[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H351-H422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STRATEGIC PRODUCTION RESPONSE ACT
General Leave
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks on the legislation and to insert extraneous material on H.R.
21.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Washington?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 5 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 21.
The Chair appoints the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer) to
preside over the Committee of the Whole.
{time} 1229
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 21) to provide for the development of a plan to increase oil and
gas production under oil and gas leases of Federal lands under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy,
the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Defense in
conjunction with a drawdown of petroleum reserves from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve, with Mr. Rouzer in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the
first time.
General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1
hour equally divided and controlled by the majority leader and the
minority leader, or their respective designees.
The gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) and the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers).
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 21, the Strategic Production
Response Act.
Two weeks ago, this body sent a strong message that we must ensure
our Nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve will not advance the energy
interests of China over the energy security interests of Americans.
This bill today will help ensure this vital American energy asset and
American security interests will not be drained away for nonemergency,
political purposes. This bill is about restoring America's energy
security. It provides a path towards making energy more affordable for
Americans who are looking to us to help ease the pain at the pump.
H.R. 21 does this by preserving the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for
its vital and central purpose: to provide the oil supplies Americans
need during true emergencies--emergencies like supply disruptions that
threaten the Nation's economy, or the loss of oil production due to
hurricanes and other disasters.
Put simply, under this bill, if an administration chooses to use the
reserve for nonemergency political purposes, it will first have to
develop a plan that an equal amount would be reinstated from American
energy resources.
The SPR should be used as a tool of last resort. This is sensible
energy policy. It is also urgent policy. At present, the SPR's ability
to protect Americans has been put at risk. More than 250 million
barrels of oil, approximately 40 percent of the reserve, has been drawn
down in less than 2 years. This is more than all of the former
Presidents in history combined. It is all to cover up historically high
gas prices in an election year. This is irresponsible.
The Biden administration has undermined our Nation's ability to
respond to true energy emergencies by mismanaging our Nation's
strategic energy stockpile. At the same time, the administration has
taken every action to suppress America's mighty energy production
abilities. Unbelievably, the Biden administration has turned to
Venezuela and Saudi Arabia to pump more oil instead of working to lift
their regulatory restraints on American energy producers.
America's oil production and refining capacity remains 1 million
barrels below peak levels during the prior administration. We have the
world's most abundant resources and the capacity to produce millions
more barrels per day.
America should never be at the mercy of OPEC or Russia. Energy
security is economic security and it is national security. It is all
connected. It is foundational to everything. We should be unleashing
American energy on all fronts.
Don't forget, Mr. Chair, the United States has some of the highest
environmental and labor standards in the world. We have been the leader
in bringing down carbon emissions. We did this by embracing innovation
and our abundant natural resources, not by shutting down entire
industries.
Right now, America is suffering through the worst energy crisis in
decades, and gas prices are still surging upwards. Now, President
Biden's and the Democrats' radical rush-to-green agenda has made life
unaffordable for people across the country. It has driven up inflation,
it has strained household budgets, and it has weakened our electric
grid.
Gas prices have risen to the highest levels in history. Some have
been forced to pay more than $6 a gallon. Gas prices are still 40
percent higher today, and diesel prices are up almost $2 a gallon more
than when President Biden took office.
It is time to flip the switch. It is time to end the politically
motivated abuse of the SPR and focus on American energy and American
security. Let's send a strong signal this Congress that we stand for
energy security, preserving the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, restoring
America's energy dominance, and providing for the prosperity of all
Americans.
Mr. Chair, I urge support of H.R. 21, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 21. Once again, House
Republicans are showing their true colors--bringing a bill to the floor
that helps their Big Oil friends and hurts hardworking Americans.
This is a reckless and extreme bill. It will hamstring the single
most important tool the Biden administration has used to fight Putin's
price hike on gasoline. The chairwoman mentioned affordability, but by
releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Biden
administration helped bring down gas prices by over $1.50 per gallon.
Republicans call that politicizing
[[Page H352]]
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I call that providing real relief to
the American people at the gas pump.
Again, Democrats are addressing affordability trying to bring down
high gas prices; and now, after promising to lower costs for American
families, House Republicans want to pass this bill that will raise gas
prices at the pump.
Make no mistake, Mr. Chair, that is exactly what this bill would do.
It would prevent the Department of Energy from using the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve to respond to price hikes until Big Oil is given open
access to drill on public lands.
Restricting the Federal Government's best tool for decreasing gas
prices in the middle of a global energy crisis defies any logic. After
all, this is a tool that administrations of both parties--Democrat and
Republican--have successfully used in the past.
It is baffling to me to see Republicans oppose President Biden's
release of oil from the reserve considering that in recent years,
Republican administrations withdrew even more due to oil sales that
they themselves mandated when they were in control of Congress. House
Republicans have also used the reserve as a piggy bank to withdraw
nearly 300 million barrels of oil to pay for their priorities. Yet now
they want to feign outrage that President Biden withdrew fewer barrels
to lower prices at the pump.
This is not serious legislation, Mr. Chair, but instead a political
stunt. Republicans are just upset that President Biden stood up and
actually used all the tools at his disposal to fight back against high
gas prices for American families.
This bill actually fights against American families and against
addressing affordability.
The Secretary of Energy was clear in a letter she wrote to Chair
Rodgers and me last week.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of that letter.
The Secretary of Energy,
Washington, DC, January 18, 2023.
Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr.,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chair Rodgers and Ranking Member Pallone:
Congratulations again on your re-elections to Congress and
selections as Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee
on Energy and Commerce. I look forward to working closely
with you in the 118th Congress.
I write to express the Department of Energy's serious
concerns about H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response
Act. From responding swiftly to natural disasters to
executing a historic release of oil in response to Putin's
invasion of Ukraine, the Administration's use of the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has been critical to
ensuring adequate oil supply and lowering gasoline prices for
American families. This bill would significantly weaken this
critical energy security tool, resulting in more oil supply
shortages in times of crisis and higher gasoline prices for
Americans.
Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine created the worst
global energy crisis in decades. The President took
unprecedented action with allies and partners, releasing oil
from our strategic reserves, to stabilize global oil supply
and gasoline prices. We have heard directly from industry
over the last several months that these actions were
essential to maintaining supply.
And Americans see the results for themselves at the pump.
Today, gasoline prices are down by $1.70 per gallon from
their peak this summer. In fact, gasoline prices are now
below where they were before Russia's invasion. That was far
from a foregone conclusion a year ago. The Treasury
Department estimates that the Administration's SPR actions
reduced prices for American consumers at the pump by as much
as 40 cents per gallon. In addition to saving Americans
money, the SPR releases should provide a good deal for
taxpayers, by selling oil at a high price, with a planned
refill of the SPR at lower prices.
If enacted, H.R. 21 would make it harder to take such
action quickly to increase supply when the market needs it
most--driving up prices during crises. H.R. 21 would
significantly interfere with the United States' ability to
release oil collectively through the International Energy
Agency during an emergency supply shortage, as was done in
early March 2022. And H.R. 21 would severely restrict the
Department's ability to lend oil when disruptions occur due
to natural disasters or pipeline outages. Just last month,
when the Keystone Pipeline was suddenly shut down, refiners
in Texas and Louisiana were sent scrambling to keep
facilities running. This Administration--like those of both
parties have previously--quickly lent out oil to help
maintain operations, avoid shortages, and prevent further
price spikes. H.R. 21 would undermine our ability to take
such decisive action in response to future disruptions.
I believe it is essential that the SPR can continue to
address supply disruptions by rapidly providing oil in
response to emergencies. Arbitrarily requiring the completion
of reports related to energy production on Federal lands--a
matter which the Department of Energy does not control--would
only delay such critical action and increase prices for
Americans when energy disruptions occur.
Today, there is nothing standing in the way of domestic oil
production. In fact, oil production is up by 1 million
barrels per day under President Biden and is on track to
reach a new record high this year. Oil and gas companies are
currently sitting on approximately 9,000 approved but unused
permits to drill, and billions in record profits. They do not
need another giveaway.
I appreciate your consideration of these concerns, and I
hope we can work together on strategies to ensure American
energy productivity, security, and affordability.
Sincerely,
Jennifer M. Granholm.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, in that letter, Secretary Granholm wrote that
by hamstringing the administration, this bill will result in ``more oil
supply shortages in times of crisis and higher gasoline prices for
Americans.''
The President also recognizes this bill is a bad deal for the
American people, and that is why he said that he would veto it if it
ever got to his desk.
Mr. Chair, I also include in the Record the text of the Statement of
Administration Policy.
Statement of Administration Policy
H.R. 21--Strategic Production Response Act--Rep. McMorris Rodgers, R-WA
and 31 Cosponsors
The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 21, the Strategic
Production Response Act. The bill would significantly weaken
a critical energy security tool, resulting in more oil supply
shortages and higher gas prices for working families.
This Administration's use of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve (SPR) has been essential to protecting our energy
security and to lowering gas prices for Americans. Following
Putin's further invasion of Ukraine last year, President
Biden authorized the largest-ever emergency release from the
SPR, in coordination with historic releases from allies and
partners. The results speak for themselves: today, gasoline
prices are $1.60 per gallon lower than their peak this summer
and below their pre-invasion levels. That was far from a
foregone conclusion: the Treasury Department estimates that
SPR actions reduced prices at the pump by as much as 40 cents
per gallon.
If enacted, H.R. 21 would significantly weaken America's
ability to take such decisive action to increase supply and
lower prices in times of crisis. Putin has tried to use
energy supply and high prices as a strategy to weaken the
United States and Europe's resolve to defend Ukraine. By
interfering with the United States' ability to release, oil
collectively, this legislation would help Putin's war aims.
In addition, H.R. 21 would severely restrict the
Administration's ability to increase oil supply and prevent
price spikes in response to natural disasters or pipeline
outages-as Administrations of both parties have done.
By arbitrarily requiring completion of a report related to
energy production on Federal lands, H.R. 21 makes it harder
to provide relief to Americans during energy disruptions
globally and at home. Moreover, there is nothing currently
standing in the way of domestic oil production. Production is
up by more than 1 million barrels per day under President
Biden and is on track to reach a new record this year. Oil
and gas companies are currently sitting on thousands of
unused but approved permits that they can use to further
increase production right now.
Because H.R. 21 will jeopardize our energy security and
increase gas prices for working families, the Administration
strongly opposes the bill.
If Congress were to pass this bill, the President would
veto it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, it is, frankly, stunning that after about 2
years of Republicans talking such a big game on energy security and
energy independence, that one of the Republicans' first bills this
Congress is a proposal that would seriously undermine both.
The truth is that Republicans' decades-old drill-baby-drill mentality
is outdated, it is reckless, and it simply cannot and will not protect
Americans from the volatile price movements of a global commodity. Our
country has adopted this mentality for decades, and it just doesn't
work.
The United States is already the world's top producer of both oil and
gas, and the fossil fuel industry already controls large portions of
U.S. public lands and waters, and it isn't using most of it. Right now,
fossil fuel companies control over 26 million acres of U.S. public
lands, half of which is going unused.
[[Page H353]]
The problem is not a shortage of land or leases.
Republicans only want the American people to think that that is the
case because they want to keep doing the bidding of Big Oil. But the
bottom line is, Big Oil doesn't want to pump oil because that would
lower prices. They don't want to do it. They don't want to address the
issue of affordability with gas prices. They don't want to pump more
oil.
No matter how much we drill anyway, doubling down on our fossil fuel
dependency is exactly what has kept us dependent on the global market,
and this global market where we have oil from other countries is
largely controlled by dictators and adversaries on the other side of
the world.
So, Mr. Chair, this bill is not serious. It is yet another old,
tired, one-page bill that shows just how antiquated and misplaced
Republican priorities are. We should be spending our time on serious,
thoughtful proposals that actually address our energy challenges and
opportunities, that lower gas prices as opposed to raising them, and to
ensure that Americans and their jobs don't get left behind as the rest
of the world transitions to clean energy.
Mr. Chair, if you really care about bringing down gas prices, you
would oppose this bill.
Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), who is a leader on the Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.
Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 21, the Strategic
Production Response Act. Instead of unleashing America's vast domestic
energy resources, President Biden has hobbled our Nation's energy
production, resulting in fuel shortages and rising energy costs for all
American families.
He went so far as begging foreign dictators for oil instead of
uplifting America's economy. It is worth noting that just a few short
years ago, America was energy independent.
House Republicans have made it clear that we are going to hold the
Biden administration accountable for its actions.
As we sit here today, President Biden is draining around 40 percent
of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The reserve was established to be
used for national emergencies, not for cheap political points or Band-
Aids for failed policies.
The Strategic Production Response Act would require the Biden
administration to replenish and maintain the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve, and this legislation would require the Secretary of Energy to
come up with a plan to replenish the reserve if oil is taken for
nonemergency reasons.
The President has ample solutions in front of him to fix America's
energy crisis. In fact, Republicans have been offering up long-term
energy solutions to the Biden administration, but they refuse to
listen. Instead, they have given in to the demands of left-wing special
interests and radical environmental groups and have left the American
people stranded.
In America, we do our part in making sure that the energy we produce
is done in a cleaner and safer way than any other country on Earth.
Unleashing American energy is the solution to our Nation's energy
crisis.
My message to President Biden is simple: The days of taking shortcuts
to cover up major policy failures are over. H.R. 21 is an important
step in holding the administration accountable for their actions, and I
am proud to support this legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), who is the ranking member of the Natural
Resources Committee and who has worked so hard on clean energy issues.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 21, and I urge all my colleagues
to oppose this big giveaway to Big Oil.
The bill before us today is yet another effort to open our public
lands and waters to major new oil and gas extraction. This is despite
the fact that oil companies already control huge amounts of our public
lands and waters, most of which they don't even use.
Right now, oil and gas companies have about 9,000 approved but unused
permits across 26 million acres of public land. Right now, offshore
they have 2,000 active leases covering 12 million acres, three-quarters
of which aren't being used.
This bill asks us to give them even more land--an area three times
the size of California, or more than 300 million additional acres. Big
Oil has more public land than they can use. They could expand
production today if they really wanted to. Instead, they lobby Congress
to open up even more lands to extraction, to lower environmental
standards, and to give them more taxpayer-funded subsidies. And in the
process, they lock out public land and public access from other
essential uses that would contribute to the American people and
contribute to the mitigation and remediation and the climate action
that is required around the issue of climate and the climate crisis.
{time} 1245
To add insult to injury, this bill would actually make it harder to
help everyday Americans. It would prevent the President's ability to
keep down gas prices.
Last year, President Biden took decisive action, allowing releases
from the reserve to lower prices at the pump. Under this bill, if the
President needed to act again to keep prices low, he would first have
to pay off Big Oil by opening up our public lands.
This bill does not protect the American people, and it certainly
doesn't protect our climate or environment.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), a leader on the Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I support H.R. 21.
Michiganians are facing hardships due to President Biden and
Secretary Granholm's war on American energy. My constituents are
struggling to afford to fill up their tanks and heat their homes.
Instead of abandoning his failed progressive policies and unleashing
domestic energy production to lower costs for hardworking Americans,
the Biden administration decided to use America's Strategic Petroleum
Reserve as a political Band-Aid.
President Biden has sold off over 250 million barrels of oil,
draining our SPR to its lowest level since 1983. America's Strategic
Petroleum Reserve is to be used in cases of national emergency, not
political emergencies. Energy security is national security.
H.R. 21 is a commonsense measure to ensure that our SPR remains ready
for when we face global supply disruptions that threaten our economy
and prevents politically motivated withdrawals. Let's pass it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Castor), the former chair of the Select Committee on the
Climate Crisis who has done so much on clean energy issues.
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 21.
The Republican bill would cause higher gas prices. It would hamstring
the ability of the President to respond to a crisis. It also would open
up areas to drilling and pollution that should be off-limits, and it
would exacerbate climate pollution and the costly related impacts
ripping through America.
After Putin invaded Ukraine and American consumers were grappling
with higher gas prices, President Biden was right to release oil from
the strategic reserve to cushion the economic blow to American
families. It was a commonsense strategy that helped lower gas prices
for Americans. Now, Republicans want to tie the hands of the President
to act when necessary.
There are too many contingencies in the world--war, supply chain
issues, natural disasters--to irrationally tie the hands of the
Commander in Chief to use the strategic reserve when needed.
This bill also opens up areas to drilling and pollution that should
be off-limits, like the coast of Florida. It could wreck our economy,
our beautiful coastal waters and beaches, and areas that the Department
of Defense needs for military training. Plus, it is completely
unnecessary.
[[Page H354]]
The oil and gas industry already controls large portions of public
lands and waters. They aren't using it. They are sitting on
approximately 9,000 approved but unused permits for drilling.
Finally, this is dangerous and costly and will exacerbate the climate
crisis. The top scientists say we have a rapidly closing window to
reduce climate pollution and avoid the worst impacts, but Republicans
have abdicated their responsibility to keep these costs in check for
everyday Americans.
True energy security and independence will come through clean energy,
efficiency, and innovation. Twenty percent of electricity net
generation in the U.S. right now comes from renewable sources. With the
Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law, we are
on track now to lower costs, to create good-paying jobs, and to build
safer, healthier, more resilient communities across the country.
This bill is an outrageous handout to polluters that will cost
families and weaken energy security for America. In this Republican
House, I guess Big Oil and the wealthy, powerful special interests win
while everyday Americans will pay more.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko).
Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Chairman, our energy security is under attack. This
administration has drained our Strategic Petroleum Reserve, selling off
40 percent of the reserve in just the last 2 years.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is now at its lowest level in 40
years, posing a threat to our country in the event of a real emergency.
Yet, this administration has failed to implement even a simple plan to
replace the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That is what this bill does.
With the Strategic Production Response Act, Republicans are stepping
up to the plate to ensure any nonemergency release is accompanied by a
plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands and water leased for
oil and gas exploration.
This is responsible. This is common sense. This bill is a critical
step in unleashing our domestic energy production, increasing our
emergency supply, and delivering on our promise to protect our Nation's
energy security.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Cardenas), a member of the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 21.
If the beautiful, wonderful Marvin Gaye were with us today, he would
say, ``What's going on?'' much more beautifully than I could say it.
This is what is going on: This legislation is bad policy that will
severely increase the price of gas at the pump, destroy our
environment, and pollute and poison the air that our children and
grandchildren deserve to breathe. It will only help the rich get
richer.
This bill could require the U.S. to open up over 300 million acres of
Federal lands for new oil and gas drilling. To put that into scale,
that is three times the size of the State of California.
Rather than curbing our dependence on fossil fuels and making America
more energy independent, my Republican colleagues are pushing
legislation that will only increase our resilience on fossil fuels.
This bill is incredibly foolish and does nothing to address the real
problems.
What are they really up to? They want to put money into the pockets
of Big Oil executives while taking it out of the pockets of everyday
Americans.
So, I ask, what is the true intention of this legislation? Who does
this help? Well, I just told you. It helps Big Oil and hurts everyday
Americans because I know for damn sure it doesn't help the working
families across our great country.
I remind my colleagues and all of us that we were elected to come
here to this body to represent all Americans, not just special
interests.
Your bill will only line the pockets of your fossil fuel friends
while making gas more expensive for everyday Americans.
This bill is shameful. It fails our children and grandchildren, and
it fails to protect the American people.
The CHAIR. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), a leader on the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 21.
House Republicans are taking our next step to protect the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve and put American energy dominance back on track.
First, we are going to stop selling a national security tool to
China, and second, we are going to leverage our domestic natural
resources to protect against emergency supply disruptions.
The President's decision to exploit the SPR to cover up his own
energy crisis was nothing short of a political stunt, and I heard that
word used when I first walked in.
After draining 40 percent of our reserve, the President has left
Hoosiers in Indiana's Sixth District vulnerable in the event of a true
supply emergency.
The SPR is critical to helping respond to natural disasters,
hurricanes, or severe supply disruptions. It was never intended to be a
solution to the Biden energy crisis facing Hoosiers and all Americans.
If the President was truly concerned about high energy prices, he
would work with Republicans to support the domestic resources we
already have at our disposal.
H.R. 21 is a clear, simple way to leverage our assets and refocus the
SPR on its original intent, responding to emergency supply disruptions.
I look forward to continuing our efforts on the Energy and Commerce
Committee to hold this administration accountable and reestablish
American energy dominance.
Mr. Chair, I urge support for this legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Mrs. Fletcher), another member of our Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 21.
My colleagues on both sides of the aisle know that, as a
Representative for the energy capital of the world in Houston, I
support domestic energy production.
We produce oil and gas better. We have better environmental
standards, better worker safety standards, and better emission
reduction efforts and opportunities. We know it is important to produce
energy domestically for our economy and for our national security.
We also know that domestic production of oil and gas is a complicated
system, from upstream exploration and production to downstream refining
and transportation along the way. That is why I oppose this bill. It
doesn't reflect the reality of how oil and gas production works or
solve the problem I think it seeks to solve.
Oil and gas production is a long and expensive process. Leases are
executed many years before production begins if it begins at all.
When we are talking about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, we are
talking about crude oil that has been produced and stored for emergency
use. If what we are trying to do is make sure that the SPR is full and
available, we should pass legislation to require the government to
replenish it after sales are made, to buy when the price is low. If
what we are trying to do is increase domestic production, we should be
working on permitting reform and addressing issues in the capital
markets that are making investments more difficult. If operators can't
make the investments, build the infrastructure, and move the product,
what good is a lease sale?
Today, we have heard a lot of complaints about President Biden's
strategic use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has
successfully lowered the prices at the pump for Americans and weakened
Russia's ability to fund its unprovoked, unconscionable war against
Ukraine. It has been a vital tool, as we just heard, for responding to
natural disasters and energy supply shocks and mitigating hostile
foreign actors at other times.
We should support all of these efforts. The response to this effort
certainly should not be to make it harder to do what we have just
successfully done.
That is what this bill does, placing new burdensome requirements to
offer vast sums of public lands for leasing at any time mandatory sales
are dictated
[[Page H355]]
by Congress or exchanges are implemented by the Department of Energy.
It is not the solution that my friends on the other side of the aisle
seem to think that it is, and I would be glad to work with anyone here
to address the real barriers to domestic energy production and support
smart energy policy.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis), the vice chair of the Energy,
Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Strategic
Production Response Act.
The President sold an unprecedented amount of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve, which was constructed to be used solely during national
emergencies. I regret that the President has instead used it as a
political tool to attempt to lower gas prices.
Perhaps the most frustrating thing is this administration's constant
demonization not just of fossil fuels but of the very men and women who
work so hard to produce them.
{time} 1300
It is vital for a business to have regulatory certainty to ensure
price stability, and President Biden's lack of guidance has created the
most unclear times for the energy industry in modern history. You can't
attack the oil and gas industry, say you want to put them out of
business, and then complain when gas prices go up.
