the flexibility that you have with with hydro. And this legislation moves the ball forward and allows that development to happen uh more rapidly. So again, I commend uh the the co-sponsors and the lead sponsors of this bill Uh, I hope that we can get a strong vote on it, and I hope this is something we can move through the House and through the Senate and get it at on the President's desk sooner than later. I strongly support the bill and I yield back. Is there further discussion on the bill? There's no further discussion. It's now in order to consider amendments to HR seventy four eighty seven. Uh, we will now consider the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR seventy four eighty seven offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado, Miss Boebert. Designated Boebert fifty A and S. Without objection, the amendment is considered read and open to amendment at any point. Miss Boebert, you're now recognized.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, um, I just want to uh reiterate um on this bill um just the importance of streamlining this process. Um, the Rural Jobs and Hydro-Expansion Act um this this would streamline the non-federal um hydropower development of the Bureau of Le- Reclamation facilities. It will

Is the General Lady yield back? General Lady yields back. Is there further discussion on the ANS? I recognize myself, I do support the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H R seventy four eighty seven. It contains technical and clarifying changes to the bill identified through the technical assistance process with reclamation. I urge my colleagues to support the ANS and I yield back. Is there any further discussion on the ANS? There's no further discussion. Uh, we will now consider the amendment designated Huffman number one, offered by ranking member Huffman. Without objection, the amendment is considered. Ranking member Huffman, you are now recognized.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, and I do wanna assure my friend from Colorado I care about rural jobs too, represent a lot of rural Northern California. Um, and I that includes uh some hydro projects, and so I know that the guardrails that have been carefully created under the Federal Power Act over many many years do a lot to protect rural jobs, and that includes all the jobs in the recreation and outdoor economy. that are so important to uh many parts of rural America. Uh, and it includes tribal jobs uh by making sure that tribes actually have a voice, and a little bit of power uh in the licensing process. So uh there's lots of different rural jobs that are protected by these guardrails, and if you don't have those guardrails uh you are at risk of having a project that just comes in and uh builds itself in a rural place and then ships all that power off to data centers and cities without the guardrails to protect the rural jobs that we say we all care about. So let's be careful and get this right. That's what this amendment, uh, is all about. We've talked about how, uh, this bill would move many non-federal Hydra projects out of FERC jurisdiction and over to the Department of Interior. Instead, the amendment simply says that if Interior is now going to permit these projects, it should preserve those same safeguards that exist in the process in statute, not just an environmental review, I I heard Mister Stauber's point, um, having an environmental review is nice, but the FERC process has very specific statutory guardrails and safeguards, and that's what this amendment would preserve. It's pretty straight forward, uh, and if if it's approved, I hope that all my colleagues would wanna see these, uh, guardrails and safeguards, uh, incorporated, then I'd be happy to support the bill. I yield back.

Gentleman yields back. Is there further discussion on the amendment? Miss Boebert, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, unfortunately uh I'm going to have to strongly oppose this amendment. Um this amendment amendment um is nothing more uh than a poison pill designed to kill the very purpose of H R seventy four eighty seven. Uh I oppose this amendment because it defeats the core purpose of H R seventy four eighty seven to streamline non-federal hydropower development on um Bureau of Reclamation facilities. create rural jobs, expand clean water, reliable domestic energy production. HR seventy four eighty seven expands uh the the Bureau of Rec's lease of Power Privilege authority to unlock more hydropower on existing federal infrastructure without forcing every project through FERC licensing processes uh this amendment effectively um re-imports the entire FERC regulatory regime into This amendment piles on more studies, more consultations, more mitigation demands, and of course, more delay. This will result in projects that should take months, um and they'll end up taking years. Costs will explode, and investors will walk away from these projects. But some of my colleagues, um, and have some friends who uh seem to have friends who are radical environmentalists, lobbyists, Uh, and, and they just can't help themselves to, to really frirk this up. Um, they would rather, uh, keep rural Western communities poor and dependent than let them develop their own resources. The Secretary of Interior can handle these leases without mimicking the slowest most expensive licensing process in the federal government. Uh, this amendment kills jobs kills new hydr hydropower and kills opportunity for rural America. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment and keep H R seventy four eighty seven focused on American energy production, American jobs and American strength. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

Thank you, lady, yields back, is there further discussion on the amendment? I recognize myself. I think uh I think the purpose of the bill is very straightforward in the, as described, if you look at it there two types of dams under bureau of reclamation there are those dams that are approved for hydropower and and then the other category that has jurisdiction with both bureau of reclamation and FERC uh all we wanna do and all the bill does is moves those the jurisdiction of those non-powered dams under bureau of reclamation so they can go through the process that is a well outlined process to make sure that everything is done properly it will be a way to fast track the uh the development of more hydro power as i said earlier we're looking at maybe two hundred and twenty five megawatts of new uh carbon free renewable base load or peaking power however it's used that's pretty straight forward the reason i oppose ranking member Huffman's amendment i think I think he's almost there, but uh it would take the same regulatory process under FERC and overlay that with Bureau of Reclamation, which already has a process, make it duplicative and more complicated, and I think defeat the the main purpose of the underlying legislation. So I'll oppose the amendment, I encourage everyone else to oppose it, and I yield back. Is there any further discussion on the amendment?

