[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 112 (Tuesday, July 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4675-H4676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5538, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
 ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017; PROVIDING 
FOR PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD FROM JULY 15, 2016, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 
                    5, 2016; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 820 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 820

       Resolved, That at any time after adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 5538) making appropriations for the Department 
     of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other 
     purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed 
     with. All points of order against consideration of the bill 
     are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and 
     shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by 
     the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
     Appropriations.
       Sec. 2. (a) After general debate the bill shall be 
     considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The bill 
     shall be considered as read through page 184, line 21. Points 
     of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply 
     with clause 2 of rule XXI are waived except as follows: page 
     71, line 19, through page 71, line 25.
       (b) No amendment to the bill shall be in order except those 
     printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying 
     this resolution, amendments en bloc described in section 3 of 
     this resolution, and pro forma amendments described in 
     section 4 of this resolution.
       (c) Each amendment printed in the report of the Committee 
     on Rules shall be considered only in the order printed in the 
     report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the 
     report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 
     the time specified in the report equally divided and 
     controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be 
     subject to amendment except as provided by section 4 of this 
     resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division 
     of the question in the House or in the Committee of the 
     Whole.
       (d) All points of order against amendments printed in the 
     report of the Committee on Rules or against amendments en 
     bloc described in section 3 of this resolution are waived.
       Sec. 3.  It shall be in order at any time for the chair of 
     the Committee on Appropriations or his designee to offer 
     amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in the 
     report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution 
     not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant 
     to this section shall be considered as read, shall be 
     debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by 
     the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
     Appropriations or their respective designees, shall not be 
     subject to amendment except as provided by section 4 of this 
     resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division 
     of the question in the House or in the Committee of the 
     Whole.
       Sec. 4.  During consideration of the bill for amendment, 
     the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
     Appropriations or their respective designees may offer up to 
     10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of 
     debate.
       Sec. 5.  At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for 
     amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the 
     House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The 
     previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill 
     and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.
       Sec. 6.  Section 454 of H.R. 5538 shall be considered to be 
     a spending reduction account for purposes of section 3(d) of 
     House Resolution 5.
       Sec. 7.  During consideration of H.R. 5538, section 3304 of 
     Senate Concurrent Resolution 11 shall not apply.
       Sec. 8.  On any legislative day during the period from July 
     15, 2016, through September 5, 2016--
        (a) the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day 
     shall be considered as approved; and
       (b) the Chair may at any time declare the House adjourned 
     to meet at a date and time, within the limits of clause 4, 
     section 5, article I of the Constitution, to be announced by 
     the Chair in declaring the adjournment.
       Sec. 9.  The Speaker may appoint Members to perform the 
     duties of the Chair for the duration of the period addressed 
     by section 8 of this resolution as though under clause 8(a) 
     of rule I.
       Sec. 10.  Each day during the period addressed by section 8 
     of this resolution shall not constitute a calendar day for 
     purposes of section 7 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
     1546).
       Sec. 11.  Each day during the period addressed by section 8 
     of this resolution shall not constitute a legislative day for 
     purposes of clause 7 of rule XIII.
       Sec. 12.  Each day during the period addressed by section 8 
     of this resolution shall not constitute a calendar or 
     legislative day for purposes of clause 7(c)(1) of rule XXII.
       Sec. 13.  It shall be in order at any time on the 
     legislative day of July 14, 2016, or July 15, 2016, for the 
     Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules 
     as though under clause 1 of rule XV. The Speaker or his 
     designee shall consult with the Minority Leader or her 
     designee on the designation of any matter for consideration 
     pursuant to this section.
       Sec. 14.  The Committee on Appropriations may, at any time 
     before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2016, file privileged 
     reports to accompany measures making appropriations for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2017.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Washington is recognized 
for 1 hour.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the 
purpose of debate only.


                             General Leave

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Rules Committee met and 
reported a rule, House Resolution 820, providing for consideration of 
an important piece of legislation, H.R. 5538, the Department of the 
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017.
  The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5538 under a structured 
rule, which is a standard tool currently available under the rules of 
the House and previously used by both Republicans and Democrats for 
consideration of appropriation bills. However, the Rules Committee 
received 178 amendments to this bill and undertook a long, arduous, and 
very open process to make as many amendments in order as possible. 
While 10 were withdrawn, out of the remaining 168 amendments, the 
committee made 131 in order, almost equally divided between Republicans 
and Democrats, ensuring that both sides of the aisle have the 
opportunity to offer their amendments and provide their input on this 
very important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill appropriates funding for the Department of 
Interior, the EPA, the U.S. Forest Service, the Indian Health Service, 
and various independent and related agencies. This is a fiscally 
responsible measure that appropriates $32.095 billion in discretionary 
spending, which is a $64 million decrease from fiscal year 2016 and a 
$1