It is critical for the SPR to be accessible to the most vulnerable
citizens at times of crisis: wildfires, flooding, tornadoes, and
hurricanes.
All over the country, including in my home of Utah, there are
abundant fossil fuels that can be cleanly and responsibly developed on
Federal lands that could be used to replenish the SPR for times of real
crisis.
This is why I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the Appropriations
Committee.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote
against the so-called Strategic Production Response Act, which would
significantly weaken our critical energy security.
This bill before us would result in more oil supply shortages, higher
gas prices for hardworking, middle-class families, and jeopardize our
energy security, just so those on the other side of the aisle can do
the bidding of their friends at Big Oil.
Big Oil has already received billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded
subsidies. They enjoyed record-shattering profits, and it is all at the
expense of hardworking families.
Today, families live paycheck to paycheck; that is the reality. There
is no thought for what this will do to the prices at the pump for
families.
Big Oil has more than 26 million acres under lease, and over 50
percent are nonproducing. It is not because they are not allowed to
drill. More than 9,500 permits to extract oil were approved in 2021
alone. While the administration has paused wasteful lease sales, the
permitting process for already leased lands continues.
The greed of Big Oil just never ends. It inflicts pain, and it
inflicts financial instability on working families. It is a daily
assault.
There is an old saying: ``Know where you stand, and stand there.''
Well, it is clear where some of my colleagues on the other side of the
aisle stand, and that is protecting Big Oil, which has a monopoly, and
they can do what they want in terms of raising prices or lowering
prices--and they never lower prices.
I will continue to stand with the American people. I urge my
colleagues to vote against H.R. 21.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1\1/
2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), a leader on
the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding.
This legislation--let's explain this very simply--is necessary
because we need to install the guardrails to protect the strategic
reserve.
Before this administration, it was unimaginable that a President
would declare war on American energy. That is why we are bringing this
legislation forward, to ensure that our Strategic Petroleum Reserve is
being used only for emergencies and not to score cheap political
points.
Any plan that uses this reserve outside of a national emergency must
have a corresponding plan to backfill our stores.
It is unacceptable to cancel projects like the Keystone XL pipeline,
strip away American energy jobs, and harass our energy producers while
also using up our emergency supplies.
Americans cannot afford for the White House to play political games.
We need to lower prices at the gas pump for the Pennsylvania families
that I represent. Using our emergency supplies is unsustainable, and
actually, it is reckless.
We cannot afford to waste any more time holding up permits and
creating complicated regulations that only slow down production.
It is time to return to American energy dominance and use the
resources that are under the feet of my constituents.
I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important
legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 21.
A poll was released today that 73 percent of Americans think that the
Republican leadership has the wrong priorities, and today we consider a
bill which demonstrates how true those poll results are.
With this bill, the Republicans are giving a big, wet kiss to Big
Oil. They are making it more difficult for families to afford gas at
the pump and rewarding Big Oil with record profits.
Once again, they are demonstrating they care more about protecting
the profits of Big Oil than protecting the wallets of hardworking
Americans.
This legislation would make it impossible--or nearly impossible--for
the President to lower gas prices by tying releases from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve to this notion of expanding leasing on Federal lands,
which would make it almost impossible, as Mrs. Fletcher explained just
moments ago.
Linking releases from the reserve to increases in drilling on Federal
lands will result in higher prices for Americans and an exacerbation of
the climate crisis already facing our country.
What is more startling is this isn't even necessary. There are over
9,000 leases available right now where drilling is not taking place.
Why?
Because Big Oil wants to keep the price up high to maximize their
profits and continue to gouge the American consumers. Let's not
continue to help them to do that.
The President was very wise to strategically use that reserve to
lower the price at the pump.
I urge all my colleagues not to embrace this crazy idea of protecting
the profits for Big Oil, gouging our constituents with higher gas
prices, worsening the climate crisis, and instead, focus on the
priorities of the American people to lower the cost of goods, to lower
the cost of gas at the pump, to lower the cost of food at the grocery
store.
That is what Republicans ran on, Mr. Chairman, and their first act
was to gut the IRS to make it harder for people to get their tax
returns back, and today they are trying to protect Big Oil and make it
more expensive for our constituents.
Vote ``no.''
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
When President Biden was inaugurated in January of 2021, gas prices
were $2.33 a gallon. I doubt you can find that anywhere in America
today. $2.33 a gallon. They have only gone up since then.
The war on Ukraine did not cause the energy crisis, it just exposed
what was going on.
Refining and production is down a million barrels from when President
Biden was elected. There has been the shutting down of American energy.
It is time to unleash American energy.
[[Page H356]]
Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Carter), a leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 21
because what President Biden and this administration have done with our
Strategic Petroleum Reserve is nothing short of abuse.
What is worse is that the administration has drained our SPR to bribe
the American people into forgetting about the failure of its policies.
Since day one, the President and his administration have waged a war
against our energy independence and security. When, to no one's
surprise, prices rose to the highest they have been in a generation,
instead of reversing course, they doubled down and tried to pay off the
American people by emptying the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, and I sincerely hope all
of my colleagues on the floor support it today.
This bill not only limits the President's ability to abuse the SPR,
as he has done in the past 2 years, but it also requires the
administration to have a plan to increase production if it does pull
from the SPR outside of our emergencies.
This is energy security, and it is sorely needed in today's uncertain
world.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time remains on
each side?
The CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey has 11 minutes remaining.
The gentlewoman from Washington has 15 minutes remaining.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Porter).
Ms. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, replenishing the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve is in our national security interest, but handing out 10
percent of our federally protected lands is not the answer.
Big Oil sits on more than 9,000 unused permits for drilling on public
lands. That is 9.9 million acres; 7.5 million football fields; more
land than Maryland and Delaware combined.
Congress should find the political courage to hold the fossil fuel
industry accountable. As long as Big Oil holds on to thousands of
unused permits, it shouldn't get a single acre more of our land.
We can strengthen our energy independence without another sweetheart
deal for the fossil fuel industry, which also receives billions in
subsidies, and without selling out the hunters, fishers, and hikers who
rely on public lands and contribute 1.9 percent of our GDP.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 21.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn), a leader on the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. DUNN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to stress the
importance of maintaining our Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The Biden administration has recklessly handled our SPR and made us
more vulnerable economically and defensively. They have drained the
reserve by almost 40 percent with no plan to replenish it, jeopardizing
our economy and our national security.
America is currently unprepared for a true emergency, forcing us to
beg for oil from countries like Venezuela. We are also more vulnerable
to an energy supply disruption caused by natural disasters like
hurricanes.
H.R. 21 would ensure that the administration has a plan in place to
increase domestic energy production and to replenish the SPR.
Democrats want you to believe that draining the SPR is the only way
to combat prices. Wrong. We can produce our own oil and gas.
Americans have suffered enough under the left's failed Green New
Deal.
I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 21.
I also encourage them to support Representative Gaetz's amendment to
ensure the important Gulf Test Range remains a pillar of our military
readiness.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Ohio (Mrs. Sykes).
Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 21, the
Strategic Production Response Act.
H.R. 21 is unnecessary, and it is harmful legislation that will have
devastating consequences for hardworking American families, and its
impact on our environment will resonate for generations to come.
My district is home to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which
receives more than 2.2 million visitors every year. Under H.R. 21, this
irreplaceable national park and others across the Nation could be
subjected to unnecessary oil and gas drilling, devastating ecosystems,
our environment, our economy, and our communities.
Our National Park System plays an essential role in the advancement
of our communities. They create jobs, strengthen the local economy,
contribute to local infrastructure development, and help to conserve
the natural environment, cultural assets, and traditions that we hold
dear.
H.R. 21 is not a comprehensive, strategic legislative undertaking
that puts the needs of hardworking Americans first; in fact, it does
the opposite. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I cannot support this wholly
unnecessary and harmful legislation in its current form, and I urge my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``no.''
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), a leader on the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 21.
President Biden, true to his word of a war on fossil fuels, sold off
an unprecedented 250 million barrels of oil in less than 2 years, which
is more than 40 percent of the stockpile. Two of the four SPR sites
along the Gulf Coast are now dangerously low on oil, leaving America
more vulnerable to a true energy supply disruption caused by hurricane
or natural disaster.
Mr. Chairman, this issue is very personal to me and to my Gulf Coast
district. We house 60 percent of the Nation's SPR. So when I say
``personal,'' I mean it.
Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this
bill to prevent further abuse of the SPR.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), a leader on the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Chairman, energy security is national security. Both
sides recognize this, and that is why we have a Strategic Petroleum
Reserve to begin with.
The President's idea of strategy means using the SPR to bail him out
for his disastrous energy policies. In less than 2 years, President
Biden and his administration have drained 250 million barrels from the
SPR. You are going to hear that over and over again today.
Guess what? Gas prices are still over 40 percent higher today than
they were before the President took office.
{time} 1315
Americans are suffering through the worst energy crisis in decades.
To make matters worse, the SPR, once the largest stockpile of fuel
anywhere in the world, is now at its lowest level since 1984.
It is time to end this madness and commit to replenishing the SPR,
and Republicans have a plan to do that.
Our legislation would tie any future nonemergency drawdowns from the
SPR to a concrete plan of action to increase oil and gas production on
Federal lands.
The bottom line is this administration needs a plan to refill our
SPR. Quite frankly, it is a dereliction of duty that they do not have a
plan to restore our energy security.
The CHAIR. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in
personalities toward the President.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson), a leader on the Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. BALDERSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 21, the Strategic
Production Response Act, led by our Energy and Commerce Committee Chair
McMorris Rodgers.
I am proud to cosponsor and support this bill, which holds the Biden
administration and future administrations
[[Page H357]]
accountable for misusing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Under President Biden's watch, the stockpile has been depleted by an
alarming 40 percent, falling to its lowest level since 1984.
Established in 1975, the SPR was intended to respond to national
emergencies and to address severe supply disruptions, not to manipulate
gas prices.
This bill is quite simple. It requires the Secretary of Energy to
submit a plan to increase domestic energy production with any
nonemergency drawdown of the SPR.
Despite falsehoods from the members of the President's own Cabinet,
this legislation provides clear exceptions for legitimate energy supply
interruptions and only applies to nonemergency sales.
The American people want affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy
for America, not short-term political gimmicks. Mr. Chairman, I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 21.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute.
I can't help but comment on the fact that my Republican colleagues
continue to get up and criticize President Biden for releasing crude
oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
I have to point out that Republican Presidents have done this many
times in the past, and I think the only reason why they are criticizing
President Biden is because they know it worked.
We know that since last June, when the gas prices were at their high
for the season, since the release, the prices have gone down by $1.50
per barrel, with all kinds of evidence to show that a significant
reason for that was because of releasing crude oil from the reserve.
Now, if you don't feel that is something that we should do, you can
say it, but the bottom line is, as Democrats, we were trying, and the
President was trying, to address an affordability issue.
The American people don't want to have to pay high prices for gas,
and they should not have to if we can do something about it.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), a leader on the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today on behalf of the 2 million
hardworking Texans, the 10 million hardworking Americans, that the
President has told their job doesn't matter, putting food on the table
doesn't matter, mortgage payments don't matter, grocery bills don't
matter.
I am actually shocked that this is a partisan issue, that we have my
Democrat colleagues that are saying that we don't want to refill an
SPR, or we don't want to consider it an emergency use, only for
political emergencies.
The President campaigned on a promise to end fossil fuels, and he has
pushed his failed policies from day one, including the cancellation of
Keystone XL, telling 10 million workers who provide the energy our
Nation so desperately needs that he doesn't want them to produce.
In fact, not only does he not want them to produce, he is going
overseas, begging global oil cartels for more energy.
These policies are completely disconnected from reality. We are now
facing rolling blackouts where families, in the middle of the night,
may not have energy.
In places like California, that is standard practice. However, now
you have to consider it in Pennsylvania and Ohio and everywhere else.
Why? Where are my Democrat colleagues who believe in affordable,
reliable energy? Where are my colleagues who want to ease the burden of
inflation that the President has caused?
This Republican majority knows and is in touch with the reality that
every family is facing choices, inflationary choices, and it starts
with energy.
I am proud to work alongside Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers to restore
energy security.
President Biden's use of the SPR for his own political emergencies is
unacceptable, and we are now standing up to return the SPR to its
rightful use for national security emergencies, not fabricated
political emergencies.
It is time for the President to join the Permian Basin, for the
President to join every State in using this for what it was designed to
be used for.
It is a shame that my Democrat colleagues will not stand up for a
national security imperative. We must let our producers produce, do
what they do best, and keep government out of it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute.
Mr. Chairman, again, in response to the previous speaker who
criticized the President, the President successfully used the SPR to
lower prices at the pump and provide relief to American families. Now,
Republicans want to take away the strategy, which will only result in
higher gas prices for Americans.
The President's strategy worked, and thanks largely to his actions,
gas prices have fallen an average of $1.50 per gallon nationwide since
their peak in June.
President Biden's actions also made money for American taxpayers. A
Wall Street Journal analyst found that the United States made nearly $4
billion in profit from Biden's sale from the reserves, receiving an
average of 96 cents per gallon of oil sold from it, well above the
current market price of approximately $82 per barrel.
The Department of Energy has already announced plans to purchase oil
to refill the reserve and will begin making those purchases at a low
fixed price later this month.
They have actually made money, lowered prices for the American
consumer, and are going to be able to fill the SPR at a lower cost.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, if you bought gas recently,
you would be aware gas prices are up 40 cents just in the last couple
of weeks. Our reserve is drained. We need to pass this bill.
Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs.
Miller-Meeks), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairwoman Rodgers for yielding
me time.
I rise in support of H.R. 21, an important and timely bill, and I am
proud that the new Republican majority made this one of our first
priorities.
In less than 2 years, President Biden has drained our Strategic
Petroleum Reserve, putting American energy security at risk.
Thankfully, House Republicans have a plan to address the issue,
replenish our reserve, and unleash American energy.
The President's energy policies have hurt Americans, and I thank my
colleague on the other side of the aisle. He is correct. In releasing
oil from the SPR, it may have helped to lower gasoline prices; however,
it uncloaked the lie that it was price gouging from oil companies that
caused prices to rise to begin with.
More supply was needed, that was obvious, and this administration's
policies had constrained domestic production and supply.
Approximately 40 percent of the SPR has been drawn down since
President Biden took office, with no plan to replenish it.
Instead of working together to address the issue, the President has,
indeed, chosen to peddle a false narrative about our efforts. The
President claims our bill, the Strategic Production Response Act, would
limit the administration's access to the SPR. This is blatantly false.
Our bill specifically reinforces a President's ability to tap the SPR
if an energy emergency is declared.
Our bill would, however, require the Department of Energy to prepare
a plan to encourage domestic production if the SPR is tapped without a
declared energy emergency.
While we may accept the seriousness of climate change, we do not
accept that U.S. energy transmission and restructuring of the entire
industrial base is the solution.
Energy security is national security, and failing to increase energy
production and replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve puts our
country at risk. We need to unleash American innovation and energy
production and set our country on a path to energy independence.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 21.
[[Page H358]]
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, the administration may have temporarily artificially
reduced gas prices. Up until election day, they were selling a million
barrels per day out of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. They have now
drained the reserve, leaving us vulnerable, and gas prices are on their
way up again since Christmas, 40 cents just since Christmas.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute.
The previous speaker prior to the ranking member mentioned supply,
and I want to read sections of the letter from Secretary Granholm about
this that everyone received. She says:
``Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine created the worst global
energy crisis in decades. The President took unprecedented action with
allies and partners, releasing oil from our strategic reserves, to
stabilize global oil supply and gasoline prices. We have heard directly
from industry over the last several months that these actions were
essential to maintaining supply. . . . If enacted, H.R. 21 would make
it harder to take such action quickly to increase supply when the
market needs it most, driving up prices during crises. . . . I believe
it is essential that the SPR can continue to address supply disruptions
by rapidly providing oil in response to emergencies. Arbitrarily
requiring the completion of reports related to Federal lands, a matter
which the Department of Energy does not control, would only delay such
critical action and increase prices for Americans when energy
disruptions occur. Today, there is nothing standing in the way of
domestic oil production.''
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our majority leader.
Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and
for the great job she is doing as chair of the Energy and Commerce
Committee to bring forward important bills that will increase America's
national security and energy security.
There is absolutely no reason that we have to be reliant on foreign
countries for our energy. We have actually got the energy here in
America.
In fact, for those people that are concerned about carbon emissions,
for all those carbon footprint warriors that got on their private jets
and flew to Davos last week to lecture the rest of the world about not
using fossil fuels--they didn't take commercial flights. They had to
take their private charters, not with solar panels on the wings of
those airplanes, using jet fuel.
They lecture the whole world about getting rid of fossil fuels in
America, not in other countries.
You saw President Biden himself get on Air Force One and fly to Saudi
and beg Saudi princes to produce more energy as he is shutting down
production in America, limiting leases, limiting pipelines, killing
Keystone and other pipelines, limiting the ability to get permits to do
basic exploration in America.
He is green-lighting pipelines in Russia, green-lighting pipelines
and drilling in other places, urging and begging drilling in other
places.
By the way, if you are concerned about the carbon footprint, no
country in the world that produces energy does it better than America.
We should want to be doing more in America.
As production goes up and goes down based on good or bad policies, as
we are seeing today with bad policies, the Nation back in the 1970s
said that we are going to have a Strategic Petroleum Reserve--in
essence, an American piggy bank to protect our country in case there is
some major disruption in world markets, in energy production in
America.
Maybe there is a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico that limits our
ability to produce energy for a brief period of time. That is why we
have a Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It is not there to go mask your bad
policies.
Yet, that is what we have seen from this President. As you can see,
this President has raided more than 40 percent of America's strategic
reserve; our piggy bank. He has just taken it away. In some cases, he
actually sold that oil to China.
We came together last week, Republicans and Democrats. The press
actually said it was going to be a partisan exercise, so why even waste
the time. What they found out is not only did a Republican say it is
wrong to raid our piggy bank in America and sell it to China, a
majority of Democrats actually agreed with us and sent that bill to the
Senate.
{time} 1330
I urge the Senate to take up that bill that is important to America's
national security.
But then, today we go even further and say, Mr. President, with this
bill, H.R. 21, if you are going to raid our reserves, won't you at
least put forward a plan to show how you will replace it.
Don't worry. I know the White House gets nervous when you tell them
that you have got to produce energy in America. They don't have a
problem, again, with foreign countries producing energy. They just
don't want it made in America. They use the tagline a lot. You hear it
all the time, made in America; except when it comes to making energy,
they don't want to make it in America. They make it harder to make it
in America. They beg foreign countries to make our energy.
This bill says--gives an exemption--except in the case of a severe
energy supply interruption. So the President's still got the ability,
if there is some actual emergency, to use the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve the way it was intended in the 1970s.
All this bill says is if your bad policy is leading to higher gas
prices--and people are getting angry about that, as they should--you
can't go and raid it unless you show a plan, as the bill says, the
development of a plan to increase oil and gas production under oil and
gas leases of Federal lands here.
So this would make a lot of sense, except if you are at 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue.
In fact, yesterday, the President actually issued a veto threat on
this bill. Now, a veto threat should be a rare exercise that you
reserve for policy that might hurt the country.
Well, let's read why the President issued the veto threat. In his
veto threat he said, the administration's use of the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve has been essential to protecting our energy security
and to lowering gas prices for Americans.
I hope I am not the one that breaks this news to the White House, but
Mr. President, your policies have not lowered gas prices for Americans.
Maybe the calculator is broken at the White House, but we did the math.
Let's do some fact-checking. Since Joe Biden took the oath of office,
gas prices have not lowered; they have increased 50 percent.
Then the veto threat says, we don't want to do this because our
policies have lowered gas prices. Maybe the President, when he realizes
that gas prices have gone up 50 percent--they have not lowered for
families--he might reverse the veto threat. So we will wait during this
debate.
Maybe we will get a reversal of this veto threat once he realizes
that gas prices have actually gone up, not a little, but a lot, 50
percent increase for a low-income family who is struggling already
under the weight of President Biden's spending that has led to
inflation and higher prices everywhere you go, the grocery store,
supply chain increases.
This is crushing middle-class families. It is crushing lower-income
families. So what we say is, let's just use our resources.
The President actually goes on to say--and this might be the most
perplexing part of the President's veto threat; probably explains the
most why the President is so misguided on energy policy.
He says, because H.R. 21 will jeopardize our energy security and
increase gas prices for working families, the administration strongly
opposes the bill.
So, somehow, some of the energy experts at the White House, again,
some of the same people that fly around on private planes to Davos
telling you not to use fossil fuels, they think that by increasing
American energy production that will somehow raise gas prices.
Well, guess what? We have checked the record. These are the same
experts whose policies have increased gas
[[Page H359]]
prices, not a little, 50 percent. So the White House has been wrong on
this issue over and over again, to the point where we had such a strong
bipartisan vote last week.
Let's put up another strong bipartisan vote and maybe wake the people
up at the White House as to what is happening in the real world. When
families who are struggling go to fill up their gas tanks, they are not
paying less, as the President suggests.
Again, the President actually thinks, in his veto threat, that his
policies have lowered gas prices. A 50 percent increase is not a lower
gas price. It is actually a kick to the gut of those families who are
struggling; and we have got to stop having Washington kick them in the
gut.
So if you look at the moniker right above the Speaker's rostrum,
there is a plaque that says, let us develop the natural resources of
our land.
Why don't we actually do that? Why don't we actually do what has
proven to work over and over again?
If we open up American energy, it is the cleanest in the world. Don't
beg foreign dictators to do it. They don't do it as clean as us, by the
way; and it also lowers prices. It also creates good American jobs.
Let's actually make it in America again and, if you are going to raid
the piggy bank, at minimum, show the country your plan for how you plan
to replace it. That is the least this President should do.
Let's pass this bill with a strong vote over to the Senate and then
get this on the President's desk, and maybe he will reconsider and
recognize just what his policies have done to hurt families over these
last 2 years.
Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of H.R. 21.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2
minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte), a leader on
the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, my constituents already pay amongst the
highest prices for energy in the entire country and yet, this winter,
their suffering is particularly acute because some of them are being
forced to pay over twice as much to heat their homes as they were just
a year ago.
One of the primary drivers of this spike in energy prices is the
policies of our own Federal Government which actively restrict the
production of energy in America.
Any economist will tell you that when that supply is constrained,
prices go up and, Mr. Chairman, that is exactly what is occurring this
winter.
