[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.
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