Mister Chairman.

Ms. Stansbury, you're recognized. Thank you, Mister Chairman, I'd like to yield my time to the ranking member.

I I thank the gentlelady from New Mexico. I'm I'm disappointed to hear that simply incorporating the same carefully constructed federal guardrails for tribes, for fish and wildlife, and for the outdoor economy and recreation, that simply incorporating those guardrails would defeat the entire purpose of this legislation. And, you know, stated that way, that seems to suggest that the entire purpose of this legislation is to circumvent those guardrails. There's no other way to interpret it. And that's disappointing. Uh, I thought the purpose was to avoid duplication and to have, uh, a more sensible streamlining, uh, of of these processes. And that's something I'm very open to talking about. But if this is about circumventing these carefully constructed guardrails, that's a whole different subject. And I I just wanna remind my colleagues that tribal have had to fight and claw and over many many years uh work to get their seat at the table against all manner of discrimination and injustice and this is one of these cases where they have gotten a voice in the FERC licensing process through the federal power act and we're now talking about taking it away. uh, I think that should be deeply disturbing to anyone that represents Indian country and says that they care about sovereignty and tribal nations. And with that, I yield back.

Ms. Stansbury, the time is yours.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

So, young lady yields back, is there further discussion on the amendment? If there's no further discussion on the amendment, uh, the question on the is on the amendment offered by ranking member Huffman, designated Huffman number one. All those in favor, signify by. saying aye

aye

those opposed say no

no

in the opinion of the chair the amendment is not agreed to

agreed

a recorded vote has been requested uh further proceedings on this amendment will be postponed

vote

at this point we're gonna take a uh approximately ten minute recess and we will uh reconvene when we give people time to get here to uh to vote on the amendment and the underlying legislation the committee is in recess

i don't know wait yeah yeah this is gonna be a problem wait get it in the room

the committee will come to order the chair notes the presence of a quorum uh as we're getting settled in i would like to take a moment and announce a field hearing that will be in my hometown of hot springs national park on june twelfth uh it'll be focused on reauthorization of the great american outdoors act which um i think is broadly supported by the administration by the senate and by the house so as we work together on a bipartisan solution to reauthorizing something that's been a very popular program i invite everyone to hot springs for this field hearing uh some of you were able to attend the field hearing and represent last fall at grand tetons national park and now you and and we were originally going to have this hearing uh last october but because of the shutdown we had to reschedule it so i invite everybody to where it all began hot springs was the first federal land ever set in reserve by the the federal government and we um we recognize that yeah it was or Yellowstone was the first official national park but Hot Springs predated that by by many decades and I invite all of you to to come there and to give us input on how to create a great American Outdoors Act two fifty version uh and hopefully we can get this this done quickly and in time for the celebration of our two hundred and fiftieth uh anniversary if you'd like more information about that feel free to to contact me or the committee staff moving on to the unfinished business it is on a request for recorded vote on amendments to the ans to hr seventy four eighty seven members will record their votes uh using the electronic voting system the question is on the amendment to the ans to hr seventy four eighty seven offered by ranking member huffman designated huffman number one on which the no's prevail by voice vote the clerk will open the vote

i get warmed up

Have all members voted? Does any member wish to change their vote? Hearing none, the clerk will close the vote and report.

Mister Chairman, on this vote the yeas are fourteen and the nays are twenty one.

The amendment is not agreed to. The question now occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR seventy four eighty seven, offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado, Ms. Boebert, Desiree. fifty a n s all those in favor signify by saying aye

aye

those opposed no

no

and the opinion of the chair of the ais have it and the amendment in the nature of a substitute is adopted the question now occurs on reporting hr seventy four eighty seven as amended to the house with the recommendation that the bill be favorably approved all those in favor signify by saying aye

aye

those opposed no

no no

and the opinion of the chair of the ais have it a recorded vote has been requested members will record their vote using the electronic voting system the clerk will open the vote

wait i just yeah oh my god

have all members voted does any member wish to change their vote the clerk will close the vote and report

mister chairman on this vote the yeas are twenty one and the nays are fourteen

the bill as amended is reported to the house with the recommendation that it be favorably approved without objection the motion

so

reconsider is laid on the table i will make another got the news um mr huffman let me make one announcement quickly there is uh some food in the

hmm

sure

back room if uh members are interested in lunch you're all welcome to that now mr huffman i recognize you

thanks mr chair i just wanna give notice of my intention to file supplemental additional dissenting or minority views on the measure

mr huffman we suspend a moment

well

the the hearing will be in order with We still have business business, so if uh if you have a conversation, please take it outside. Mister Huffman, please continue.