This bill, H.R. 21, will make a meaningful contribution to fixing
that problem by requiring the Federal Government to permit new energy
exploration at least sufficient to replace the petroleum that is being
released from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Mr. Chairman, it is unconscionable to force my constituents to choose
between heating their homes and putting food on the table for their
families, and this is exactly what has been happening for the thousands
of people that I represent.
This bill is a meaningful step toward solving that problem and will
improve the lives of people across our country, and I urge its
adoption.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 3
minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan), the chairman
of the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee of the Energy
and Commerce Committee.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the Chairwoman for the time. She
has done a great job. We look forward to big things on the Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. Chairman, I have been watching this debate, and the Democrats are
having a hard time defending the administration's drawdown of a
strategic asset for the political reasons to lower gas prices during an
election year. I mean, it is obvious. The ranking member has been down
here on the floor, pretty much left alone to debate this piece of
legislation.
Even the Biden administration understands that House Democrats will
have to support this sound energy policy that facilitates oil and gas
development and has preemptively threatened to veto this legislation.
The Biden administration has said time and again that there is
nothing prohibiting energy production in the United States. But we, the
people, we know better because we lived it. We saw when energy
production was high in this country under the past administration, gas
prices were lower.
Once the Biden administration came in and started stopping oil and
gas leasing and drilling, gas prices went up, and they felt the
political pressure. The Biden administration and the House Democrats
felt the political pressure.
So what did they do? They tapped into a strategic reserve for
America. The SPR, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, is set aside for
emergencies like Hurricane Katrina, for a time of war, for emergencies,
not for a political maneuver to lower gas prices in an election year.
I will tell you what: Put your money where your mouth is. Support
this measure instead of hiding behind the excuse that this bill ties
the President's hands, which we know isn't true.
The SPR should never be tapped to offset high consumer prices caused
by irresponsible energy policies. H.R. 21 calls out what we know:
Draining the SPR, as it has been drained over the last 15 months,
acknowledges that getting prices down is about having more supply on
the market.
It was a blip. It was a temporary price reduction at home. We need to
produce here. We need to produce now.
We have been blessed in this Nation with abundant natural resources,
but we have been cursed by liberal politicians who don't want us to tap
into those abundant resources.
How could anyone believe this administration supports oil and gas
production when President Biden literally campaigned on ending the
industry?
So prove us wrong. Show support for this legislation. Show America
you support sound energy policy, and vote in support of H.R. 21. Take
the first step in unleashing American energy production and allow
America to become energy dominant once again.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how
much time I have remaining?
The CHAIR. The gentlewoman has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the
gentleman from New Jersey has 6 minutes remaining.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to yield 45
seconds to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Malliotakis).
Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Chairman, President Biden's dangerous anti-
energy policies have hindered our energy independence. His curbing
production, sitting on leases and permits, canceling Keystone pipeline,
they have all led to high gas prices, heating costs, food costs, and
has the left Northeast heating fuel supply at its lowest point since
1951.
Then, to cover up for his failed policies, he raided 266 million
barrels, or 40 percent of our SPR, meant for real emergencies like
natural disasters. This was not meant to sell to China.
It is now at its lowest point in 40 years. We are vulnerable as a
result of it; and this bill stops the President from depleting our
resources and pushes him to refill it, not with Russian oil, not with
Saudi oil, not with Venezuelan oil, and certainly not with Iranian oil,
but with American oil to protect our national security and the economy.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Soto), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Chairman, I am amazed to see, for hours, Republicans
arguing against President Biden lowering gas prices. That is simply
fascinating to me.
President Biden was well within his authority and the law he utilized
to draw down oil from our strategic reserve. The law is there to help
prevent disruption.
There is a war in Ukraine. We rightfully banned Russian oil together.
That is a disruption, and President Biden acted.
Maybe you all didn't like that, but he acted. That resulted in
savings for
[[Page H360]]
American families of $1.69 per gallon since the peak price. So what are
you all talking about?
Now, compare President Trump, who used the strategic reserve to help
pay for the GOP tax scam for the rich.
So let me get this straight. Republicans think saving American
families on gas during a war in Europe is wrong, but financing tax cuts
for fat cat billionaires is okay. That makes no sense.
Even more incredible, President Biden sold the oil on an open market,
at a high price, and then he replenished it at a lower price, earning
$4 billion in profit for American taxpayers. You cannot make this up.
Then my colleagues across the aisle--how do you like them apples,
huh?
Another thing, oil companies already hold leases on 12.6 million
acres of public lands already, and they are using just about half of
them.
So you can spend hours talking about how you oppose Biden's
successful effort to prevent a disruption in a time of war in Europe
that we are helping to support to lower gas prices for the American
people.
I stand with the President on this, and so do millions of Americans.
The CHAIR. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
{time} 1345
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the
gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).
Mrs. BICE. Mr. Chair, since President Biden took office, he has waged
a full-on assault on the oil and gas industry. Instead of unleashing
American energy production, he has unleashed our energy reserves. Now,
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at its lowest level in 40 years.
In an attempt to temporarily lower gas prices leading up to the 2022
election, President Biden has abused the SPR, which is supposed to be
used for emergency purposes, and weakened America's energy security.
Oklahomans and all Americans deserve more than the political games.
H.R. 21 is a step toward allowing America to produce reliable and
affordable energy and ensure we are prepared for true energy supply
emergencies in the future.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington).
Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Chair, Texas is on the front lines of Biden's
unilateral assault on American energy, which has totally devastated our
economic recovery efforts and undermined our national security.
Rather than acknowledge the consequences of his disastrous energy
policies and change course, Biden has simply doubled down by dipping
into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is not meant for political
disasters but for national emergencies.
Since March of last year, the President sold more than 40 percent of
our strategic stockpile, bringing the SPR to the lowest levels in four
decades.
Even more irresponsibly, this administration has no plan for when and
how they will replenish our oil reserves, putting America in a
precarious position of weakness.
This legislation sends a strong message, Mr. Chair, to this
administration that they can no longer put their boot on the neck of
American energy production and then bail themselves out by raiding our
rainy-day fund, our rainy day reserves.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Chair, today's bill shows that there is no real vision for
Republican energy policy. They don't have a path forward.
This was their chance to engage meaningfully on energy policy, to set
the tone for a new Congress, where we would work together to protect
American energy interests. Instead, they are reduced to defending their
oil and gas interests and attacking President Biden's successful
efforts to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gas prices for
Americans.
I have said it before: Republican administrations, Republican
Presidents have released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in
the past. I am sure that if we had a Republican President now, they
would be heralding the fact that he released oil from the reserves in
order to bring down gasoline prices at the pump.
I want to mention, again, this letter from Secretary Granholm, our
Energy Secretary. She states her Department's position on the bill.
According to her, this bill would severely restrict or threaten the
administration's ability to respond to emergency situations, such as
the emergency supply shortage from the one triggered by the war in
Ukraine. This bill would not only make it so that gas prices go higher
but make it more difficult for us to address supply problems.
The Secretary identifies, in my opinion, in irrefutable terms, the
Biden administration's successful use of the reserve to lower gas
prices for Americans.
Now, understand what this bill does. It prohibits the Department of
Energy from releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until it
expands oil and gas drilling on Federal lands by the same percentage
that it releases oil from the reserve.
The previous speaker, Mr. Soto, pointed out that the fossil fuel
industry already controls large portions of U.S. public lands and
waters, and it isn't using most of it. The problem is not a shortage of
leases or land. The problem is a fossil fuel industry more interested
in keeping supply artificially low so that prices stay artificially
high.
They don't want to pump oil because if they do so, then the gas price
goes down. That is not what they want. They want to make greater
profits.
Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues, please, the House Republicans are
doing the bidding of their Big Oil friends at Americans' expense while
threatening the President's ability to take timely actions to lower
prices for American consumers at the pump.
This bill is a giveaway to Republicans' fossil fuel friends, who
already received billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded subsidies and
enjoyed record-shattering profits last year at the expense of working
families.
Releasing oil from the reserve in response to Putin's invasion of
Ukraine was a critical, commonsense strategy that helped lower gas
prices for American families by a $1.69 per gallon since their peak.
Restricting the Federal Government's best tools in the middle of a
global energy crisis with no benefit other than increasing the profits
of the fossil fuel industry is extreme, and I don't use that word
loosely.
This bill is an extreme policy that is going to make it so much more
difficult for the President to act to deal with the supply chain
problems and to try to lower prices for average Americans. It is
extreme in the real sense.
Mr. Chair, for that reason, I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on
H.R. 21, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much
time is remaining?
The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Washington has 15 seconds remaining.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, this is reasonable,
commonsense legislation that will strengthen America's energy security,
protect our national security, and preserve our strategic energy
stockpile for true emergencies. It only addresses the nonemergency
sales.
The Biden administration has sold off more than 250 million barrels,
a million barrels per day up until the election, and more than 40
percent of our reserve. Put an end to this.
Mr. Chair, I urge support of H.R. 21, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. ROSE. Mr. Chair, today I rise in support of H.R. 21, the
Strategic Production Response Act.
President Biden's energy policies that stifle domestic oil and gas
production have pushed energy prices up and made everything we buy in
this country more expensive. As a consequence, the president raided our
Strategic Petroleum Reserve last year in a failed attempt to
temporarily and artificially lower the price of gas right before the
mid-term election, putting his personal political self-interest above
our national security and our national interest. His actions left our
nation vulnerable to international energy extortion and woefully
unprepared to respond to certain domestic natural disasters and
emergencies.
[[Page H361]]
The solution to this terrible predicament the president has left us
in is to enact a policy that requires the Secretary of the Department
of Energy to submit a plan to increase domestic production every time
the president chooses to raid our reserves for non-emergency reasons.
That way, we'll never be left in the position we are left in today.
That's exactly what the Strategic Production Response Act does.
Additionally, Mr. Chair, I rise because I am pleased that the new
Republican majority in the House has brought forth this bill under a
modified open rule. This will be the first bill considered in this
chamber under an open modified rule since 2016 and the first time since
I took office.
I, along with many of my colleagues who wish to restore the integrity
of this institution, have long advocated for an open amendment process
that encourages robust debate. The American people sent us to
Washington to be their representatives, which means listening to each
other-even when we disagree--and taking tough votes so that we can
reach a consensus.
I am confident that this process will yield greater Member
participation, a more informed and engaged electorate, and ultimately
better legislation for the American people.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of the Jackson
Lee Amendments to H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, which
will improve the bill.
As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and a
member representing the 18th Congressional District in Houston, Texas,
I am well aware of the critical importance of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve to our nation's security.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world's largest supply of
emergency crude oil, was established primarily to reduce the impact of
disruptions in supplies of petroleum products and to carry out
obligations of the United States under the international energy
program.
Following the oil shocks of the late 1970s, the nation prepared to
secure its energy future by developing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
On August 4, 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued Executive Order
12231--Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In this action, he transferred the
functions vested in the President by Section 7430(k) of Title 10 of the
United States Code to the Secretary of Energy.
The nation owes a debt of gratitude to President Carter for his
foresight and willingness to pursue such a bold effort to ensure the
nation's energy security.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a federally-owned oil stockpile of
crude oil stored in huge underground salt caverns at four sites along
the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico.
Two Strategic Petroleum Reserve containment facilities are near
Houston, Texas: the Bryan Mound in Brazoria County and Big Hill in
Jefferson County.
Over my tenure in the House of Representatives I have seen the value
and necessity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
For the past 27 years, I have been Co-Chair of the Energy Braintrusts
of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Energy is the Live Blood of the Economy.
The electricity that powers our cities, heats our homes, fuels
innovation in businesses, and supports the work of local, state, and
federal governments to serve the public all depend on low-cost,
accessible, and available energy.
Too often, we take for granted how fortunate we are to live in a
nation and what a rich store of energy in the form of fossil fuels,
wind, solar, and hydropower.
I believe in the importance of an innovative and forward-thinking
energy posture for this nation.
My work includes hosting Energy Braintrusts designed to bring all
relevant players ranging from environmentalists to producers of energy
from various sectors, including coal, electric, natural gas, nuclear,
oil, and alternative energy sources, as well as producers from Africa.
The oil and gas industry provides many jobs for many of my
constituents and opportunities for small businesses in the 18th
Congressional District of Texas.
In past Congresses, I have offered bills to promote deficit reduction
and job creation that could increase leasing of the outer continental
shelf oil and gas resources under the control of the federal
government.
Times change as does the needs of the nation--today our major threat
is climate change.
For these reasons, throughout my time in Congress, I have advanced my
interests in a balance among the sources of home-grown energy sources
comprised of fossil fuels, natural gas, wind, and solar energy.
The Jackson Lee Amendments offered for consideration under H.R. 21
would create avenues for providing access to routine operational
functions for maintenance of the Petroleum Reserve that is essential to
operations.
Mr. Chair, I ask that you consider that the location of the reserves
and the location of the refineries that produce gasoline, fuel oil, and
heating oil are highly concentrated along the Upper Texas and Louisiana
Gulf Coast.
The strategic importance is not just when gasoline prices might go up
but when the nation's national interests are threatened.
Instances of the reserve's oil being used include:
2011 IEA Coordinated Release
2005 Hurricane Katrina Sale
1991 Operation Desert Storm Sale
1990 Desert Shield Test Sale
2017 Hurricane Harvey Exchange
2012 Hurricane Isaac Exchange
2008 Hurricanes Gustav and Ike Exchanges
2006 Ship Channel Closure Exchange
2006 Barge Accident Exchange
2005 Hurricane Katrina Exchange
2004 Hurricane Ivan Exchange
2002 Hurricane Lili Exchange
2000 Heating Oil Exchange
2000 Ship Channel Closure Exchange
1999 Maya Exchange
1996 Pipeline Blockage Exchange
If the reserve had not been tapped in each of these instances, the
consequences to the American public would have been higher fuel prices.
Shocks to the economy are difficult to weather by those on set
incomes like retired persons or low-income families.
Economic harms caused by higher fuel costs are a threat to American
families and should be considered when considering the national
interest in using the reserves, which are paid for by the working
people of this nation.
Jackson Lee Amendment No. 35
This Jackson Lee amendment would continue to allow the Secretary of
Energy to permit drawdowns of crude from the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve to supply refineries should natural or manmade disasters
disrupt port facilities or transportation systems that disrupt
deliveries of crude to refineries for the production of gasoline, fuel
oil, or heating oil.
An important benefit to having the world's largest crude oil reserve
occurs following a major hurricane hitting the upper Texas or Southern
Louisiana Coast when ports and docking facilities may have sustained
damage that prevents the off-loading of crude to refineries.
Drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to
disasters does aid the national interest in keeping supplies of
gasoline, fuel oils, and heating oil flowing to consumers.
Any disruption in the production of these energy products would
immediately trigger higher prices that would hit the pocketbooks of
American families.
The benefits of providing exchanges of oil from the preserve to
refiners and having the crude delivered later to replenish what was
used with additional amounts added to the reserve a few months after
the drawdown is beneficial to the nation and the oil industry as a
whole.
This Jackson Lee Amendment would preserve exchanges that occur and
protect the nation from gasoline shortages and likely much higher fuel
prices following natural disasters that impact the Texas and Louisiana
Gulf Coasts.
Jackson Lee Amendment No. 36
This Jackson Lee amendment would allow the necessary and routine test
drawdowns that occur as part of the work to maintain the efficiency of
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to ensure that it functions as intended
during an emergency use permissible by law or regulation.
Tests are essential to the core mission of the preserve and often
involve 5,000,000 barrels or less being drawn down.
This Jackson Lee Amendment would provide that Strategic Petroleum
Reserve tests would not trigger the provisions of this bill.
The Jackson Lee amendment would ensure that tests can continue
without delay or suspension out of concern regarding the requirements
of this bill.
I ask my colleagues to support both of these Jackson Lee Amendments.
I understand that the bill's authors have a specific policy objective
in mind and believe that the legislation will accomplish a minor policy
change.
I would offer that sometimes a little change can have severe
consequences and that we might be far better if bipartisan efforts were
pursued when it comes to a successful policy accomplishment that is the
envy of the world and a vital national resource.
The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the 5-minute rule.
The bill is considered as read.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 21
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strategic Production
Response Act''.
[[Page H362]]
SEC. 2. COMPENSATORY PRODUCTION INCREASE PLAN.
Section 161 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42
U.S.C. 6241) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
``(k) Plan.--
``(1) In general.--Except in the case of a severe energy
supply interruption described in subsection (d), the
Secretary may not execute the first drawdown of petroleum
products in the Reserve after the date of enactment of this
subsection, whether through sale, exchange, or loan, until
the Secretary has developed a plan to increase the percentage
of Federal lands (including submerged lands of the Outer
Continental Shelf) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the
Interior, and the Secretary of Defense leased for oil and gas
production by the same percentage as the percentage of
petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve that is to be
drawn down in that first and subsequent drawdowns, subject to
the limitation under paragraph (2).
``(2) Limitation.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall
not provide for a total increase in the percentage of Federal
lands described in paragraph (1) leased for oil and gas
production in excess of 10 percent.
``(3) Consultation.--The Secretary shall prepare the plan
required by paragraph (1) in consultation with the Secretary
of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the
Secretary of Defense.''.
The CHAIR. No amendment shall be in order except those received for
printing in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that
purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII dated at least 1 day before the day
of consideration of the amendment; and pro forma amendments described
in section 5(a) of House Resolution 5. Each amendment so received may
be offered only by the Member who caused it to be printed or a designee
and shall be considered as read if printed.
Are there any amendments to the bill?
Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Gaetz
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end, add the following:
SEC. 3. NO EFFECT ON CERTAIN WITHDRAWALS OF FEDERAL LANDS.
Nothing in this Act, or any amendments made by this Act,
shall affect the Presidential memorandum titled ``Memorandum
on the Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer
Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition'' and dated
September 8, 2020.
The CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chair, I rise at the urging of Republicans in the
Florida delegation who are overwhelmingly supportive of the underlying
legislation but who seek to make it a little better by ensconcing some
of the policy articulations of the Trump administration regarding where
drilling can and cannot occur offshore into the body of the bill.
There is no denying that since President Trump left office, Joe Biden
has overseen a collapse of U.S. energy dominance. This legislation is a
great first step to fulfill the Republican commitment to attack
inflation and rising gas prices, and that begins by stopping playing
politics with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
On September 8, 2020, President Trump issued a memo indicating that
there would be certain areas off the shore of Florida, Georgia, and
South Carolina that would not be available for drilling leases.
Offshore drilling is broadly opposed in coastal communities in these
areas by local governments, many of which had submitted to President
Trump previously, and to congressional offices, resolutions indicating
their opposition to offshore oil drilling. They largely cite two
reasons: environmental policy and the impact on property values in
coastal communities. I will speak to the impact of offshore oil
drilling on the military mission in these areas.
In the Gulf of Mexico test range, in the 10 years preceding my time
in Congress, there were about 60 test sorties that the Air Force would
run off the coast of Florida. Already scheduled for 2024, there will be
over 240 of those test sorties, and that does not include the
tremendous amount of testing that also occurs as a consequence of
actions from the U.S. Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and other
private-sector partners.
Moreover, just 6 years ago, off the coast of Florida, one could only
take a 100-mile shot in air-to-air training, research, development,
test, and evaluation. Due to the investment we have been able to make
in the Gulf test range in telemetry systems and radar systems, we can
now take a 425-mile shot. That is important because we need the
capability to test component parts of hypersonic weapons systems and
supersonic weapons systems so that America always holds the high
ground.
There is no other place in the world where we do this testing. There
is exquisite connectivity between offshore test ranges and onshore land
ranges where we are able to launch missiles and munitions over the sea
and land them on land. There is nowhere else in the world we have the
opportunity to do that.
It is odd that I have to continue to say this on the floor of the
House, but it is a terrible idea to launch experimental missiles over
oil rigs and the various ships that traverse back and forth to shore
for the personnel and for the maintenance that is required to maintain
those rigs.
There are a lot of great places where we can unlock the potential of
our country to ensure that we have a sufficient Strategic Petroleum
Reserve, which is the essence of the bill. This amendment gives my
colleagues in Florida great comfort that none of the treatment of
existing moratoriums would in any way harm coastal Florida, coastal
Georgia, or coastal South Carolina.
Mr. Chair, I urge the adoption of the amendment, and I yield to the
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers).
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the
amendment that would maintain current law.
President Trump imposed a decade-long ban in offshore drilling off
the coast of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Nothing in the
underlying bill, H.R. 21, would change that.
To be clear, nothing in H.R. 21 affects any existing statutory or
regulatory restrictions that may prohibit offshore oil and gas
development. The purpose and scope of the bill is limited. It is to
protect the SPR from politically motivated drawdowns and to ensure the
American people are protected from true emergencies in energy supply
disruptions. It would require the Department of Energy to develop a
plan.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and the
underlying bill, H.R. 21.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I don't disagree with the gentleman from
Florida in terms of prohibiting offshore drilling because I think that
we should not have any offshore drilling for oil and gas off the
eastern coast of the United States in the Atlantic and even in some
other areas.
I may have been mistaken, but I did not hear him mention the fact
that his bill also prohibits offshore wind and renewables off the coast
of Florida. I am totally opposed to the bill for that reason.
What we need to be doing is to be discouraging fossil fuels and
encouraging renewables. That is exactly what Democrats did in the
Inflation Reduction Act when we provided all kinds of incentives for
renewables, including solar and wind power, including offshore.
To have an amendment that says that offshore wind is not acceptable
or should be prohibited flies in the face of what we should be doing to
address the climate crisis.
For that reason, even though I may agree to the idea that----
Mr. GAETZ. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. GAETZ. Is the gentleman concerned about the impact of some of
those wind farms on migratory bird populations?
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I reclaim my time.
There is a very easy way, in my opinion, to manage and regulate
offshore wind. Certainly, it has to be regulated, but the gentleman's
amendment prohibits it and treats it the same way as he treats offshore
oil and gas drilling. Those two should not be equated.
[[Page H363]]
We need to move forward, and we need to encourage, as we do in the
Inflation Reduction Act, offshore wind and use of renewables around the
country.
Mr. Chair, for that reason, I oppose the amendment, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
The CHAIR. The gentleman cannot reserve time. The gentleman can yield
to someone if he wishes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1400
The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Gaetz).
The amendment was agreed to.
amendment no. 104 offered by mr. pallone
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located in the North Atlantic Planning Area.''.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order
against the amendment.
The CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment that would
exempt from the plan any oil and gas drilling in the North Atlantic
planning area which extends from New Jersey to Maine.
I opposed the underlying bill. I think it is poorly drafted and
extremely problematic, but I must make a point that in the incredibly
unlikely event that this bill would make it into law, we cannot have
any plan that considers offshore drilling in the North Atlantic.
An oil spill off the Atlantic Coast would be devastating to coastal
communities in New Jersey and up and down the Atlantic.