[[Page H4676]]

billion reduction from the President's request. While this bill 
respects our country's current fiscal year situation, where our 
national debt is approaching $20 trillion, it provides the means 
necessary to fund the Department of Interior and environmental programs 
that protect and promote our natural resources within a responsible, 
yet sustainable budget.
  The legislation includes funding for many important priorities, such 
as the PILT program that provides funds for local governments in 49 
States to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable 
Federal lands within their counties. Without congressional action, many 
rural communities would face huge budget shortfalls because of Federal 
land ownership, which would impact public safety, education, and other 
local government responsibilities.
  The bill also rejects a White House proposal that would have raised 
fees on American ranchers for grazing on Federal lands, which is 
another costly Federal proposal that ranchers simply cannot afford. It 
allocates an increase for on-the-ground sage grouse conservation to 
protect the species, while also preserving Federal lands for public and 
private uses, such as energy development, ranching, recreation, as well 
as military training.
  Finally, it provides the National Park Service with targeted funding 
increases for park operations and maintenance to help reduce the Park 
Service's maintenance backlog, which currently stands at an astonishing 
$12 billion, and we simply must address.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5538 also includes conservative policy provisions 
to stop the bureaucratic regulatory overreach that is harming the 
United States. Job creation and wage growth continue to be stifled by 
EPA and other Federal regulations.
  In response, this bill denies funding for job-killing rules and 
contains provisions to stop the regulatory overreach that is 
restricting economic activity. Specifically, the bill reduces funding 
for the EPA by $164 million below the fiscal year 2016 level and $294 
million below the President's request. Within this total, EPA's 
regulatory programs are reduced by $43 million from the current level.
  Additionally, it rejects the President's proposal to increase 
staffing at the EPA and holds the agency to the current capacity of 
15,000 positions, which is the lowest level since 1989.
  Over the past few years, we have heard time and again about the EPA 
overstepping its authority, whether by lobbying for the misguided and 
unconstitutional WOTUS rule, or by providing funds to groups that 
openly advocate and lobby for antiagricultural policies and 
legislation, which happened in my State of Washington with the illegal 
``what's upstream'' campaign.
  To hold the EPA accountable and stop its antigrowth agenda of 
numerous harmful, costly, and potentially job-killing regulations, the 
bill contains a number of legislative provisions to halt these actions.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation also includes language prohibiting the 
Forest Service or the BLM from issuing new closures of public lands to 
hunting and recreational shooting, which will preserve public access so 
that everyone can enjoy these American pastimes on our treasured 
Federal lands and national forests.
  Further, the measure prevents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 
closing fish hatcheries, a key salmon recovery tool in the Pacific 
Northwest and in other parts of the country, and continues a 1-year 
delay on any further Endangered Species Act status reviews, 
determinations, and rulemakings for the greater sage grouse.
  Additionally, H.R. 5538 provides critical funding for the Department 
of Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to prevent and combat 
devastating wildfires. This is particularly important to me and the 
people of Washington's Fourth Congressional District. My State and much 
of the West have experienced catastrophic wildfire seasons over the 
last 2 years, with the State of Washington enduring back-to-back years 
of record-setting fires, which have been fueled by not only a lack of 
rainfall and extremely arid conditions, but also poor forest 
management. It also includes $575 million for hazardous fuels 
management, which is $30 million above the fiscal year 2016 level, and 
will help ensure our forests are cleared, healthy, and better prepared 
to withstand future wildfires, something that is badly needed not only 
in central Washington, but across the West, as we head into another dry 
fire season.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good rule that provides for consideration of 
the FY 2017 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
bill, which promotes the responsible use of our natural resources, 
provides the tools necessary to protect and combat devastating 
wildfires, and invests in programs and infrastructure to improve the 
quality of life for families across the country. However, most 
importantly, this is a fiscally responsible bill that reflects the 
priorities of House Republicans in tackling our yearly deficits and 
out-of-control national debt. I think it strikes a smart, intentional 
balance between funding essential programs and making responsible 
reductions to lower priority activities to make sure we meet our tight 
budget guidelines, which is why I urge my colleagues to support the 
rule and the underlying bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.


                Motion Offered by Mr. Grayson of Florida

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his motion.
  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, if we are not going to do anything about 
gun violence today, maybe we can do something about it tomorrow.
  I move to postpone this question to a date certain tomorrow.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 6(b) of rule 13, the 
gentleman's motion is not in order.
  Mr. GRAYSON. I appeal the ruling of the Chair.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's appeal may not be 
entertained. As reflected by the ruling of Speaker Crisp of September 
20, 1893, an appeal of the Chair's refusal to entertain a motion on the 
grounds that it is dilatory within the meaning of clause 6(b) of rule 
XIII is itself dilatory within the meaning of that rule.

                          ____________________