[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)

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