The Jersey Shore is home to over $700 billion in coastal properties
and the tourism industry generates almost half a million jobs, nearly
10 percent of my State's entire workforce. New Jersey's commercial
fishing industry generates over $7.9 billion annually and supports over
50,000 jobs.
Fortunately, there is widespread consensus that the Atlantic Ocean
should not be open to oil and gas drilling and put at risk of an oil
spill.
There are 259 Atlantic Coast municipalities on the record saying they
don't want drilling. In addition, 42,000 businesses represented by the
Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast and 500,000 fishing
families from Florida to Maine are on record opposing offshore
drilling. They are right to support a ban. As you know, our coastal
communities depend upon healthy ocean ecosystems.
It is vital that the Federal Government protect the roughly 1.75
million American jobs and $137 billion in GDP that come from activities
along the Atlantic seaboard in industries such as tourism, recreation,
and fishing. It would be wrong to risk Atlantic coastal communities'
key economic engine--a clean ocean--for a roughly 7-month supply of oil
and a 6-month supply of gas when a spill would leave permanent damage.
I have been fighting to exempt the waters off the Jersey Shore from
oil and gas drilling for decades. It was the first bill I introduced in
Congress when I was first elected.
While I don't support the bill we are considering today, it certainly
cannot include any effort to open up our Atlantic Coast to drilling.
Mr. Chair, I ask all of my colleagues to support this important
amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Valadao). The gentleman may not reserve his
time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I do insist on the point of
order. The amendment amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992. That statute
is not amended by this bill.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey has offered amendment
No. 104.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I withdraw.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in
opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, this amendment excludes a
tract of land in the North Atlantic from being included in the leasing
plan. So virtually all offshore oil and gas leasing occurs in the Gulf
of Mexico.
Offshore oil and gas exploration accounts for roughly 15 percent of
all domestic oil production and 2 percent of domestic natural gas
production. By further limiting this potentially vast resource, we are
not going to be able to keep up with demand as it increases.
H.R. 21 does not require the Department of Energy to drill in any
specific area. We shouldn't take items off the table before a review
has been done.
Moreover, our plan can be changed as new information comes along,
while the mandate in this amendment is inflexible to fact, science, and
the needs that may arise from national emergencies.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey
will be postponed.
amendment no. 133 offered by ms. mace of south carolina
Ms. MACE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end the following:
SEC. 3. NO EFFECT ON EXISTING LEASING RESTRICTIONS.
Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act,
shall affect any statutory or regulatory restrictions in
effect on the date of enactment of this Act (including any
withdrawal of Federal land) that may prohibit oil and gas
leasing within the area designated as the South Atlantic
Planning Area.
Mr. PALLONE. I would like to reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentlewoman from South Carolina is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. MACE. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment No. 133, and
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this
amendment.
I thank Chairwoman Rodgers for introducing this legislation today and
working with me, and our staff working together as well to support this
amendment.
It will not only benefit our environment and the Lowcountry of South
Carolina, but our world-class tourism economy as well. This is the
first time in 7 years that Congress has had this modified open rule to
allow legislators to provide and put forth amendments on a piece of
legislation like this.
Before I ever came to Congress, I was a State lawmaker, and on my
fourth day in I filed my first piece of legislation which was a
resolution to ban offshore drilling off of South Carolina's coast, a
completely bipartisan issue in the State legislature of South Carolina.
It was something our Governor also supported.
Our beaches are clean, our water is clean, our air is clean. Our
beaches are lined with gold, and South Carolina as a State does not
want to see any opportunity for drilling off of its coast.
It is a passion of mine, a policy that I have worked on for a number
of years as a State lawmaker, and now in Congress I have the
opportunity to continue this body of work. The tourism industry really
relies on a great, clean and healthy environment in South Carolina. In
fact, it contributes over $20 billion a year to our economy. It
provides thousands of jobs. The Lowcountry in South Carolina is really
such an enormous part of our economy.
In 2020, the Department of the Interior issued a 10-year moratorium
on offshore drilling in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, and
[[Page H364]]
Florida. In fact, I was there that day in Jupiter, Florida, when the
former President announced this 10-year moratorium. It is so important.
Lindsey Graham and I and many, many others were there in attendance
supporting that moratorium.
This amendment is simple. It ensures that the moratorium is not
affected by the underlying language in the legislation. It protects
South Carolina's coastline, which every South Carolinian and visitor to
our State knows is vital to our livelihoods and our economy.
Mr. Chair, I yield to Chairwoman Rodgers.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentlewoman
from South Carolina informing us of what the current law states.
I just want to confirm that the bill has no effect on these current
laws and regulations. It is a good amendment and I support it.
Ms. MACE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am
not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Does the gentleman withdraw his reservation?
Mr. PALLONE. Yes, I withdraw the reservation of a point of order.
The CHAIR. The reservation is withdrawn.
Without objection, the gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I do think actually that any amendment that
comes from either side of the aisle that would prohibit offshore
drilling off the coast of the Atlantic I would support. I think it
makes sense.
We have had this policy now in terms of the moratorium for a number
of years along the Atlantic and it should continue.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from South
Carolina will be postponed.
Amendment No. 3 Offered by Ms. Castor of Florida
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located in the South Atlantic Planning Area, the Straits of
Florida Planning Area, or the in any area of the Eastern Gulf
of Mexico that is referred to in section 104(a) of the Gulf
of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.''.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 unnecessarily opens large
swaths of public lands and waters to oil and gas drilling, including
the coast of Florida. This would really jeopardize Florida's fragile
offshore waters, our beautiful beaches. Clean water, clean air, clean
beaches are central to our way of life, and are the cornerstone of our
economy.
For many years, the State of Florida has enjoyed a moratorium on
drilling because leaders at the national level recognized that Florida
beaches and our offshore waters were a national resource.
That moratorium expired last year, unfortunately. So now with H.R.
21, Florida is at risk again. My amendment would reinstitute that
moratorium. In fact, it would permanently ban drilling off of the coast
of Florida.
This has enjoyed bipartisan support here in the Congress and back
home. How do Floridians feel about drilling off of our beaches?
Well, we passed a constitutional amendment in 2018 that passed by
almost 70 percent of the vote in the State of Florida. Democrats,
Republicans, Independents, everyone values our way of life.
Why?
Because we are also keenly aware of how dirty it is, how risky it is.
The impacts of oil drilling off our coast really came home to roost in
2010 after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil blowout severely affected the
Gulf Coast marine ecosystems.
Do you all remember that disaster, watching it day after day, month
after month, after oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico?
At that time we were pretty fortunate on the West Coast of Florida,
we didn't have oil that washed up on the beaches, but we were just
coming out of the Great Recession. It was a hammer down on small
business owners at that time. People were not coming to the Sunshine
State. It caused enormous environmental impacts. I remember so well,
holding in my arms and looking into the eyes of these small, mom and
pop owners of motels and hotels and beach businesses, they were just
devastated.
We cannot put our economic and environment at risk again. It was a
wake-up call.
{time} 1415
The eastern Gulf of Mexico also is an important military testing
range. The Department of Defense has said they oppose oil drilling off
the coast of Florida along the west coast because they do so many
military training exercises.
There are so many reasons that we need to act to protect our way of
life, our environment, and our economy. It is what we sing about when
we sing about protecting the Gulf Stream waters. This land is your
land, this land is my land. They are not to be pillaged by the greed of
the Big Oil companies.
We are poised to make important progress on the health of our oceans
and our economy. We are about to unleash the clean energy economy to
create jobs, to lower costs for families, to build safer, healthier,
and more resilient communities. We do not need to put our economy and
our way of life at risk.
So for all those reasons, I hope that all of the colleagues can join
together to support the Castor amendment and permanently ban oil
drilling off of the beautiful coastline of the State of Florida.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I withdraw my reservation of a
point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation is withdrawn.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in
opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, this amendment really
duplicates an amendment that we just passed, if you think about the
amendment that was offered by Congressman Matt Gaetz. President Trump
imposed a decade-long ban on oil drilling off the coast of Florida,
Georgia, and South Carolina; and nothing in this legislation--nothing
in H.R. 21--will change that.
If my colleagues across the aisle are concerned about drilling off
the coast of Florida, I would just note that. To be clear, nothing in
H.R. 21 affects any existing statutory or regulatory restrictions that
may prohibit offshore oil and gas development.
The purpose of the underlying bill is limited. It is to protect the
SPR from politically motivated drawdowns and to ensure the American
people are protected in times of true emergencies when the energy
supply is disrupted.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve has enjoyed bipartisan support for
years. This administration decided to draw it down unilaterally leading
up to the election. It has been drawn down 40 percent.
The underlying bill would ensure that we can take the steps necessary
through domestic energy production to refill SPR. The amendment that
was introduced by my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee is
really unnecessary. It goes beyond the scope of H.R. 21.
Mr. Chair, I urge opposition, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida.
[[Page H365]]
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 2 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 2 at the desk.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, beginning on line 9, strike ``Except in the case of
a severe energy supply interruption described in subsection
(d), the'' and insert ``The''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Georgia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, before I discuss the details of my
amendment, I want to applaud the new Republican majority for giving
Members the opportunity to offer amendments in a more open process. The
people's House has been broken for far too long, and I look forward to
working with my colleagues in an open process for the remainder of this
Congress.
I also want to thank Chairwoman McMorris-Rodgers for her leadership
on this issue to put American energy first. I cosponsored this
legislation because I believe it puts America back on track to regain
energy independence.
This is such an important issue and critical piece of legislation
that I believe we cannot stop short. We need to chart a path back to
energy independence and ensure President Biden is not able to sell our
critical oil supplies to China or any other rogue nation. President
Biden used emergency authorities to sell hundreds of millions of
barrels of oil to our enemies.
My amendment would prevent President Biden from claiming an emergency
to further reduce our strategic oil supplies. This is why I filed
impeachment articles last Congress against President Biden on the
grounds that he endangered, compromised, and undermined the energy
security of the United States by selling oil from the United States'
Strategic Petroleum Reserve to foreign nations. President Biden has
demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the national security of
our country.
No President in the history of the United States has ordered a
liquidation of the SPR on this scale. He sold 40 percent of our
critical oil supply to trick and deceive the American people before the
election. Rather than unleashing American energy here at home, he has
robbed our country.
When President Biden took office in 2021, the SPR contained 638
million barrels of oil. Since then, he has slashed our oil inventory to
371 million barrels. He has decimated the SPR to the lowest level since
December, 1983, before some Members of this body were even born. He
shredded the offers from oil companies to resupply the reserve. He gave
away 7 million barrels of our oil to a Communist Chinese state-run
energy firm. The CCP had 1.2 billion barrels when Biden took office,
they have even more now.
I cannot believe our President did that.
If we let President Biden continue to run our oil this way, we will
have nothing left.
This has destroyed America's oil production. President Biden shut
down the Keystone XL pipeline, destroying hundreds of thousands of
American jobs.
President Biden has allowed the least amount of federal land for
drilling since the end of World War II.
We are now producing 1 million barrels of oil less every day compared
to when President Trump was in office.
Every country faces natural disasters.
Where will we get our oil next time we are in crisis?
Whom will we have to beg to get our oil?
China?
Iran?
The Saudis?
Venezuela--like the Biden administration has already done?
Or maybe even Russia?
President Biden's actions prove an intentional plot to destroy
America's oil industry and usher in the climate cult's Green New Deal.
My amendment would simply strike the exceptions that Biden used to
sell our oil.
The American people don't believe that the President should have the
authority to declare an emergency for any reason and then sell our oil
to our enemies.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in
personalities toward the President.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. Does the gentleman withdraw his reservation?
Mr. PALLONE. I withdraw the point of order, yes.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation is withdrawn.
The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I can only characterize this amendment as
extreme.
If adopted, this amendment would make an already reckless bill even
more careless and would weaken our national energy security.
Now, let me say that I totally disagree with what the gentlewoman
just said. First of all, what President Biden has done, as we have said
repeatedly today, is to release crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve in order to bring down gas prices. And he actually accomplished
that goal. It worked by bringing down prices about a $1.50 per gallon
since the peak last June.
In addition to that, we have set forth that this was to address the
supply chain because we know that with the war in Ukraine, the supply
chain was severely limited, and one of the purposes of releasing oil
from the reserve was to have more in the supply chain.
The gentlewoman also suggested that this administration is
restricting the use of public lands for drilling. That is simply not
the case. One-half of the public lands are available for drilling. As I
have said before, the oil companies simply don't want to drill because
they want to keep the prices artificially high.
Now, what the gentlewoman has done--and I just want to explain this
in a little detail. Right now, the bill before us does have an
exemption that says that you don't have to drill or put forth a plan to
drill on public lands if certain criteria are met.
It says that during a severe energy supply interruption, if the
President determines that an emergency situation exists and there is a
significant reduction in supply, a severe increase in the price of
petroleum products and/or such price increase is likely to cause a
major adverse impact on the national economy.
So even under this underlying bill, if those criteria are met, then
the President can use the SPR and release oil from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve for these reasons.
What the gentlewoman has done--or tries to do--in this amendment is
eliminate those exemptions. So essentially what she is saying--this is
why this is so extreme--is she is saying it doesn't matter if there is
a problem with high prices. It doesn't matter if there is a problem
with the supply chain. We are not going to let the President release
oil from the reserve for any reason whatsoever unless a plan is put
forward to allow for more drilling on public lands.
That is extreme. Even the Republican leadership doesn't support that.
She is saying no exemptions whatsoever.
Imagine what this would do if we had no flexibility whatsoever no
matter what the price was, no matter what the supply was, and no matter
what the emergency is, not allowed. You have got to put together a plan
which could take years to put forward a way of drilling more on public
lands before we would be able to use this tool which is so important
for national security.
This is really, in my opinion, outrageous and extreme.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose
the amendment for this reason, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last
word.
[[Page H366]]
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
But in response to the ranking member, I just want to underscore that
H.R. 21 is designed to stop the abuse of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve for nonemergency political reasons such as President Biden's
decision to drain the SPR in the days leading up to the election.
So the other side likes to say: Well, it was the war in Ukraine that
caused the prices to go up.
The war in Ukraine just exposed the energy crisis that started on day
one of the Biden administration.
Mr. Chair, on day one of the Biden administration, gas prices were
$2.33 a gallon, and they have just continued to go up, jeopardizing
reliability and affordability, as well as our national security.
My concern with the gentlewoman's amendment is that the SPR is one of
America's most important energy security tools, and we cannot tie the
hands of the President regardless of which party is in office when we
have a real emergency like a hurricane, a terrorist attack, or
something that disrupts our oil supply.
The underlying bill, H.R. 21, is focused on protecting SPR from
President Biden's abuse of it.
H.R. 21 should be a bipartisan bill. It should be a bipartisan bill.
Just a couple of weeks ago, we passed H.R. 22, Protecting America's
Strategic Petroleum Reserve From China Act which gained the support of
my Democrat colleagues--over 100 Democratic colleagues voting with us
to ban exports of SPR to China.
Let's keep the momentum going. Let's send the Senate and the
President a very strong, bipartisan bill.
Representative Greene is right that President Biden has abused our
strategic stockpile, and he has failed to put forward a plan to
increase domestic energy supply.
Let's pass the underlying bill and get back to work.
Mr. Chair, I urge ``no'' on the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Georgia.
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Georgia
will be postponed.
{time} 1430
Amendment No. 71 Offered by Ms. Blunt Rochester
Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk,
amendment No. 71.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end, add the following:
SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS.
Nothing in this Act, or the amendment made by this Act, may
be construed to controvert the fact that greenhouse gas
emissions must be reduced by 50 to 52 percent below 2005
levels by 2030, and that net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
must be achieved by 2050, if the United States is to satisfy
its commitment under the Paris Agreement and avoid the worst
impacts of climate change.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Delaware is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment that
ensures that, under the rule of construction, nothing in this
legislation may be understood to repudiate the fact that greenhouse gas
emissions must be reduced significantly in order to meet our global
agreement under the Paris Agreement.
Specifically, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by half from
2005 levels by 2030, and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions must be
achieved by 2050 to meet this commitment.
We need legislative action that brings us closer to achieving our
emissions goals, not further from it. In Delaware, as the State with
the lowest mean elevation in the country, we feel the impacts of
climate change every single day.
From our environmental justice communities in Wilmington, where when
it rains, it floods; to our farmers, who must adjust to rising
temperatures and deal with saltwater intrusion; to our coastal
communities, where a sea level rise is an imminent threat to our homes,
our economy, and our natural resources, we in Delaware are living among
the escalating effects of climate change.
I know Delawareans are not alone in this. Wildfires and drought
continue to ravage our Western States, and hurricanes are becoming more
frequent and stronger across the Gulf Coast and East Coast.
All of us are feeling the impacts of climate change, which is why we
must all work together to satisfy our commitment under the Paris
Agreement to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We need
legislation that doesn't force us backward but, instead, propels us
forward to a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable planet.
Mr. Chair, I urge the support of all of my colleagues on this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in
opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, this bill is about
protecting our strategic reserves and ensuring American energy
production, which we do cleaner than any other nation in the world.
If we are serious about addressing global climate risk and preserving
and expanding the prosperity of the American people, we should focus on
American security and American energy.
This amendment is not necessary. I urge opposition. Vote ``no.''
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Delaware (Ms. Blunt Rochester).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Delaware
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 143 Offered by Mr. LaLota
Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 143.
The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end the following:
SEC. 3. NO EFFECT ON EXISTING LEASING RESTRICTIONS.
Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act,
shall affect any statutory or regulatory restrictions in
effect on the date of enactment of this Act (including any
withdrawal of Federal land) that may prohibit oil and gas
leasing within the area designated as the North Atlantic
Planning Area.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from New York is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 21.
Increasing American energy supplies decreases our Nation's reliance
on our adversaries in the Middle East and Russia and is worthy of
bipartisan support.
H.R. 21 helps me keep a promise I made to Long Islanders that I would
fight to make America energy independent by seeking opportunities to
safely increase energy production.
I made another promise, too. I promised to protect Long Island's
waters, which are home to a vibrant ecosystem and are the foundation of
an already struggling fishing industry.
To keep that promise, I have introduced an amendment to H.R. 21. My
simple amendment, which is less than 100 words, states that H.R. 21
cannot affect or supersede any existing restrictions on oil and gas
leases offshore the northeast part of the United States, from the coast
of Maine to New Jersey.
Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues for their support of this commonsense,
pro-energy, pro-worker, pro-environment, and pro-fishing amendment.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. LaLOTA. I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington.
[[Page H367]]
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, this amendment is a savings
clause. It states that nothing in H.R. 21 impacts existing legal
restrictions on oil and gas leasing in the North Atlantic Planning
Area. This will ensure that this bill is not interpreted to make
changes there.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment.
Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment, although I do support the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. Is the gentleman withdrawing his reservation?
Mr. PALLONE. Yes.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation is withdrawn, and without
objection, the gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I will be brief. As I said before, I am
supportive of any amendment that would prohibit oil and gas drilling
off the coast of the Atlantic as long as it does not also prohibit the
use of renewable resources such as wind. For that reason, I support the
amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. LaLota).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Cleaver
Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 8.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike ``and the Secretary of Defense'' and
insert ``the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Missouri is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Chairman, this bill requires the Secretary of Energy
to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the
Interior, and the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to increase
the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas production when
drawdowns are made on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Should this bill become law, I believe this interagency coordination
will be paramount to ensuring the Federal lands leasing strategy is
carried out in a thoughtful and scrupulous way.
To that end, my amendment will require that the Director of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency are also formally included in the Energy Secretary's
consultation process as the leasing plan is formulated.
Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will vote
with me in favor of this amendment to ensure greater interagency
collaboration and due diligence on such important matters before us.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in
opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would
require the Secretary of Energy to consult with the EPA Administrator
and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the required
leasing plan. I rise in opposition to the amendment because it expands
the scope of EPA. EPA does not oversee Federal lands; the Department of
the Interior does.
Further, this amendment is duplicative. H.R. 21 already requires the
Secretary of Energy to consult with the Secretary of the Interior. The
Bureau of Indian Affairs is in the Department of the Interior and falls
under the Secretary's purview.
Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
The amendment was rejected.
Amendment No. 91 Offered by Mr. Clyde
Mr. CLYDE. I have an amendment at the desk, No. 91.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 15, insert ``and submitted to Congress'' after
``developed''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 21,
the Strategic Production Response Act.
If enacted, my amendment would help hold the Biden administration,
which has proven to be the least transparent administration in American
history, accountable.
Under President Biden's anti-American energy policies and his embrace
of the radical left's Green New Deal agenda, America's energy
independence has been severely jeopardized. In response, my amendment
would require President Biden and his administration to submit their
plan to Congress addressing his misuse of our Nation's Strategic
Petroleum Reserve prior to the next drawdown of our reserve.
My amendment would ensure that the plan the administration develops
actually addresses our Nation's energy security and shows in writing to
Congress that it does not sell our country's emergency energy supply to
our adversaries, including companies aligned with the Chinese Communist
Party that have direct connections to the President's son.
Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this commonsense
amendment to submit the administration's plan to this body so we can do
the work the American people sent us here to do, which is to restore
American energy independence, unleash domestic energy production, and
hold the Biden administration accountable for creating this crisis.
Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers).
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentleman
bringing this amendment forward. It would simply require the plan to be
submitted to Congress. It is a good amendment, and I urge our
colleagues to support it.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Cleaver
Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 9.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 11, insert ``or during the period of a
national emergency declared under the National Emergencies
Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)'' after ``(d)''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Missouri is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Chairman, as we all know, the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve was established decades ago by our 38th President, Gerald Ford,
in the aftermath of the oil crisis of the early 1970s.
Ever since, the reserve has proven to be an incredibly effective tool
at the President's disposal in instances where the Nation has found
itself confronted with a crisis. Whether we find ourselves facing a
catastrophic natural disaster, a substantial spike in global oil
prices, or an outbreak of international conflict, Presidents have used
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in each of these situations and others
to ensure the Nation is able to respond swiftly, avoid disruptions to
vital operations, and minimize the financial pain facing American
families.
Tragically, it is not a matter of if but, rather, when the next
national emergency will occur. I think we can all agree that the last
thing any of us want is for the President's ability to quickly mobilize
the Nation's response to be encumbered or hindered by unintentional red
tape.
This amendment would straightforwardly, but importantly, avoid that
potential pitfall by including an exception for national emergencies as
declared under the National Emergencies Act. We all know how government
bureaucracies work, and it is always slowly.
This bill requires the Department of Energy to consult with the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the
Pentagon to develop a
[[Page H368]]
plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production when drawdowns on the SPR are made.