Thank you, Mister Chair. Just giving notice of my intention to file supplemental additional dissenting or minority views on the measure, just considered, I ask in animus extent this notice be extended to all measures at the mark-up under House Rule eleven clause two L. This notice extends to all members.

Without objection, so ordered. We now turn to the UC package with the cooperation of Ranking Member Huffman and the other members of the committee.

Thank you, Mister Chair and Ranking Member Huffman, for holding this hearing today. The License to Draw Act continued effort to bring certainty, efficiency, and accountability back into the federal permitting process for American energy production, and allows us to match the mantra to drill, baby, drill. We are in a time where producers generally face endless delays, duplicative reviews, and bureaucratic uncertainty that drives up costs and discourage investment. The Permit Processing Improvement Fund is proven key to overcoming these hurdles. By reauthorizing this fund, this legislation helps insure agencies actually have the staffing and resources necessary to per process permits in a timely and predictable manner. This bill has earned broad support across the oil and gas industry because it recognizes a simple reality. Permitting delays are not just a paperwork problem, they are a threat to American energy security, domestic jobs, and affordable energy prices. Companies are willing to invest billions of dollars in responsible production here at home, but they need a regulatory process that functions with transparency and consistency. The Permit Processing Improvement Fund gives agencies a dedicated mechanism to improve coordination, reduce bottlenecks and deliver decisions faster without sacrificing environmental review or public accountability. Importantly, support for this legislation extends well beyond the traditional oil and gas sector. Other energy industries are watching closely because they understand that permitting reform is essential if the United States is serious about energy dominance, and supply chain security. Efficient permitting benefits every sector that depends on federal approvals to build produce and compete globally. Once again, Mister Chair, this slate of bills we have considered today Reflect that if you want good bipartisan policy in a committee that actually does real work, then look to the Natural Resources Committee. With that, Mister Chairman, I yield back.

The gentleman yields back. Does anybody else wish to be recognized? Mister Downing, you're recognized.

Thank you, Chairman Westerman. Uh, first I'd like to thank uh, uh, for this opportunity, I'd take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their unanimous support in advancing HR seventy two fifty. This is my legislation to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act. Water infrastructure is absolutely essential for supporting our towns, farms, ranches, and tribes in eastern Montana. You know, my legislation will allow for the completion of the Fort Peck Dry Prairie Regional Water System, ensuring clean drinking water for rural and tribal communities in my home district. In two thousand, Congress passed the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act. This legislation authorized and funded a major water infrastructure partnership between the Cineboyne and Sioux Rural Water Since then, the two water systems have worked together to build an extensive wet network of over three thousand miles of water pipeline, along with multiple pumping stations and a water treatment plant. The project is nearly finished, with only two out of Dry Prairie's twenty-three pipeline phases in need of completion. My legislation extends the water system's authorization by two years, to

Gentleman yields back. Is there any anybody else seek recognition to speak on one of the UC bills? Seeing none, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources be discharged from further consideration of HR seventy eight thirty one the license to drill out or drill act without objection, so ordered. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries be discharged from further consideration of HR fifty six ninety four the Alaska's Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition Act or the ARDIS Act and HR seventy two fifty to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of two thousand Without objection, so ordered. Ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs be discharged from further consideration of HR seven forty-one, the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of twenty twenty-five, without objection. So ordered. Ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Federal Lands be discharged from further consideration of HR thirty-nine twenty-four, the Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act, without objection, so ordered. And I ask unanimous consent that the following measures be approved and favorably reported. as described to the house of representatives hr seven forty one the stronger engagement of for indian health's needs act of twenty twenty five with an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by ranking member huffman designated huffman seventy two a n s hr thirty nine twenty four the wildfire risk evaluation act with an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from colorado mr. Nguz designated Nguz number one a n s hr fifty six ninety four The Alaska's right to ivory sills and tradition act or the artist act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from Alaska, Mister Begich, designated Begich one eighteen, A and S. H R seventy two fifty to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of two thousand, and H R seventy eight thirty one, the license to drill act. Without objection? So ordered. Without objection, the motions to reconsider are laid upon the table. I ask unanimous consent that the be allowed to make any technical and conforming changes to the documents the committee just adopted, subject to the approval of the minority without objection. So ordered. If there's no further business, the committee stands adjourned. Thank you.