While thorough due diligence and interagency coordination are
absolutely a good and necessary component in any attempt to lease
Federal lands for oil and gas production, do any of us really believe
that such consultation and planning between four massive government
departments can be done expeditiously in a time of war or crisis? This
amendment would insert an exception clause to ensure this bill does not
compromise or restrict the President's ability.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1445
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in
opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Washington is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to
this amendment.
This amendment would further allow the President to abuse the SPR by
draining it without declaring an emergency under the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act. The statute is clear, and emergency triggers to use
SPRs are well defined. The law requires the President to declare that a
severe energy supply interruption exists. The statute defines a supply
interruption as follows:
One, ``an emergency situation exists and there is a significant
reduction in supply, which is of significant scope and duration'';
Two, ``a severe increase in the price of petroleum products has
resulted from such emergency situation'';
Three, ``such price increase is likely to cause a major adverse
impact on the national economy.''
SPR is a critical national security asset and should only have been
utilized in accordance with the law. This amendment would create a new
loophole to allow the President to continue raiding SPR for political
purposes.
I urge a ``no'' on the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
The amendment was rejected.
Amendment No. 32 Offered by Mrs. Boebert
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 32.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closed quotation marks and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Submission to congress.--The Secretary shall submit
the plan developed under paragraph (1) to the Committees on
Armed Services, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees
on Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public
Works, Armed Services, and Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is simple and
straightforward. My amendment simply requires the administration to
submit their plan to increase oil and gas production on Federal lands
to the House Committees on Armed Services, Agriculture, and Energy and
Commerce and Natural Resources, as well as the Senate Committees on
Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public Works, Armed
Services, and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
This simple, good-governance amendment allows Congress to take back
its Article I authority in our system of checks and balances.
Without my amendment, the plan to bolster our domestic energy supply
will be filed away and never seen again. This amendment will provide
transparency for the administration to carry out its congressionally
authorized duty.
More than 55 percent of my Congressional District is Federal land and
accounts for nearly 44 percent of Colorado's natural gas production.
The underlying bill requires the administration to be responsible for
their actions. If Joe Biden and Secretary Granholm continue to dip into
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, they must have a plan in place to
increase oil and gas production on land that has been locked up and
overregulated by the Federal Government. That plan should be submitted
to the congressional committees of jurisdiction.
By requiring the administration to submit its plan to the people's
House, we can provide important oversight as to how the administration
will carry out this plan and provide feedback.
On the Western Slope of Colorado, we have seen firsthand the harm
leftist policies have created in our communities, literally regulating
our communities into poverty. With the stroke of his pen, Joe Biden
unilaterally locked up Federal lands for oil and gas production and
development. Colorado's Western Slope used to have a booming energy
production economy. We used to have 112 drilling rigs on the Western
Slope, and now we have 4. These extreme leftist policies to lock up
land have driven away those good-paying jobs and have helped drive up
gas prices.
Congress needs to take back its power and advocate for the American
people they represent. My amendment will ensure those voices do not go
unheard and that we will hold the administration accountable for the
responsible energy plan required by this bill.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman cannot reserve.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from
Washington (Mrs. Rodgers).
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the
gentlewoman yielding.
I appreciate the gentlewoman offering this amendment that I believe
will actually bring greater transparency and oversight to the plan for
managing the balance of fuel stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
for domestic emergencies, and I urge support.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman may not reserve her time. Does the
gentlewoman yield?
Mrs. BOEBERT: Mr. Chairman, what may the gentlewoman do?
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman can continue to speak for the
remainder of her time or yield the rest of her time.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Soto
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Chairman, I offer amendment No. 44.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date this paragraph takes effect
described in paragraph (4)''.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect on
the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress a
certification that, in the opinion of the Secretary, the
price of gasoline and diesel fuel will not increase in any
Petroleum Administration for Defense District while the
Secretary develops the plan described in such paragraph.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Chairman, this amendment ensures that this bill, H.R.
21, will not go into effect until the Department of Energy can certify
that gas prices won't increase as it develops a plan to expand oil and
gas drilling on Federal lands by the same percentage that it releases
oil from the SPR.
Essentially, if we are going to get more or equal savings from using
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve then we would not be expanding drilling
on public lands and sell off more lands needlessly.
In addition, I know I spoke before about some of the issues we had
with the underlying legislation, but I did want to bring a few more
facts to bear.
When President Trump and the Republicans financed the GOP tax scam
for the rich with similar strategic oil reserves, some of that gas was
bought by China, by the way. You don't hear about that much, but under
President Trump and under President Biden, we
[[Page H369]]
saw China buy some of this gas because it was sold to the overall
market.
Now, we came together, Mr. Chairman, in a bipartisan fashion to limit
that. You don't hear a lot in the debate today that Trump sold gas to
China or that Trump sold oil to China as so much is talked about
President Biden.
Fact number two is President Trump had used the strategic reserve
when the Saudis and their refineries were attacked. Again, disruption,
just like we see with us banning Russian oil in a bipartisan fashion
and just like we see with the oil reserve.
There is a lot of amnesia here in the Chamber about the historic use
under two administrations to try to steady out the price of gas for
everyday Americans.
Lastly, we opposed for many years eliminating the ability to export
America's gas and oil abroad. There was a bipartisan deal a few years
ago where we got the ability to continue the tax credits for solar and
wind and other renewables, and the Republicans asked us to include an
elimination of this ban on exporting fuel abroad. That is a big part of
how this all happened, and that is certainly not an America First
policy when we hear so much about the debate on the amount of gas and
the price of gas here.
I will end where I began, which is President Biden helped lower gas
prices, and now we are hearing a multihour debate about how they oppose
that.
I certainly stand with the President, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Ohio is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, this is another tactic to delay
implementation of the underlying bill.
Energy security is national security, and if my Democratic colleagues
recognized this, they wouldn't need to abuse the SPR and attempt to
offset the high prices caused by their very policies.
Let's protect our strategic reserves, which is now at the lowest
level since 1983, and unleash American production.
I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 33 Offered by Mrs. Boebert
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 33.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 5, strike ``10 percent'' and insert ``15
percent''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, this shouldn't be a controversial topic
and, my hope is that folks on both sides of the aisle will be able to
support this commonsense amendment.
House Democrats should support this amendment because it provides the
White House increased flexibility to tap more oil from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve when necessary.
House Republicans should support this amendment because this modest 5
percent increase in flexibility for the SPR also allows a modest 5
percent increase to responsibly produce American energy on Federal
lands through the plan required by this bill.
Having said that, this amendment doesn't mandate increased energy
production. It just slightly modifies the cap. If the White House still
only wants to utilize 10 percent from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
and only wants the increase in Federal energy production on Federal
lands to be 10 percent, this amendment still allows that flexibility.
It is far past time we stopped begging foreign dictators to produce
oil and gas for America. America makes the cleanest energy in the
world. In fact, our natural gas is 42 percent cleaner than Russian
natural gas.
American innovation has allowed America to be the global leader in
reducing emissions since the year 2000. We should be producing the
energy Americans need right here in the good old U.S. of A. Yet, on
President Biden's watch, we have seen a 40 percent increase in gas
prices.
In order to help combat their significantly flawed energy strategy,
the White House raided the Strategic Petroleum Reserves by more than 40
percent.
My amendment prevents this type of abuse while slightly increasing
the amount of oil that can be drawn from the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve during an actual emergency like President Trump did.
The root causes of this record-breaking inflation were trillions of
dollars of wasteful spending federally and unnecessary attacks on
American energy. The Biden administration waged an all-out war on
American energy production. Biden shut down the Keystone XL pipeline on
day one of his administration, imposed new rules to block pipeline
projects, canceled oil and gas leases on millions of acres in Alaska
and the Gulf of Mexico, suspended oil drilling leases in a small sliver
of ANWR, even though Congress passed a law for this very purpose.
{time} 1500
He imposed a moratorium on new Federal oil and gas leases on Federal
lands, failed to meet the statutory deadlines for quarterly lease
sales, and took countless other anti-energy measures that have
contributed to increased gas prices and inflation reaching record
levels.
The only reason oil and gas permits on Federal lands are being
approved at nearly the same rate during the Biden administration as
during the Trump administration is because of the permitting reforms
put in place by the Trump administration. In essence, they had a head
start.
This administration also likes to try and take credit for supporting
oil and gas production, but the reality is this occurred in spite of
them, not because of them.
In fact, much of this production has occurred on private lands where
producers aren't stifled by Federal policies and moratoriums.
In 2020, the National Ocean Industries Association found that Joe
Biden's proposal to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in Federal
waters would kill approximately 200,000 jobs, cost the Federal
Government billions of dollars of revenue, and push production to
foreign adversaries.
Furthermore, and despite the exaggerations from the administration,
domestic production reached its highest point ever in 2020 while
President Donald J. Trump was in office with over 13 million barrels of
oil produced a day.
We all want clean air. We all want clean water. But we also want
lower gas prices and good-paying jobs right here in America.
We can have it all, as responsible energy production and conservation
are not mutually exclusive goals.
My amendment strikes the right balance. Again, it allows for
responsible emergency use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserves while
also allowing for responsible American energy production on Federal
lands.
Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield to the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I have no opposition to this
amendment. This amendment would increase the percentage cap on Federal
lands identified in DOE's replacement plan for oil and gas production,
taking it from 10 percent to 15 percent.
Mr. Chair, I support this amendment.
Mrs. BOEBERT. I yield back the balance of my time.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
January 26, 2023, on page H369, in the third column, the
following appeared: Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. JOHNSON of
Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment even
though I am not opposed to it. The ACTING CHAIR. Without
objecttion, the gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes. There was
no objection. Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, this amendment
would increase the percentage cap on Federal lands identified in
DOE's replacement plan for oil and gas production, taking it from
10 percent to 15 percent. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. Chairman, I
urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield to the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. JOHNSON). Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I have no
opposition to this amendment. This amendment would increase the
percentage cap on Federal lands identified in DOE's replacement
plan for oil and gas production, taking it from 10 percent to 15
percent. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment. Mrs. BOEBERT. I
yield back the balance of my time.
========================= END NOTE =========================
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition to the
amendment.
The ACTING CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, again, I don't know how to characterize
this
[[Page H370]]
but to say it is extreme. The gentlewoman's amendment would provide an
even bigger handout to Big Oil, trading away our precious Federal
lands.
Now, just so we understand, right now, there is a limitation in the
underlying bill which, of course, we still oppose because the
underlying bill says that the plan--in other words, I think we all know
that this underlying bill says: You can't use the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve unless you open up more Federal or public lands to oil and gas
drillings.
But it does have a cap that says the plan required shall not provide
for a total increase in the percentage of Federal lands described,
lease for oil and gas, in excess of 10 percent.
Let me just give you an idea. In the underlying bill, it could result
in over 300 million acres of Federal lands being opened up for new oil
and gas drilling, an area equivalent to three times the size of
California and eight times the amount of Federal lands and waters
currently available for oil and gas development.
But the gentlewoman from Colorado says that is not good enough. The
government has to allow for another 5 percent beyond that, another 50
percent more than what I described in order for us to use the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve.
Again, the fossil fuel industry already controls large portions of
U.S. public lands and waters, and it isn't using most of it. Right now,
the fossil fuel industry is sitting on approximately 9,000 approved but
unused permits for drilling on public lands.
In total, the fossil fuel industry controls over 26 million acres of
U.S. onshore public lands, half of which is going unused.
Offshore, the fossil fuel industry has over 2,000 active leases,
covering 12 million acres of Federal water, 75 percent of which is not
being used to produce oil or gas.
So the gentlewoman says that she wants clean air and clean water.
Well, the consequence of this would be just the opposite. We would be
polluting the air and probably polluting the water as well, so it makes
absolutely no sense.
I mean, right now, there is nothing to stand in the way of
production, which is up 1 million barrels a day under President Biden,
not to mention oil and gas companies are sitting on billions of
dollars.
They are making huge profits. The oil and gas companies don't want to
produce more oil here in the United States because that would lower the
price.
They are about profits. They are about raising the price of gasoline
at the pump. By using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, President Biden
has reduced the price at the pump.
So what the gentlewoman is proposing is extreme because this even
allows more public lands to be leased, or require it, that is not going
to be pumped anyway because the oil companies don't want it, and at the
same time, prohibit this administration from actually helping the
American consumer by lowering prices. It is extreme.
Mr. Chairman, I would urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle
to oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 29 Offered by Ms. Spanberger
Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 29.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusion.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located off the coast of Virginia.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Virginia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Chair, as a proud Virginian, I rise today in
defense of our region's coastal communities, our Nation's military and
defense equities, the Chesapeake Bay, and the economy of the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
I am concerned that the legislation under consideration today would
open the door to drilling of oil and gas off the shores of Virginia,
something that has never been done before and something staunchly
opposed by Virginians.
Offshore oil and gas drilling poses a grave threat to our economy,
our natural resources, and America's military infrastructure along
Virginia's coast.
Virginia's economy relies heavily on deepwater port commerce, and
offshore drilling operations would severely impact these industries.
According to one report, offshore drilling could jeopardize
approximately 86,000 Virginia jobs, as well as roughly $4.8 billion in
Virginia's GDP from coastal tourism, commercial fishing, and
aquaculture alone.
According to NOAA, in 2016, Virginia's commercial seafood industry
collected more than 440 million pounds of seafood with a value of close
to $300 million.
This driver of Virginia's economy could be threatened under the
overarching legislation considered here today.
I also point out that Virginia's Wallops Island could come under
threat. Wallops Island is home to space infrastructure that enables
NASA missions, but offshore drilling could undermine decades of
Federal, State, and local economic development efforts related to our
space program.
Virginia's spaceport has bolstered the local economy to the tune of
$820 million annually, and it has provided thousands of jobs in our
Commonwealth.
Back in 2015, NASA raised the alarm bells about offshore drilling,
releasing a statement that read, ``The presence of either temporary or
fixed structures at or below the sea surface . . . would have
significant detrimental effects on our ability to conduct aerospace
test activities.''
Offshore drilling in Virginia has been shown to be a critical
national security risk. According to a study published by the United
States Department of Defense, any oil and gas leases off the coast of
Virginia would disrupt military operations, training, and testing
activities considered to be vital to our United States' national
security and readiness.
Finally, I am deeply concerned about the environmental impacts that
offshore drilling could have in Virginia. As the largest estuary in the
United States, the Chesapeake Bay has been recognized by Congress as a
``national treasure'' and has been under federally funded cleanup
efforts since 1965.
The Chesapeake Bay is home to more than 3,600 species of plant, fish,
and animals--several dozen recognized as threatened or endangered.
Over the last several decades, we have made tremendous progress in
the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Virginians do not want to risk a
disaster like the Deepwater Horizon spill.
What is more, I am concerned about more regular releases of crude oil
that occur in offshore operations. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation
reports that spills from platforms, pipelines, and other offshore
infrastructure release, on average, 157,000 barrels of oil annually.
These releases would destroy many of the environmental gains that
have helped revitalize Virginia's economy, Virginia's coastal
communities, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
I urge my colleagues, from those in Virginia to those across the
country, to vote to protect Virginia's fishermen, farmers, coastal
towns, beaches, natural beauty, and importantly, our national security
by voting ``yes'' on this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The ACTING CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits oil and gas
[[Page H371]]
leasing on any tract of land off the coast of Virginia. Virtually all
offshore oil and gas leasing occurs in the Gulf of Mexico.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
January 26, 2023, on page H370, in the third column, the
following appeared: Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I claim time
in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to
it. The ACTING CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is
recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection. Mr. JOHNSON of
Ohio. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits oil and gas
The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. JOHNSON of
Ohio. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The ACTING
CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. JOHNSON of
Ohio. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits oil and gas
========================= END NOTE =========================
Offshore oil and gas exploration accounts for roughly 15 percent of
all domestic oil production and 2 percent of domestic natural gas
production.
By further limiting offshore leasing, we will not be able to meet
demand for oil and gas as it increases.
I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment
introduced by my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Virginia.
Virginia is blessed with beautiful coastlines. The Atlantic Coast and
Chesapeake Bay provide critical habitat to marine life and offer
numerous recreational opportunities to locals and tourists. Virginia's
coasts are also home to a growing source of clean, affordable, and
domestic energy thanks to ideal windspeeds, shallow waters, shipping
lanes free of overhead obstruction, and a talented workforce. Located
27 miles off the coast, the first two turbines in federal waters are
not visible from shore. The benefits they generate, however, are
increasingly being felt on shore as emissions are lowered and good,
family-sustaining jobs are created.
These exciting developments are in sharp contrast to what my
colleagues on the other side of the aisle have planned for our coastal
communities--an expansion of offshore drilling. We ought to learn from
the tragic mistakes of our past: Exxon Valdez in the Prince William
Sound, Santa Barbara off the coast of Southern California, and
Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico.
Throughout my career, I have opposed attempts to open Virginia's
coastline to offshore drilling along with local communities, small
businesses, scientists, beachgoers, environmentalists, seafood lovers,
and people of faith. The Virginia Beach Restaurant Association, the
Virginia Beach Hotel Association, and the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging
and Travel Association all oppose offshore drilling along with Oceana,
the Sierra Club, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Surfrider
Foundation, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light and so many others.
National security experts also warn that offshore drilling is
incompatible with military training in the region, not to mention the
incredible harm a spill would do to military facilities.
As sea levels in Norfolk and around the world continue to rise, any
expansion of highly polluting fossil fuel infrastructure is simply a
bad idea. Virginians are simply not willing to sacrifice the health of
our climate, marine life, local economies, or coastal ecosystems to
expand offshore drilling.
The growth of offshore wind in the region further underscores the
false choice being presented by my Republican colleagues. Virginians
are already enhancing our energy security by harnessing the power of
the wind. Thanks to the investments in the Inflation Reduction Act--
including provisions I introduced with Representatives Pascrell,
Norcross, Luria, and the late Congressman McEachin--the future of
offshore wind and domestic offshore wind manufacturing is bright.
Virginians have repeatedly stood together to protect our coasts and,
as this amendment demonstrates, we will continue to do so. I urge my
colleagues to protect Virginia's coasts by supporting this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 137 Offered by Mrs. Boebert
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 137.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Thompson divide.--As part of the plan developed under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify areas to lease
within the approximately 224,793.73 acres, including
approximately 200,518.28 acres of National Forest System
lands, approximately 15,464.99 acres of public lands, and
approximately 8,810.46 acres of reserved Federal mineral
interest within the Thompson Divide area in Colorado.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, this amendment seeks to help provide a voice
for local communities who were ignored and cut out of the process in
October of last year when the Biden administration unilaterally locked
up nearly 300,000 acres in Colorado and in my district through the
stroke of a pen.
Shamefully, the Biden administration ignored the concerns and
opposition of impacted communities so he could appease Green New Deal
extremists through this executive overreach.
After the proposed land grab was announced, Kathleen Sgamma,
president of Western Energy Alliance, stated: ``The White House has
initiated a withdrawal for the Thompson Divide while advancing a false
narrative that energy development and land protection are mutually
exclusive.
``Oil and natural gas activity has taken place in the Thompson Divide
area since the 1940s while conserving the land. We can do both: We can
develop energy while protecting the land.''
The area remains a vital resource and is located within the second
largest potential natural gas reserve in the United States.
``There's no need to lock away public lands and minerals, especially
at a time of high energy prices.''
With gas prices skyrocketing again, and today's national average
exceeding $3.50 per gallon, it makes even less sense to unilaterally
lock up hundreds of thousands of acres from responsible energy
production, especially while local stakeholders are ignored and are
flatout opposed.
After the mineral withdrawal and associated national monument were
announced in October, the Ute Indian Tribe of Utah said: ``The White
House moved forward with a monument on our homelands without including
us. They talk about Tribal consultation, but their actions do not match
their words. We cannot support a monument on our homelands that does
not include the Tribe. It is a disgrace to our ancestors to exclude the
Tribe in the care and protection of these burial sites.''
Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky sent me an email just this
morning stating, ``President Biden unilaterally acted with an end run
around Congress. Rather than honoring the 10-year, hard-fought,
bipartisan support forged by local interests with Garfield County, the
President placed additional restrictions on future leasing in Thompson
Divide. This gutted the original bipartisan local support.''
My amendment requires the Secretary, as part of the plan required by
this bill, to identify areas for potential responsible energy leasing
within the second largest potential natural gas reserve in the United
States in an area where responsible oil and gas production has taken
place since the 1940s.
America produces the cleanest energy in the world. In fact, our
natural gas is 42 percent cleaner than Russian gas.
American innovation, in particular, fracking, has allowed America to
be the global leader in reducing emissions since 2000.
{time} 1515
America should have never been dependent on Russia for significant
quantities of oil and gas. We need to stop begging OPEC, Venezuela, and
even Iran, to produce energy for us, and start producing more energy
responsibly right here in America, where our guys do it better than
anyone else, more responsibly, and cleaner.
We have to develop this right here at home, get back to American
energy independence, and pursue energy dominance.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentlewoman's
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the
gentlewoman's amendment which would expose historic ranching lands in
Colorado to oil and gas extraction, extraction the community simply
does not want.
Mr. Chairman, the underlying bill we are considering today makes
clear that some in this Chamber want to see our public lands, lands
owned by all Americans, open to extensive new oil and gas extraction.
[[Page H372]]
As we have already heard, the bill risks opening an area more than
three times the size of California to new oil and gas development; and
this, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans,
including more than two-thirds of western voters, consistently say that
they would prefer to see public lands protected rather than opened to
new degradation.
Protecting these lands supports the climate, outdoor recreation, and
local economies.
In the case of this particular amendment, the community in Thompson
Divide has already been fighting for more than two decades to protect
this area from new oil and gas drilling.
Since the early 2000s, the local community, including ranchers,
farmers, sportsmen, businesspeople, and community leaders, worked
together to fight for intact forests, big game and endangered species
habitat, and the region's ranching history.
Now the people of Thompson Divide have also opposed extraction
because they have seen its effects firsthand. They have seen how
companies more concerned with profit than public health polluted their
streams, leaking toxic chemicals into the groundwater.
The gentlewoman from Colorado, in the previous amendment, said that
she wanted clean air and clean water, but that is not the case. That is
not what is going to happen here with this amendment.
To stem these impacts, Democratic Members, including my good friend
and public lands defender, Representative Joe Neguse, has long
championed protections for the Thompson Divide.
Because of these longstanding efforts from the community and those
who represented them, just last year, President Biden took action to
protect this landscape from new extraction for the next 20 years. His
decision to protect the Thompson Divide was cheered by citizens across
the State of Colorado as an essential protection for an irreplaceable
landscape.
This amendment before us would reverse these protections, exposing
this community again to poisoned wells and degraded forests. It goes
against the interests of the Thompson Divide community, against the
interests of Coloradans, and against the interests of the American
people.
So I urge all of my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 10 Offered by Ms. Tlaib
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer Tlaib Amendment No. 10 to H.R.
21.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Environmental reviews.--Before issuing any oil and
gas lease or permit pursuant to the plan, the Secretary of
the Interior shall complete a separate environmental review
for each such lease and permit in accordance with section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).''.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order against
the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentlewoman from Michigan is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, this is a simple amendment that requires the
Secretary of the Interior to complete a standard environmental review
of each individual oil and gas lease before it can be issued.
Environmental reviews are standard practices that protect every
single one of our communities. It is transparency. Frankly, these types
of reviews don't even go far enough to protect the health of our
resident but at the very least, we must ensure environmental reviews
are conducted to the highest level.
I urge all my colleagues to stand up for these critical environmental
reviews and support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I do insist on the point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state the point of order.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. The amendment violates clause 7 of rule XVI of
the Rules of the House because it is not germane to the underlying
bill.
Specifically, the bill limits the drawdown of petroleum in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a
plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production.
The amendment requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete a
separate environmental review for each lease and permit before issuing
any oil and gas lease or permit.
Environmental reviews are outside the scope of H.R. 21. The amendment
is not germane.
The Acting CHAIR. Does any other Member wish to be heard on the
amendment?
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I do respectfully disagree with the gentleman.
I do feel like this is very much germane, but I will respect the
decision by the Parliamentarian or the Chair.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair is ready to rule. The gentleman from Ohio
makes a point of order that the amendment offered by the gentlewoman
from Michigan is not germane.
Clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule, provides that no
proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall
be admitted under color of amendment.
The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed
a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for
oil and gas production. The amendment addresses issuance of oil and gas
leases pursuant to the plan. It addresses implementation, not just
development, of the plan.
The Chair finds that the amendment goes beyond the subject matter of
the underlying bill. It is, therefore, not germane. The point of order
is sustained.
Amendment No. 41 Offered by Mr. Perry
Mr. PERRY. I have an amendment at the desk, Mr. Chairman, No. 41.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closed quotation marks and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Requirements.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall include a list of parcels planned to be offered for
lease, including, for each such parcel--
``(A) the size of the parcel, by acre;
``(B) the location of the parcel; and
``(C) any permits and approvals necessary to access the
parcel and produce oil and gas on the parcel.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Washington for
offering this much-needed bill.
This amendment, Mr. Chairman, is about trust. It is about trust
because we have been told--the American people have been told--that the
President is doing all he can to make sure that gas prices are low,
that your diesel prices are low. That is indeed absolutely not the
case.
Of course, using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve reserved for issues
of national security or natural disaster, instead using it for
political purposes to drive down the price of gas just prior to the
election, is not the reason for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, yet
that is how it was used. So this bill seeks to remedy that.
We need some teeth in it, Mr. Chairman. We need some evidence from
the Secretary of Energy that the Secretary will actually support
increased and Federal lands leased when they draw down on the strategic
reserve.
So this amendment requires the plan to include the list of actual
parcels planned to be offered for lease and, for each parcel, its size,
location, and any permits and approval necessary for the access and
production, because we simply can't take their word for it.
They will tell you, oh, well, we have got 9,000 leases. What are
y'all complaining about?
Meanwhile, you can't get a permit for the lease to go on to the
leased land and actually do the exploration and the operation. You
can't get a permit, so the lease is meaningless. They never mentioned
that. The 9,000 leases might as well be meaningless, and that is why
there is a trust issue here.
[[Page H373]]
So this bridges that trust issue and says, well, okay, if you have
got a plan, and you have got leases, and you have got parcels, that is
great. Let's see them, and let's see the permits associated with them
that will actually allow us, in America, to go get our resources, the
natural resources given to Americans by the good Lord to go use so that
they can drive down their own prices and live in their communities in a
way that is affordable.
This administration tells us all the time they are doing all they
can, but they are not doing all they can when they tell you they are
going to outlaw your gas stove and require you to buy an electric
vehicle, by the way, which they can't support charging, but that is
another story.
We need them to provide the permits and the approvals necessary to
access the land.
Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I urge all Members to support the Perry amendment. While this
amendment raises an issue that is different from this bill, it is an
important facet to understanding the seriousness of the Energy
Secretary's plan.
This is a perfecting amendment that will enhance public transparency,
congressional oversight of department plans and operations, and bring
certainty in planning for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and efforts
to keep it appropriately filled for emergencies.
I thank the gentleman for his concern in offering this amendment.
Again, I have no objection, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I heard my colleague from our committee
say that this was a perfecting amendment, and what I see it as is just
a more bureaucracy amendment.
The problem here with the underlying bill is that it basically makes
it impossible for the President to use--to release oil from the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve when there is an emergency in order to
lower prices or to increase the supply.
What this amendment does is to put even more restrictions or make it
even more likely that a delay would occur because the gentleman says
that the plan required would include a list of parcels planned to be
offered for lease, including for each parcel, the size of the parcel by
acre, the location of the parcel, any permits and approvals necessary
to access the parcel, and produce oil and gas on the parcel.
Look, the bottom line is what it appears the sponsor wants is for the
Federal Government to spend its limited time during a crisis looking
over maps of critical public lands and drawing arbitrary lines instead
of taking rapid actions to lower gas prices for everyday families.
The underlying bill doesn't work because it puts all kinds of
restrictions on the President's ability to use the reserve, either to
lower prices, or to increase the supply in an emergency, and this
amendment only makes it worse.
It would throw more barriers to the Secretary using the reserve to
protect American families and businesses. It is so shortsighted,
considering how critical the Biden administration's use of the reserve
has been following Putin's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent global
gas shortages.
For a minority so concerned--I should say in this case, for a
Republican majority so concerned with cutting red tape, this amendment
would create quite a few unnecessary hoops for the Secretary to jump
through before taking swift action to help Americans. It just makes no
sense.
Again, over the past year, the Biden administration has demonstrated
that in an emergency, in an energy crisis, strategic use of the reserve
can bring relief to the pump for millions of Americans, and this
amendment puts that record of success by the Biden administration in
jeopardy.
So I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment and, of course, a ``no''
vote on final passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 11 Offered by Ms. Tlaib
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer Tlaib Amendment No. 11 to H.R.
21
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, insert ``the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental
Quality,'' before ``and the''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, so let's get this straight. When developing
H.R. 21's gross drill baby drill plans, the Secretary of Energy is
required to consult with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, and
Defense, but not with the Administrator of the EPA or the Chair of the
Council on Environmental Quality.
These plans are rigged against frontline communities that I represent
and, really, around our Nation. The message is clear: When making plans
to destroy our environment, don't consult the environmental regulators
because those plans can't be justified.
So my amendment is a commonsense fix amendment. Include the EPA and
CEQ in the process in regard to the impacts on our environment.
I urge my colleagues to, again, please support this amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1530
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Mr. Chair, put plainly, this is not an
appropriate role for EPA or CEQ, neither of which oversee Federal land.
The agencies consulted in the plan already must comply with existing
requirements, so this amendment only serves to obstruct.
H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by requiring any nonemergency
use to be accompanied by a plan to produce American oil resources. This
amendment undermines the purpose of the bill.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Huffman
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 15 at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located in the Northern California planning area.''.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, this amendment would ban leasing for offshore
oil and gas drilling off the northern California coast.
Offshore drilling poses unacceptable risks. Where you drill, you
spill. That is why Republican and Democratic Governors on both the
Atlantic and Pacific Coasts have voiced their opposition to any new oil
and gas leasing off their coasts.
We should not put our oceans, fisheries, coastal communities,
economies, and planet at risk just to enrich the fossil fuel industry.
While folks were hurting at the pump, Big Oil companies were raking
in record profits, and they were sitting on millions of acres of unused
leases, capitalizing on the war in Ukraine in order to gouge U.S.
consumers. Giving them even more control over our public lands is not
necessary, and it won't do a darn thing for consumers.
[[Page H374]]
At a time when the climate crisis is ravaging communities across the
globe, adding new leases on public lands makes no sense unless you
value Big Oil profits above making sure our children have a livable
planet.
Now, the north coast of California is an amazing, pristine place that
I am privileged to represent. It supports a thriving blue economy,
including fishing, tourism, and some of the other values that we have
heard discussed here today. It deserves the same kind of protection
that President Trump gave reluctantly and very selectively to certain
communities in Florida and on the East Coast after there was a backlash
from Republican Members of Congress and Republican Governors to his
drill everywhere plan.
The north coast of California deserves at least that same level of
protection, and by passing this amendment, it will get it.
Mr. Chair, I thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman from my
neighboring district, Congressman Mike Thompson, for joining me on
this measure.
Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Huffman for doing
this amendment and for yielding me time.
Mr. Chair, the northern California coastline includes some of the
most scenic and biodiverse waters in the world. As one of the five most
significant upwellings in the world, California's north coast is home
to nutrient-rich surface waters critical to maintaining vast
biodiversity.
This coastline is home to dozens of marine mammals, over a hundred
species of seabirds and shorebirds, and a tremendous number of fish
species, which include salmon, striped bass, halibut, tuna, and many
more.
An oilspill off this coast could devastate both the marine life and
the local economy. It would crush the fishing community and local
tourism. This amendment deserves to be passed.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I withdraw my reservation of a point of
order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I think we need to remember that H.R. 21 is
about strengthening the SPR by requiring any nonemergency use to be
accompanied by a plan to produce American oil resources.
This amendment undermines the purpose of the bill. It would deprive
the country of the benefits of secure American supplies of cleanly
produced fossil energy. We should reject this anti-American energy
amendment.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 65 Offered by Mr. Huffman
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 65 at the desk.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent,
nor shall it include any tract of Federal land where oil and
gas leasing would decrease land and water available for
outdoor recreation.''.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, this amendment would block this legislation
from allowing increased oil and gas leasing on any Federal land where
outdoor recreation takes place. Our public lands are for the public,
not for the wealthiest industry in the history of the world to drill
and to spoil with impunity.
Being active in the outdoors and experiencing wild places is a way of
life not just in my district but for many communities around this
country.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were unable to gather the way
we liked to indoors, we learned just how important our parks and our
public lands are, how getting outside helps our well-being. This is why
we must protect and expand our public lands for recreational use, not
give them away to a single polluting industry.
We all depend on the ecological, economic, and mental health benefits
that our public lands provide. That is why my amendment protects these
important lands.
If we are good stewards, our public lands can simultaneously support
a thriving outdoor recreation economy as well as natural resiliency
against the climate crisis, all while preserving and protecting these
precious lands for future generations.
These are the goals of the Biden administration and the State of
California in their efforts to protect 30 percent of our lands by 2030
because these lands are meant for everyone to use, enjoy, and pass down
to future generations to do the same. However, H.R. 21 would create an
arbitrary increase in oil and gas development for the benefit of one
single group: the oil and gas industry.
This bill may seem simple--it is just three pages long--yet it does
something really big and dangerous. It stands to open up over 300
million acres to be destroyed for oil and gas drilling, an area
equivalent to three times the size of California or six times the
combined size of all our national parks. This is unacceptable, and it
is another example of the dangerous extremism we see from this new
Republican majority.
The fact of the matter is, there are currently 9,000 permits held by
the oil and gas industry right now that are not being used.
Additionally, the majority of the roughly 26 million acres that are
currently under lease to oil and gas companies on our Federal lands and
waters are not being used. Industry is simply sitting on them to keep
prices artificially high.
What would industry do with the dramatic expansion of new leasing
opportunities on our valuable public lands? Well, the evidence shows
that they will simply lock them up so that they couldn't be used for
other activities such as recreation or renewable energy.
I represent the north coast of California, and my constituents know
the value of public lands for outdoor recreation, from hiking and
climbing to kayaking and angling. I hope folks on both sides of the
aisle agree that we need to protect the future of these cherished
recreational activities on our public lands. Our public lands used for
outdoor recreation should not be sacrificed at the altar of Big Oil.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I withdraw my reservation of a point of
order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits the leasing plan
from decreasing land and water for recreation, but this is unnecessary.
Nothing in the bill changes any existing laws related to land and water
access.
Energy production and conservation are not mutually exclusive.
Republicans are good stewards and desire to be good stewards as well of
all of our resources. In fact, every year, $900 million in royalties
are paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on Federal land,
and those royalties are put into this fund. The money is used to
protect national parks and the land surrounding waters and national
wildlife refuges.
This amendment is nothing more than an attempt to delay the
implementation of H.R. 21, so I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).
[[Page H375]]
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 26 Offered by Mr. Panetta
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk,
specifically No. 26.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located in the Central California planning area.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, my amendment to H.R. 21 would exclude the
central California planning area from being leased for oil and natural
gas production.
The central California planning area extends from Mendocino County to
Monterey County and goes out about 400 miles off the coast of
California. Although much of this area is already protected by national
marine sanctuaries, my amendment, if attached to H.R. 21, would bolster
those protections from oil and gas drilling and stretch them further
from our coastline.
Having been raised there, raising my children there, and now as the
Representative for the central coast of California, I know firsthand
how important our oceans and our coastlines are for our environment,
for our economy, for our small businesses, for our communities, and,
yes, for our future.
That is why I stand here on the shoulders of so many people who have
done so many things to ensure the protection of our pristine coastline
in California. From utilizing zoning laws to limiting onshore
infrastructure and the designation of national marine sanctuaries, we
have fought and will continue to fight to ensure that oil drilling does
not happen off our California coast. That is why this amendment is so
important to me and to my constituents.
Of course, my constituents are concerned with high gas prices,
especially when there is an international conflict that causes gas
prices to go through the roof. The strategy of releasing oil from the
strategic reserve, specifically during those types of international
conflicts, has been used time and time again.
In 1991, George H.W. Bush did it during the Gulf war. In 2005, George
W. Bush did it during the second Gulf war. In 2011, President Obama did
it due to the Libya crisis. In 2022, President Biden did it due to
Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
Each time that oil was released from those reserves, gas prices were
reduced or remained stable. That is why I support this long-used
strategy without any types of conditions attached to it. The last thing
we want to do is restrict the types of tools used in the middle of a
global crisis so that the President, this administration, can lower gas
prices and help American families.
Let's be clear. Our families, my families that I represent on the
central coast of California, we don't need drilling; we don't want oil
drilling; and we will continue to do everything we can to prevent oil
drilling off our coastline. Our beauty and the bounty received through
our multibillion-dollar tourism and hospitality industry is worth so
much more.
{time} 1545
The future. That is why I will always be against any oil and gas
drilling off the central coast of California, and why I will always be
a part of the longstanding tradition of fighting to protect our
environment and the future of the place that I, my family, and my
constituents call home.
Mr. Chair, that is why I urge a ``yes'' vote on amendment No. 26, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits oil and gas
exploration in a specific area of the Outer Continental Shelf off the
California coast.
This amendment excludes a tract of land from oil and gas exploration
from being included in the leasing plan. Virtually, all oil and gas
leasing in the OCS occurs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil and gas exploration in the OCS accounts for roughly 15 percent of
all domestic oil production and 2 percent of domestic natural gas
production.
By further limiting this potentially vast resource, we will not be
able to meet demand for oil and gas as it increases, and it will.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta)
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Levin
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 18.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located in the Southern California planning area.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chair, my amendment would exclude the Southern
California Planning Area from being leased for oil and gas production
as part of any proposed plan under this bill.
It is just over 1 year ago that our community experienced an oil
spill that posed a grave ecological disaster that devastated local
wildlife, our coasts and our ocean, and small business owners who rely
on our coastal activity for their livelihoods.
This kind of disaster is exactly why I introduced my American Coasts
and Oceans Protection Act to prohibit any new leasing for the
exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas along the
southern California coast, from San Diego up to San Luis Obispo.
As I said when I introduced the bill last Congress, it is time to put
our environment and our coastal economy first, not the out-of-state
fossil fuel companies that profit while polluting our coastline.
It is also important to note that our southern California economy
relies heavily on ocean-based businesses. In San Diego and Orange
County alone, the ocean economy accounts for roughly $7.7 billion in
economic activity and sustains more than 140,000 jobs in coastal
tourism and recreation.
Along California's coastline, fishing, tourism, and recreation
supports nearly 600,000 jobs and roughly $42.3 billion in economic
activity. For every massive oil spill our region experiences, we are
not only adding to the pollution of our oceans, but directly
jeopardizing thousands of jobs.
Mr. Chair, the latest oil spill wasn't the first time our community
has experienced such a disaster. More than 4 million gallons of oil
have been released in the Pacific Ocean as a result of the 1969 Santa
Barbara blowout, and the Refugio oil spill of 2015, and other leaks
from oil rig and pipeline activity affecting more than 935 square miles
of ocean. This most recent spill pushed that number even higher.
Californians have made it clear that they are strongly opposed to
additional offshore oil and gas drilling along our coast.
The last administration repeatedly pushed to expand offshore drilling
and rolled back crucial safety regulations that help prevent spills,
and now here we are once again as Big Oil seeks to expand drilling off
our coast, even as they sit on thousands of unused permits across the
country.
[[Page H376]]
With so much ecological disaster and so many jobs threatened by
offshore drilling, southern Californians have had enough. We need to be
focusing on cutting emissions and protecting coastal communities from
rising sea levels, not extracting more oil so fossil fuel executives
can profit even more. Just yesterday, Chevron announced it is tripling
its stock buyback program to $75 billion while reporting record
profits.
How much profit do they really need?
The reality is, we need to end all new offshore oil and gas leasing
in southern California, off the Pacific Coast and beyond. This
amendment represents a start to making that happen.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support
this amendment and respect the will of the vast majority of
Californians, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike who oppose
drilling off our coasts.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Womack). The gentleman from Michigan is
recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by
requiring any non-emergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce
American oil resources.
This amendment undermines the purpose of H.R. 21 and would deprive
the country of the benefits of secure American supplies of cleanly
produced fossil energy.
Rather than deprive Californians--including the hardworking
Californians in the energy production industry--the benefit of
increasing American energy and security, we should embrace the pro-
energy policies of H.R. 21.
We should reject this anti-energy amendment.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Levin).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 7 Offered by Ms. DelBene
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 7.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located in the Washington/Oregon planning area.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Washington is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I am offering this amendment with my
colleagues, Representatives Gluesenkamp Perez, Kilmer, Hoyle, and
Salinas.
Protecting the environment is foundational to the heritage, culture,
and quality of life in the Pacific Northwest. Our region is a
trailblazer in renewable energy sources, like hydroelectric, wind, and
solar.
Congress should follow our lead and focus on accelerating our
transition toward a green energy economy.
Instead, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to
push for more giveaways to the fossil fuel industry and heighten the
risk of another oil spill like Deepwater Horizon.
Our amendment would prevent Republicans from allowing drilling for
oil and gas along the Washington and Oregon coasts.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Perez), my
colleague, the newest Member of the Washington delegation.
Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Chair, I thank Representative DelBene for the
opportunity to speak on this amendment.
The health of my district's economy depends on a clean Pacific Coast
and ocean ecosystem.
My district is actually home to one of the most fishing-dependent
communities in the entire country--Pacific County.
Preventing offshore drilling not only protects the environment, it
also protects the economies of the communities where people work for a
living.
We cannot bankrupt our long-term environmental quality for a one-off
oil jackpot.
That is why I support this amendment that prevents offshore drilling.
Mr. Chairman, I thank Representatives Kilmer and DelBene for their
work on this critical issue, and I urge my colleagues to support the
amendment.
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
Kilmer), my colleague from the Olympic Peninsula.
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, for decades, Democrats and Republicans agree
that opening the waters off the coast of Washington to drilling would
be dangerous. Doing so would threaten our fisheries, shellfish growers,
tourism, and jobs in other sectors of our economy.
The underlying legislation we are considering could result in over
300 million acres of Federal lands and waters being opened up for new
oil and gas drilling. That is an area equivalent to more than six times
the size of the State of Washington.
I support this amendment because I am standing up for the coastal
communities I represent. We do not want new oil and gas drilling off
our coast. This isn't just about environmental protection; it is about
protecting our economy and our way of life.
Let's protect our marine ecosystems. Let's protect coastal
communities and coastal jobs. Let's create new jobs in renewable
energy.
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms.
Hoyle), one of our new Members.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Chair, my district includes 250 miles of
entirely public beaches on a coastline renowned for its pristine and
rugged beauty.
Our fishing community relies on clean oceans. It is our
responsibility to protect these waters that are vital for our coastal
economies and ocean ecosystems.
It is my duty to protect our oceans, the livelihood of the fishing
industry on the Oregon coast, and the way of life for the next
generation of coastal Oregonians.
The fossil fuel industry has 2,000 leases covering 12 million acres
for offshore drilling that are currently not being used. This is just
bait and switch by the oil companies who are making record profits
while they are price gouging Americans at the gas pump.
Mr. Chair, I strongly support Representative DelBene's amendment to
protect Oregon and Washington's coast for future generations.
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms.
Salinas).
Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the DelBene amendment
and in defense of Oregon's coast.
The Oregon coastline is a wonder of nature and a critical piece of
Oregon's economy. We love our coastal playground. We respect our
coastal communities. And that is why we must fight to protect them--not
as Democrats or Republicans, but as Oregonians who cherish our
environment and our people.
Oregon led with the first-ever ``Bottle Bill'' to reduce litter on
the beaches. Oregon led when it made its coastline free and open to the
public. Now we must lead the fight against offshore drilling, which
threatens our coastline, the people who call it home, and fisheries and
families who depend on it for their livelihoods, and our environment.
Offshore drilling is a mistake, and it will only exacerbate our
energy and environmental crisis down the road. We must say ``no'' by
voting ``yes'' on this amendment.
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the Pacific
Northwest and support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, this amendment goes further than the scope of
H.R. 21. Nothing in H.R. 21 affects
[[Page H377]]
any laws or statutes on the books that regulate offshore oil and gas
development.
The purpose and scope of this bill is limited: it is to protect our
SPR from political use and to ensure we are adequately prepared for
future legitimate emergencies. It does nothing to impact existing
Department of the Interior regulations.
It simply requires the Secretary of Energy to develop a plan to
increase production if it is used without declaring an emergency. This
is not a vehicle to impose new restrictions.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Washington
will be postponed.
{time} 1600
Amendment No. 48 Offered by Mr. Barr
Mr. BARR. Mr. Chairman, I have amendment No. 48 at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end the following:
SEC. 3. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL
REGULATIONS.
(a) In General.--Any rule issued by a Federal financial
regulator that has the effect of limiting access to financing
for oil and gas companies shall have no force or effect until
the date on which the Secretary of Energy reports to the
Congress (and makes such report available to the public) that
the amount of petroleum products in the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve is equal to or greater than the amount contained in
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve on the day before the
relevant drawdown.
(b) Federal Financial Regulator Defined.--In this section,
the term ``Federal financial regulator'' means the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission, the Comptroller of the Currency,
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Financial
Stability Oversight Council, the Secretary of the Treasury,
and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from Kentucky is recognized for 5 minutes in support of
his amendment.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Chairman, I support the underlying legislation to
increase domestic energy production to replenish the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve that has been recklessly and dangerously drawn down
by the Biden administration in a cynically political move to try to
lower energy prices before an election.
But we know that in a move to placate radical environmentalists,
President Biden blocked the Keystone XL pipeline at the beginning of
this administration. His administration suspended oil and natural gas
leasing and permits when he took office. But for the last year, the
President and his supporters have been pleading for more domestic
energy production.
The President can't have it both ways. In just over 2 years, the
President has depleted the crude oil and the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve by 40 percent. Not only did this scheme fail to bring down
prices in a meaningful way for Americans, but it also threatens our
energy and national security should a true national emergency occur.
This is not just negligence from the administration. The
administration is waging an active war against the oil and gas sector.
Now, we all know about the war against leases, and we know about the
war against energy infrastructure like Keystone. But ground zero, Mr.
Chairman, for this war against domestic energy production is the
weaponization of financial regulation to discriminate against American
energy production and redirect capital away from American energy
production.
This is all happening at the precise time we need more, not less,
energy production. The Energy Information Administration recently
projected that global energy consumption will increase by 50 percent in
the year 2050 with almost one-half of energy consumption coming from
natural gas and other fossil fuel energy.
So why do we need this amendment?
Because this is a capital-intensive enterprise. In order for oil and
gas production to happen, Mr. Chairman, you have to have the financing
for that, and this Administration has weaponized the financial
regulators to limit access to financing and to limit access to capital.
For example, initiatives by the Federal Reserve working with a
Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial
System, otherwise known as NGFS; the Securities and Exchange
Commission's proposed Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related
Disclosures for Investors; the Financial Stability Oversight Council's
report and recommendation on climate-related financial risk; the FDIC's
principles for climate-related financial risk management for large
financial institutions; and the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency's principles for climate-related financial risk management for
large banks.
My amendment would simply pause any and all of these climate-related
financial regulations so that financial institutions can provide the
capital and the financing for the oil and gas producers so that we can,
in fact, replenish the petroleum reserve.
There is no question that the war on energy is costing families and
small businesses increased costs. Just in the first year of this
administration, investment and oil and natural gas production dropped
by 25 percent.
It is time we unleash American energy to lower costs over the long
run. That means we need access to capital--access to financing--for
American energy.
My amendment would give American energy companies access to our deep,
liquid capital markets so that we can continue to power this country's
economy and replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
That is why I am offering this amendment: to protect American energy
producers and to protect their access to capital markets so that we can
facilitate the replenishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
I would argue we need to unleash our financial institutions and our
asset managers and investors to give our energy producers the financing
that they need to rebuild our economy, to lower costs at the pump, and
to lower energy costs across the board.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and, of
course, support the underlying piece of legislation. I yield back the
balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I insist on the point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, the pending amendment violates the
germaneness requirement of rule XVI, clause 7. That rule precludes
amendments ``on a subject different from that under consideration.''
The subject matter of the underlying bill is a requirement that the
Department of Energy issue a plan related to the leasing of Federal
lands for oil and gas drilling before certain first drawdowns from the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
However, the subject matter of the pending amendment is different.
The pending amendment requires the suspension of certain financial
regulations limiting access to financing for oil and gas companies
until certain conditions are met.
Now, this places an unrelated condition on the drawdown of the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve that expands beyond the development of the
plan required by the underlying bill. Because the pending amendment is
on a different subject from that of the underlying bill, I urge the
Chair to hold this amendment as not germane.
The Acting CHAIR. Does any other Member wish to be heard on the point
of order?
The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) is recognized.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Chairman, I would respectfully argue that the amendment
is core to the proper functioning of the
[[Page H378]]
underlying bill. The amendment's purpose is the same purpose as the
underlying bill: it is to facilitate the replenishment of the SPR for
the exact drawdowns covered in the bill. The amendment furthers the
objective of the underlying bill. In fact, it is arguably inextricably
linked and indispensable to the purpose of the bill in so far as
producing more oil and gas requires access to capital for those
producers of oil and gas.
Mr. Chairman, you can't produce oil and gas if you can't get
financing for it. That is why I respectfully oppose the point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. Does any other Member wish to be heard on the point
of order?
If not, the Chair is prepared to rule on the point of order.
The gentleman from New Jersey makes a point of order that the
amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky is not germane.
The clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule, provides that no
proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall
be admitted under color of amendment.
The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed
a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for
oil and gas production. The amendment would address rules issued by
financial regulators.
The Chair finds that the amendment goes beyond the subject matter of
the underlying bill. It is, therefore, not germane. The point of order
is sustained.
Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mr. Levin
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 21.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 5 and insert the following:
``(2) Limitations.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall not--
``(A) provide for a total increase in the percentage of
Federal lands described in paragraph (1) leased for oil and
gas production in excess of 10 percent; or
``(B) provide for an increase in Federal lands described in
paragraph (1) that would not provide a fair return for
taxpayers.''.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes in support
of his amendment.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would prohibit any new leases
under this plan that do not provide a fair return for taxpayers.
For far too long, our oil and gas leasing program has offered a
sweetheart deal for the industry at the expense of taxpayers. One
fossil fuel company recently even went so far as to outline in a press
release the many benefits of extraction on public land compared to
private land. Their release highlighted that leases on public lands are
cheaper, they last longer, and they are more expansive.
While these statements may be music to the ears of those who care
most about Big Oil special interests, they represent a raw deal for the
American people.
Increasing the royalty rate to a fair level will generate billions of
dollars in revenue for taxpayers.
The Government Accountability Office and Congressional Budget Office
both agree and have suggested that this is good policy. That is why
last Congress I introduced the Restoring Community Input and Public
Protections in Oil and Gas Leasing Act, to protect taxpayers by
eliminating noncompetitive oil and gas leasing and raising the onshore
oil and gas royalty rate, rental fee, and minimum bid amount.
I am proud that the Inflation Reduction Act includes significant
provisions of that bill, including eliminating noncompetitive leasing
for oil and gas sales, raising annual rental rates, and increasing the
minimum bid for public lands. These provisions will go a long way in
ensuring the American people see a more fair return on the use of our
cherished public lands.
But we have more work to do to provide a fair return. States like
Texas and Oklahoma charge higher royalty rates on their State lands
than are charged on Federal public lands, leading to lost revenue for
Federal taxpayers.
This amendment builds on those provisions and will help end giveaways
of our public lands to fossil fuel companies and ensure that taxpayers
receive a fair return on any private profit that oil and gas companies
extract from our public lands.
The American people deserve to see a fair financial return on the
profits that fossil fuel companies make from their use of our cherished
public lands, and this amendment will require that these companies
provide that return instead of simply ripping the public off.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of a point of
order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, this amendment further restricts the land
that could be eligible for the production plan. It sets a vague
requirement to ensure that land in the plan provides ``a fair return
for taxpayers.''
The Biden administration has hamstrung our ability to produce
American energy. This has had a disastrous consequence for Americans.
Energy prices have skyrocketed under this administration and still
remain high. We have grown more reliant on our adversaries such as
Venezuela, Iran, and China for energy--dirty energy. I would argue that
producing more American energy to lower prices for families is a ``fair
return for taxpayers.''
I urge a ``no'' vote, Mr. Chairman, on this amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Levin).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 55 Offered by Mr. Grijalva
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment No. 55 at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Tribal consultation.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall include a Tribal consultation plan with Tribal
governments and the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary
of Agriculture, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary
of Energy.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I believe I have made it very clear that this bill is deeply flawed
from the concept to execution. While I really do hesitate to improve a
bad bill, I think it is important that we acknowledge one of the bill's
starkest omissions.
My amendment would simply require that while developing the plan this
bill proposes, the relevant Secretaries also develop a plan to consult
with Tribal Governments. This is particularly important as the bill
could open up an additional 300 million acres of new oil and gas
extraction on public lands.
If we really intend to give away an area three times the size of
California to Big Oil, then we need to understand the impact it will
have on communities across the West starting with those who have
stewarded these lands since time immemorial.
It is essential that the Secretaries fully and meaningfully consult
with Tribal Governments to understand the impact this extractive
development would have on Tribal communities from damaging air and
water to destroying sacred sites.
For too long, Tribal Governments have been excluded from Federal
decisionmaking processes. We have seen
[[Page H379]]
the impact of that omission as homelands are degraded, sacred sites
destroyed, and Tribal communities are forced to bear the brunt of
pollution.
A no more important example is the example of uranium contamination
that continues and the cleanup of uranium contamination that continues
in around the Grand Canyon and Navajo Nation, and that has affected
that community and the Navajo people for generations. It is
unacceptable that we would turn a blind eye to these impacts.
Tribal Governments need to be at the table from the start helping to
shape decisions that impact their communities and their ancestral
lands.
This amendment would ensure that they do just that while helping to
uphold the Federal Government's trust responsibility.
This shouldn't be controversial. In fact, this should have been built
in from the start.
Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. This amendment would require the leasing plan to include
a consultation plan with Tribal Governments. Current law allows for
sufficient consultation with relevant agencies and Tribes. This bill
does nothing to change underlying leasing laws that the Department of
the Interior is subject to.
So I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 56 Offered by Mr. Grijalva
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 56.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Community protections.--The plan required by
paragraph (1) shall not include oil and gas leasing on any
Federal land where oil and gas leasing would result in or
exacerbate disproportionate burdens on communities of color,
low-income communities, and Tribal and Indigenous
communities.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment that would
prevent this oil giveaway from further burdening communities of color,
low-income communities, Tribal, and indigenous communities.
Over the past several years our late colleague, Representative
McEachin and I traveled the country to hear from environmental justice
and frontline communities across this Nation about pollution and
climate impact. We heard the tales of water not fit to drink, air not
fit to breathe, and communities not safe to live in.
For too long we have allowed the vulnerable to bear the impacts of
development, leaving them to pay the costs that are incurred.
{time} 1615
We must change that narrative by ensuring that these communities are
at the decisionmaking table and that their voices are clearly heard at
every level of government.
This was a legacy my dear friend and our late colleague dedicated his
life to, and that is why I am proud that we will be renaming the
Environmental Justice For All Act in his honor in the next several
weeks.
Unfortunately, the bill in front of us today would take us further
than ever from achieving environmental justice and attention to
frontline communities. There is no way to open up 300 million acres to
new extraction without massively impacting communities of color, low-
income communities, and Tribal and indigenous communities.
These already-impacted communities would face additional pollution of
their air and water, additional impacts on their health and that of
their children.
My amendment seeks to avoid these unacceptable impacts, preventing
the Secretaries from leasing any land that would continue to increase
disproportionate burdens on already burdened communities.
We must stop putting pollution over people and put an end to the
cycles of exploitation that leave the most vulnerable facing avoidable
impacts.
Mr. Chair, I encourage all of my colleagues to support the
environmental justice amendment and to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the leasing
plan from including leasing where it would disproportionately burden
communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and indigenous
communities. However, current law allows for a process requiring
consultation with relevant agencies, Tribes, and communities.
This bill does nothing to change underlying leasing laws the
Department of the Interior is subject to, so I urge a ``no'' vote on
this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 57 Offered by Mr. Grijalva
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 57.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Exclusion.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall
not include oil and gas leasing on any federal lands that are
viable for renewable energy production.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arizona is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would ensure that this Big
Oil giveaway doesn't prevent America from leading the world in clean
energy production.
Rather than tethering ourselves to the energies of the past, we need
to move forward with the energy of the future. The President knows
that; my Democratic colleagues know that; and the American people know
that. It is time we all embrace clean energy deployment.
Instead, the bill before us today would support Big Oil and only Big
Oil, pushing the public off their lands while locking up acres that
could be used for wind, solar, and other clean technologies.
This bill gives away public lands and waters to oil companies and gas
corporations at a time when we should be taking urgent action to
address the climate crisis and transition away from fossil fuels.
Public lands have huge renewable energy potential. Offshore wind
alone could produce more than 2,000 gigawatts, nearly double the
Nation's electricity use in 2021.
Rather than embrace this opportunity, H.R. 21 would require land
managers to open lands to oil and gas but wouldn't consider other
potential uses, including renewable energy.
My amendment would close this gap, requiring the Secretaries to
consider the impacts to renewable deployment before leasing new lands
to the fossil fuel industry.
The American people want affordable, reliable energy. They aren't
interested in seeing Big Oil protect their record profits and increase
their profits
[[Page H380]]
while boxing out and locking out developing technologies. It is time to
stop prioritizing polluters over people and commit to a clean, just
energy transition.
Our public lands and waters have an important role to play in
reducing emissions, protecting the climate, and supporting communities.
We need to make sure that they are available for renewable energy
production and not locked up with fossil fuel companies.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the leasing
plan from including leasing on Federal lands that are viable for
renewable energy production.
This amendment is nothing more than an attempt to force the
government to pick winners and losers in the marketplace by mandating
only renewable production on certain lands. It is also shortsighted
given some of the serious environmental and land degradation concerns
the build-out of massive swaths of solar panels and wind turbines
create.
The intent of H.R. 21 is to protect the SPR and increase domestic
production of oil and gas. This would do the opposite.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 23 Offered by Mr. Thompson of California
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the
desk, No. 23.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 3, insert ``and Conservation'' before
``Response Act''.
Page 2, line 4, insert ``and conservation'' after
``increase''.
Page 2, line 15, strike ``plan to increase'' and insert
``plan--''.
Page 2, line 15, before ``the'' insert the following:
``(A) to increase
Page 2, line 25, strike the period at the end and insert
``; and''.
Page 2, after line 25, insert the following:
``(B) to offset any drawdowns of petroleum products in the
Reserve with measures that reduce the demand for oil.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes in support
of his amendment.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chair, my amendment would ensure that
any plan to respond to high prices with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
includes oil conservation measures which will save our constituents
money and strengthen our national security.
Reducing our country's reliance on oil reduces our economic and
security exposure to hostile foreign governments.
The Biden administration has successfully used the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve to lower prices for consumers following Russia's
despicable invasion of Ukraine and in response to OPEC's punitive oil
production cuts. In both cases, prices fell, and fell significantly,
following the administration's actions.
My amendment would give the administration another tool to reduce
prices and save money for our constituents. Policies that reduce oil
use by using it more efficiently or transitioning to other fuel sources
altogether benefit every American.
Having a plan with options that include boosting public
transportation ridership, encouraging teleworking, and speeding the
transition to using more electric vehicles would reduce our reliance on
oil and lower fuel prices.
Relying on oil companies to drill our way out of overreliance doesn't
make sense and will never deliver true energy independence. Oil
companies are sitting on 13 million acres and about 9,000 approved but
unused permits on public lands that aren't being used to produce gas or
oil.
We need to do everything we can to build on the success of the true
energy independence provisions secured in the landmark Inflation
Reduction Act to break our dependence on oil, to create jobs in our
country, and to strengthen our national security.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I do insist on the point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
Mr. WALBERG. The amendment violates clause 7 of rule XVI of the rules
of the House because it is not germane to the underlying bill.
Specifically, the bill limits the drawdown of petroleum in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a
plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production. The amendment would require the Secretary of Energy to
develop a plan to offset any drawdown of petroleum products in the
reserve with measures that reduce the demand for oil.
Measures to reduce the demand for oil is a different purpose for the
plan in H.R. 21. The amendment is not germane.
The Acting CHAIR. Are there any other Members who wish to speak on
the point of order?
The gentleman from California is recognized.
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I couldn't disagree more.
The whole purpose of this is to deal with providing a plan--that is the
underlying bill, to provide this plan--and the whole idea is to save
oil and gas and to reduce that. This amendment does that. It relies on
that plan.
As a matter of fact, it embellishes the plan to include other known
ways to save oil and gas. This is absolutely germane.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair is prepared to rule on the point of
order.
The gentleman from Michigan makes a point of order that the amendment
offered by the gentleman from California is not germane.
Clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule, provides that no
proposition on the subject different from that under consideration
shall be admitted under color of amendment.
The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed
a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for
oil and gas production. The amendment would add requirements to the
existing plan that apply more broadly to any drawdowns of petroleum
products in the reserve.
The Chair finds that the amendment goes beyond the subject matter of
the underlying bill. It is, therefore, not germane. The point of order
is sustained.
Amendment No. 89 Offered by Ms. DeGette
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 89.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 1, strike ``Limitation'' and insert
``Limitations''.
Page 3, line 2, strike ``shall not'' and insert ``shall--
''.
Page 3, line 2, strike ``provide for'' and insert the
following:
``(A) not provide for''.
Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent;
and''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) only allow for a lease or permit if accompanied by a
certification to the Secretary that it would not excessively
increase the sales price of any petroleum products during--
``(i) a severe energy supply interruption; or
``(ii) any period of decreased supply of petroleum
products.''.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The point of order is reserved.
[[Page H381]]
The gentlewoman from Colorado is recognized for 5 minutes in support
of her amendment.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chair, this amendment requires oil and gas companies
operating on our public lands to make one simple pledge to the American
people, that it won't gouge consumers at the pump.
It requires the Secretary of Energy to secure that commitment before
any new permit to increase production on our lands will be approved.
It would help prevent some of the damage that this disastrous bill
would do to our Nation's ability to address skyrocketing energy prices
in the country.
Frankly, the bill before us is nothing more than a shameless attempt
by my Republican colleagues to help increase drilling. If this bill
were titled correctly, it would be known as the big win for Big Oil
act, and it would come at a huge price for the American people.
As the chair of the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee in the last Congress, I have been on the front lines to
bring down gas prices in this country. I held a hearing last year with
the top executives from six of the Nation's largest oil producers to
have them explain why Americans were suddenly being asked to pay
record-high prices at the pump and why Americans should be forced to
provide their companies billions of dollars in subsidies each year when
they were reporting record-high profits and hardworking families were
struggling hard to fill up their cars.
Despite what the supporters of this bill will tell you, not one
executive at that hearing claimed that opening up Federal land for
drilling would lower prices at the pump. In fact, one executive at that
hearing even admitted that opening up more land to drilling in the
country would do nothing to bring the cost of gasoline down.
Why? Because there is nothing--and I repeat, nothing--preventing the
oil industry from expanding its production tomorrow if they wanted to.
They just choose not to because of profits.
The oil industry currently leases 26.6 million acres of Federal
lands. Less than half of that land under current lease, 12.7 acres, is
currently being used for production, so there is no relationship
between opening up more Federal lands for the production of oil and gas
and the price that Americans pay at the pump. None.
{time} 1630
Instead of helping to bring down prices for consumers, what this bill
does is it really makes it harder for future administrations to
respond.
It takes away the one tool that has been used effectively to help
alleviate the pain consumers were suddenly feeling this past summer and
the one tool we have to prevent it from happening again.
It prevents the President from releasing our Nation's oil reserves on
to the market during a crisis. It prevents the administration from
taking the steps necessary to curb excessive price increases that can
cause real harm to people, family, and businesses across this country.
If Republicans were serious about helping consumers, let's do it, but
let's do it explicitly.
Let's include in this bill a provision that will expressly prohibit
these companies from gouging consumers at the pump.
My amendment requires the Secretary of Energy to secure from any oil
company looking to increase production on Federal lands a commitment
that it will not excessively increase its prices during periods of
future disruption.
It gives the oil companies what the Republicans say the industry
wants, which is the ability to increase production on the public lands.
So all we ask for--all we ask for--Mr. Chairman, is a simple commitment
that they won't gouge consumers at the pump.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
I would urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment to the underlying
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, with all due respect, I insist upon my
point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, clause 7 of rule XVI prohibits the House
and its committees from considering nongermane amendments.
This amendment is not germane because it violates the subject matter
test of germaneness.
H.R. 21 proposes to limit the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a plan to
increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production.
This amendment would introduce a new subject matter into the bill.
Specifically, the amendment requests leases or permits issued to be
accompanied by a certification. This is about permit holders, not a
leasing plan. This idea should be judged on the merits in a separate
bill.
The CHAIR. Does any other Member wish to be heard on this point of
order?
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is focused on the
development of the plan in the underlying bill, and therefore, it is
germane. We actually narrowed this amendment so we didn't get into
actual implementation.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan makes a point of order
that the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado is not
germane.
Clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule, provides that no
proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall
be admitted under color of amendment.
The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed
a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for
oil and gas production.
The amendment would limit the availability of leases or permits under
the plan and thus have the effect of narrowing its application.
The Chair finds that the amendment is within the subject matter of
the underlying bill. It is, therefore, germane. The point of order is
overruled.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. WALBERG. H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by requiring any
nonemergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce American oil
resources. This amendment is unworkable as a matter of certification,
and if it were to work, it would lead to inhibiting the price signals
necessary for generating more supply.
The market economy allocating resources through supply and demand is
the best system for assuring affordable quality goods and depends on
prices to signal more supply. This amendment seeks to curtail price
signals for largely uneconomic messaging purposes.
This amendment undermines the purpose of the bill, and so, I urge a
``no'' vote on this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 50 Offered by Mrs. Torres of California
Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chairman, I have amendment No. 50 at
the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date this paragraph takes effect
described in paragraph (4)''.
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect on
the date on which the Secretary certifies that the oil and
gas leasing on Federal lands contemplated in the plan to be
developed under paragraph (1) is necessary to replenish the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the amount of petroleum
products held by the Reserve on February 23, 2022.''.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
[[Page H382]]
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an
amendment to the Strategic Production Response Act.
The purpose of this bill is to use our strategic national stockpile
of oil so that Big Oil can keep profiting at the expense of hardworking
families.
Let's remember, the purpose of the strategic stockpile is to protect
national security and to reduce prices at the pump for the American
people.
My amendment would require the Secretary of Energy to certify that
the plan to increase oil and gas leasing on Federal lands is necessary
to restore our stockpile to protect our national security. My amendment
would let this or any future administration have the flexibility it
needs if we reach another energy crisis.
When the people of my district and across the country were facing
sky-high prices at the gas pump, President Biden tapped into our
strategic stockpiles to ease the prices at the pump and gave working
families the financial help that they needed at the time when they
needed it.
Now, instead of protecting national security and helping reduce
inflation, Republicans are trying to take away the tools that we have
to help hardworking Americans.
Last Congress, Democrats passed several bills to reduce inflation:
Over 80,000 families with children in the Inland Empire received
monthly payments of up to $300 thanks to the child tax credit.
We also created good-paying jobs with the passage of a once-in-a-
generation infrastructure bill that invests in our construction and
transportation industries and ensures people have access to the
education and training necessary to secure good jobs.
We passed legislation to bring down the cost of healthcare, lower
prescription drug costs, cap the price of insulin and expanded coverage
for hearing aids, which would benefit everyone, especially the 85,000
Medicare-eligible seniors in my district.
Why are we here trying to pass a bill to help the Big Oil
corporations that will force Americans to pay more at the pump?
Republicans are so out of touch that they have put before us a bill
that ties the President's hands and restricts him from using the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve even if Americans desperately need the
help.
I ask my colleagues to vote in support of my amendment to require the
Energy Secretary to certify that this oil and gas drilling is necessary
to replenish the strategic stockpile because that is what we should be
focusing on, ensuring that we have the appropriate tools to protect our
national security and Americans' wallets, not the Big Oil corporations'
bottom line.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I withdraw my reservation of a
point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would condition
the enactment of the bill upon the Secretary of Energy certifying that
the leasing in the plan is necessary to get the SPR back to where it
was on February 23, 2022. This is nothing more than an attempt to delay
implementation of H.R. 21.
We cannot trust the Secretary of Energy to responsibly manage the SPR
and ensure it is adequately filled.
Under President Biden, the SPR has been depleted to its lowest level
since 1983. Two of the four caverns are nearly empty. The Biden
administration's plan is attacking American energy using every
regulatory tool available to drive the oil and gas industry out of
existence.
I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I support the underlying
bill, H.R. 21, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 85 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No.
85.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, strike lines 1 and 2 and insert the following:
``(2) Limitation.--
``(A) In general.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall
not provide for--
``(i) a total increase in
Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent;
or''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(ii) the financial benefit or participation of any entity
that has a contractual relationship with, or is owned,
controlled, or under the influence of, a foreign entity of
concern.
``(B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term `foreign
entity of concern' means--
``(i) the People's Republic of China;
``(ii) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
``(iii) the Russian Federation;
``(iv) the Islamic Republic of Iran; and
``(v) any other country the government of which is subject
to sanctions imposed by the United States.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment No. 85.
My amendment imposes important limits on any Department of Energy
plan so that our adversaries, including Iran, Russia, China, and North
Korea, can't capitalize on American domestic energy production.
We must take steps to ensure any plan involving a drawdown of our
Strategic Petroleum Reserve and any increase in energy production does
not benefit those doing business with or under the influence of nations
like China, Russia, terrorist Iran, or North Korea.
My amendment would put our national security first, ensuring that any
plan created under this bill would not financially benefit companies
owned by or contracted with these foreign entities.
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this
commonsense provision.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting Chair. The gentleman may not reserve the balance of his
time.
Mr. GOTTHEIMER: Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I insist upon my point of order
against amendment No. 85.
Clause 7 of rule XVI prohibits the House and its committees from
considering nongermane amendments. This amendment is not germane
because it violates the fundamental purpose test of germaneness.
The fundamental purpose of H.R. 21 is to require the Secretary to
develop a plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for
oil and gas production before the next drawdown of petroleum products
in the reserve.
The purpose of this amendment is to prevent financial benefit of our
enemies. It delves into limiting foreign exports and creates trade
prohibitions. Meanwhile, this simple bill before us proposes a mere
plan for leasing. It is purely domestic and purely at the Department of
Energy.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIR. Does any other Member wish to be heard on the point of
order?
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chairman, I believe my amendment is germane. It
narrows the scope of the bill. I ask for the ruling of the Chair,
please.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia makes a point of order
that the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey is not
germane.
Clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule, provides that no
proposition on a subject different from that under
[[Page H383]]
consideration shall be admitted under the color of amendment.
The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed
a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for
oil and gas production. The amendment would have the effect of
narrowing the application of the bill by excluding specific entities.
The Chair finds that the amendment is within the subject matter of
the underlying bill. It is, therefore, germane. The point of order is
overruled.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, 2 weeks ago, the House voted in
strong bipartisan support of the Protecting America's Strategic Reserve
From China Act. More than 100 Democrats voted in favor. Republicans
opposed sending SPR resources to our adversaries, and that is why we
are opposed to this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey
will be postponed.
{time} 1645
Amendment No. 86 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, beginning on line 6, amend paragraph (3) to read as
follows:
``(3) Consultation.--The Secretary shall, in consultation
with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the
Interior, and the Secretary of Defense--
``(A) prepare the plan required by paragraph (1); and
``(B) ensure such plan will not result in the sale of
petroleum products drawn down from the Reserve to Iran,
China, North Korea, or Russia.''.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Amendment 86. As
Russia's war on Ukraine continues and the brutality of the Iranian
regime remains on full display, I am concerned that H.R. 21 does not
properly protect from the terrifying prospect of oil from our Strategic
Petroleum Reserve ending up in the wrong hands.
My amendment requires the Secretary of Energy consults with the
Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior on a plan for
Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown and ensures that any strategic
reserve drawdown does not result in a sale to Iran, North Korea, China,
or Russia.
This amendment would allow for the Defense Department and other
relevant agencies to have a say in any plan, given the national
security implications.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may not reserve. Does the
gentleman yield back?
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, as Congress considers reforms to the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, I rise once again to urge my colleagues to
close a dangerous loophole that has existed since 2015, which allows
our foreign adversaries to purchase our strategic oil supply.
As the law is currently written, oil from the SPR is sold by the
Department of Energy to our highest bidders with little exceptions on
what countries can purchase the U.S. supply.
That means that our fiercest adversaries like China and also Russia,
Iran, and North Korea and other sanctioned governments can purchase and
export our strategic oil.
In fact, Chinese-owned and affiliated companies have won purchase
contracts during the past Presidential administrations.
Simply put, this loophole is threatening to our national security. It
poses threats to our American families. The American people need to act
quickly.
That is why, 2 weeks ago, I reached across the aisle to reintroduce a
bill that my colleague, Representative Don Bacon, and I have that
addresses this issue.
It is called the Banning Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act. This
bill is straightforward, and it is common sense. It prohibits the
export or sale of the SPR to China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, and any
country currently under U.S. sanctions.
Last week, my colleagues and I voted to pass a bill through the House
that would prohibit the sale of our reserve to China, but that
legislation does not go far enough.
Do we want North Korea buying oil? How about Iran or Russia?
It is clear that this bill remains the most comprehensive and
bipartisan policy that has been put forward, and it now has more than
60 bipartisan cosponsors.
As a veteran and one of the most bipartisan Members of this body, my
position remains clear: We need to put our national security over party
politics. We have to ensure that our foreign adversaries are not
allowed to profit at the expense of America and our safety and
security.
I thank Mr. Gottheimer for his support for this legislation as an
original cosponsor. This amendment we are speaking of right now
reflects the fact that Congress has so much more work to do to close
this loophole.
I urge our colleagues, Republicans and Democrats alike, to support
the bipartisan Banning Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act.
Let's send this legislation through in proper order, strengthen it,
and work together to get it signed into law.
Once again, I thank Mr. Gottheimer for his commitment to this cause.
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of a
point of order, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 129 Offered by Mr. Cohen
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 24, strike ``limitation'' and insert
``limitations''.
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 5, and insert the following:
``(2) Limitations.--
``(A) Total increase.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall not provide for a total increase in the percentage of
Federal lands described in paragraph (1) leased for oil and
gas production in excess of 10 percent.
``(B) Impact on air quality.--The plan required by
paragraph (1) shall not provide for any entity to engage in
oil or gas production activities on Federal lands described
in paragraph (1) leased for oil and gas production as a
result of such plan unless such activities will not
negatively impact air quality.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from Tennessee is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chair, my amendment would prevent any new oil and gas
production under the proposed plan if those activities will have a
negative effect on the air quality.
I am a strong proponent of efforts to lower energy costs, promote
energy independence, and create a stronger, more secure economy.
[[Page H384]]
I recognize this will take a multifaceted approach, but it must
include more investment in renewable energy sources and a smart
transition away from oil and gas.
The fact is, for the past couple of decades the Federal Government
has issued far more drilling permits than oil and gas companies have
acted upon.
Nearly 80 percent of offshore oil is in areas that are already open
for exploration, according to the National Resources Defense Council.
Oil and gas drilling is a dirty business, and we should think long
and hard before we invite more of it on our Federal lands.
Drilling releases several pollutants that are making our air more
smoggy and more dirty and harmful to breathe.
The toxic particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, ozone,
and volatile organic compounds released by oil and gas drilling can
lead to many poor health outcomes, including premature births, asthma,
and heart disease.
It is often low-income and minority communities that bear the brunt
of these awful effects. We should continue the work of the Inflation
Reduction Act and create a new clean energy economy and not move
backward with an empty political gesture that will ultimately do little
to address oil and gas prices and our energy security and independence.
I might note that Exxon did a study in the early 1970s on these
issues, and their scientists found that what has occurred with fossil
fuels and the effect on our climate and our air was accurately
predicted 50 years ago, but they didn't release it.
It has been found that what they predicted was almost exact, 50 years
ago, on what this would do to our world climate, but they didn't
release it.
We must protect our environment and the health of our current and
future generations from the toxic effects of fossil fuel production.
Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I withdraw my reservation of a
point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to
the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, this amendment prohibits an
entity from providing oil and gas to fill the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve as part of the Secretary's plan if those activities will
negatively impact air quality. Yet, the amendment does not define
negative impact.
Under this amendment, you could have 1 hour of emissions increases
that are below Federal requirements for air quality, and you would be
disqualified under this bill.
The oil and gas industry has made great strides in reducing the
emissions of their operations.
This amendment is creating an extralegal and difficult to ascertain
and comply with standard that will prevent us from being energy secure
for real emergencies.
Let's not forget that we produce American energy in the most
environmentally responsible way, and our environmental standards are
the highest in the world.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mr. Robert Garcia of California
Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at
the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date this paragraph takes effect
described in paragraph (4)''.
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect on
the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress a
certification that any increase in the percentage of Federal
lands (including submerged lands of the Outer Continental
Shelf) leased for oil and gas production pursuant to the plan
required by paragraph (1) will not result in an increase in
greenhouse gas emissions.''.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chair, releasing our Strategic
Petroleum Reserves helps us respond to emergencies, supply chain
disruptions, and disasters, and have been utilized by Presidents of
both parties, including the former administration.
Today, thanks to President Biden's use of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve, gas prices are down, saving the average family $170 a month.
While consumers are just now recovering from record costs and getting
back on their feet, oil and gas companies are sitting on billions of
dollars and thousands of unused but approved permits that they could be
using to boost production right now.
The last thing these oil companies need is more Federal land while
they sit back and watch the American people suffer.
This bill will not make energy cheaper, but it will harm our planet.
If we want our children to have a future, we must fight for climate
justice.
To my Republican colleagues from California, this bill could result
in leasing Federal land on the Outer Continental Shelf, including our
very own coasts here in California.
Will you vote to endanger our beautiful coastline back home? Will you
vote to jeopardize the jobs that our coastal economy provides?
This Republican bill puts polluters ahead of the American people. Our
planet is in distress. Storms are getting stronger, faster, and more
powerful, while wildfires take lives and destroy homes, and floods
devastate crops and communities throughout our Nation.
While Republicans in Congress sit back and do nothing to address the
climate crisis, Democrats know that we must act.
That is why I am introducing an amendment, which blocks
implementation of this bill until the Secretary of Energy certifies to
Congress that leasing will not increase harmful greenhouse gas
pollution.
My amendment would stop this Republican giveaway to big polluters in
its tracks. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for the planet,
``yes'' for our children's future, and ``yes'' for this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of a
point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would condition
enactment of the bill upon the Secretary of Energy certifying that
increasing lands leased for production will not result in increased
greenhouse gas emissions.
I know you find this hard to believe, but this is another attempt to
delay the implementation of H.R. 21. I am afraid that this amendment is
not sincere.
Since day one of the Biden administration, Democrats have attempted
to block fossil fuel projects at every turn.
As gasoline prices surged out of control, the administration raided
the SPR--raided the SPR--selling oil to China while begging our
adversaries in OPEC and Russia to produce more oil.
This amendment would double down on that, while also making it more
difficult for us to assess our resources to develop a plan to refill
the reserve in case of a legitimate emergency.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I support the
underlying bill, H.R. 21, and I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H385]]
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Garcia).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
{time} 1700
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings
will now resume on those amendments on which further proceedings were
postponed, in the following order:
Amendment No. 11 by Ms. Tlaib of Michigan.
Amendment No. 71 by Ms. Blunt Rochester of Delaware.
Amendment No. 3 by Ms. Castor of Florida.
Amendment No. 104 by Mr. Pallone of New Jersey.
Amendment No. 133 by Ms. Mace of South Carolina.
Amendment No. 2 by Ms. Greene of Georgia.
Amendment No. 44 by Mr. Soto of Florida.
Amendment No. 33 by Mrs. Boebert of Colorado.
Amendment No. 29 by Ms. Spanberger of Virginia.
Amendment No. 15 by Mr. Huffman of California.
Amendment No. 65 by Mr. Huffman of California.
Amendment No. 26 by Mr. Panetta of California.
Amendment No. 18 by Mr. Levin of California.
Amendment No. 7 by Ms. DelBene of Washington.
Amendment No. 21 by Mr. Levin of California.
Amendment No. 55 by Mr. Grijalva of Arizona.
Amendment No. 56 by Mr. Grijalva of Arizona.
Amendment No. 57 by Mr. Grijalva of Arizona.
Amendment No. 89 by Ms. DeGette of Colorado.
Amendment No. 50 by Mrs. Torres of California.
Amendment No. 85 by Mr. Gottheimer of New Jersey.
Amendment No. 86 by Mr. Gottheimer of New Jersey.
Amendment No. 129 by Mr. Cohen of Tennessee.
Amendment No. 53 by Mr. Robert Garcia of California.
The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes the minimum time for any
electronic vote after the first vote in this series.
The Chair will say again: The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes the
minimum time for any electronic vote after the first vote in this
series.
Amendment No. 11 Offered by Ms. Tlaib
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan
(Ms. Tlaib) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This first vote is a 15-minute vote. All subsequent
votes will be votes in duration of only 2 minutes. Be so advised.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 205,
noes 220, not voting 15, as follows:
[Roll No. 37]
AYES--205
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
NOES--220
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McCormick
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perez
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--15
Bonamici
Cherfilus-McCormick
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
LaMalfa
McClain
McHenry
Molinaro
Moore (WI)
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Wilson (FL)
{time} 1723
Messrs. BEAN of Florida, NUNN of Iowa, BERGMAN, HUDSON, Mmes. WAGNER,
SPARTZ, Messrs. HUIZENGA and DUNCAN changed their vote from ``aye'' to
``no.''
Ms. SCANLON changed her vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
[[Page H386]]
Amendment No. 71 Offered by Ms. Blunt Rochester
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Delaware
(Ms. Blunt Rochester) on which further proceedings were postponed and
on which the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 218, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 38]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--218
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCarthy
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--9
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
McHenry
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1727
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 3 Offered by Ms. Castor of Florida
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida
(Ms. Castor) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 214,
noes 219, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 39]
AYES--214
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gaetz
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
[[Page H387]]
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--219
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCarthy
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1732
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 104 Offered by Mr. Pallone
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Pallone) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 214,
noes 219, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 40]
AYES--214
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--219
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCarthy
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1735
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 133 Offered by Ms. Mace
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded
[[Page H388]]
vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from South Carolina
(Ms. Mace) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the
ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 389,
noes 42, not voting 8, as follows:
[Roll No. 41]
AYES--389
Adams
Aguilar
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Auchincloss
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Balint
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bean (FL)
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bost
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Bucshon
Budzinski
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Bush
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carbajal
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Ciscomani
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Cole
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davidson
Davis (IL)
De La Cruz
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Donalds
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ezell
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flood
Foster
Foushee
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Frost
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Mike
Garcia, Robert
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (MO)
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Grothman
Guthrie
Hageman
Harder (CA)
Harris
Harshbarger
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Horsford
Houchin
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Huizenga
Issa
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
James
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Kean (NJ)
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kiggans (VA)
Kildee
Kiley
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Landsman
Langworthy
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (CA)
Lee (FL)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Lesko
Letlow
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Massie
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCaul
McClain
McCollum
McCormick
McGarvey
McGovern
McHenry
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nehls
Newhouse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ocasio-Cortez
Ogles
Omar
Owens
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Pence
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Ross
Rouzer
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Salazar
Salinas
Sanchez
Santos
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Self
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Stansbury
Stanton
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Tenney
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Timmons
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOES--42
Aderholt
Biggs
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Brecheen
Buck
Cardenas
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Collins
Comer
Crane
Davis (NC)
Duarte
Duncan
Fallon
Fletcher
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Graves (LA)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Guest
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Loudermilk
McClintock
Miller (IL)
Moore (WI)
Norman
Perry
Plaskett
Rosendale
Roy
Schweikert
Sessions
Stauber
Tiffany
Waters
NOT VOTING--8
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hudson
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1738
Ms. PLASKETT changed her vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
Ms. SCANLON changed her vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 2 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Georgia
(Ms. Greene) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 14,
noes 418, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 42]
AYES--14
Bishop (NC)
Brecheen
Burlison
Cloud
Gaetz
Greene (GA)
Grothman
Massie
Miller (IL)
Ogles
Perry
Roy
Santos
Tiffany
NOES--418
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Auchincloss
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Balint
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bean (FL)
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Boebert
Bost
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budzinski
Burchett
Burgess
Bush
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Ciscomani
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Cline
Clyburn
Clyde
Cohen
Cole
Collins
Comer
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davidson
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foster
Foushee
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Frost
Fry
Fulcher
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Mike
Garcia, Robert
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green, Al (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harder (CA)
Harris
Harshbarger
Hayes
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Horsford
Houchin
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Hudson
[[Page H389]]
Huffman
Huizenga
Issa
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
James
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Kean (NJ)
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kiggans (VA)
Kildee
Kiley
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Landsman
Langworthy
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (CA)
Lee (FL)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Lesko
Letlow
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCollum
McCormick
McGarvey
McGovern
McHenry
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Moran
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nehls
Newhouse
Nickel
Norcross
Norman
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Owens
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Pence
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Ross
Rouzer
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Salazar
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Self
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Stansbury
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Tenney
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Timmons
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting Chair (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1742
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Soto
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida
(Mr. Soto) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the
noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 218, not voting 8, as follows:
[Roll No. 43]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--218
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--8
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Porter
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting Chair (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1745
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 33 Offered by Mrs. Boebert
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the
[[Page H390]]
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert) on which further proceedings
were postponed and on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 220,
noes 212, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 44]
AYES--220
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Costa
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Peltola
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOES--212
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting Chair (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1748
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 29 Offered by Ms. Spanberger
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia
(Ms. Spanberger) on which further proceedings were postponed and on
which the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 218, not voting 8, as follows:
[Roll No. 45]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
[[Page H391]]
NOES--218
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Costa
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--8
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Jordan
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting Chair (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1751
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
amendment no. 15 offered by mr. huffman
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Huffman) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 212,
noes 218, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 46]
AYES--212
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--218
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--9
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Garcia, Robert
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Johnson (OH)
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting Chair (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1754
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 65 Offered by Mr. Huffman
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Huffman) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
[[Page H392]]
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 205,
noes 225, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 47]
AYES--205
Adams
Aguilar
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--225
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perez
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--9
Bonamici
Costa
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Nunn (IA)
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1757
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 26 Offered by Mr. Panetta
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Panetta) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 218, not voting 8, as follows:
[Roll No. 48]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--218
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
[[Page H393]]
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--8
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
LaHood
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1800
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Levin
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Levin) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 218, not voting 8, as follows:
[Roll No. 49]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--218
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--8
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Smith (NJ)
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1803
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 7 Offered by Ms. DelBene
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from
Washington (Ms. DelBene) on which further proceedings were postponed
and on which the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
[[Page H394]]
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 219, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 50]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--219
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1806
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mr. Levin
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Levin) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 210,
noes 222, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 51]
AYES--210
Adams
Aguilar
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--222
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
[[Page H395]]
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1809
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 55 Offered by Mr. Grijalva
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona
(Mr. Grijalva) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 219, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 52]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--219
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1812
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 56 Offered by Mr. Grijalva
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona
(Mr. Grijalva) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 213,
noes 219, not voting 7, as follows:
[[Page H396]]
[Roll No. 53]
AYES--213
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--219
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perez
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1815
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 57 Offered by Mr. Grijalva
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona
(Mr. Grijalva) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 197,
noes 235, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 54]
AYES--197
Adams
Aguilar
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Bush
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Crockett
Crow
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--235
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budzinski
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Costa
Craig
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Deluzio
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
[[Page H397]]
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pappas
Pence
Perez
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Vasquez
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1818
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 89 Offered by Ms. DeGette
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado
(Ms. DeGette) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 212,
noes 220, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 55]
AYES--212
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--220
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Peltola
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1821
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 50 Offered by Mrs. Torres of California
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Torres) on which further proceedings were postponed
and on which the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 204,
noes 228, not voting 7, as follows:
[[Page H398]]
[Roll No. 56]
AYES--204
Adams
Aguilar
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--228
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Costa
Craig
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Gonzales, Tony
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Moskowitz
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Peltola
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1824
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 85 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Gottheimer) on which further proceedings were postponed and on
which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 419,
noes 13, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 57]
AYES--419
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Auchincloss
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Balint
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bean (FL)
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NC)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Boebert
Bost
Boyle (PA)
Brecheen
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budzinski
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Ciscomani
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Cline
Cloud
Clyburn
Clyde
Cohen
Cole
Collins
Comer
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davidson
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foster
Foushee
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Frost
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Mike
Garcia, Robert
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green, Al (TX)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harder (CA)
Harris
Harshbarger
Hayes
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Horsford
Houchin
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
James
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kaptur
Kean (NJ)
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kiggans (VA)
Kildee
Kiley
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Landsman
Langworthy
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (CA)
Lee (FL)
Lee (NV)
Leger Fernandez
Lesko
Letlow
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCollum
McCormick
McGarvey
McGovern
McHenry
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Moran
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nehls
[[Page H399]]
Newhouse
Nickel
Norcross
Norman
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Pence
Perez
Perry
Peters
Pettersen
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Ross
Rouzer
Roy
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Salazar
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Self
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Stansbury
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Tenney
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (NY)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOES--13
Bowman
Bush
Casten
Huffman
Kamlager-Dove
Lee (PA)
Massie
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Santos
Schakowsky
Underwood
Williams (TX)
NOT VOTING--7
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1828
Messrs. JOHNSON of Louisiana and BISHOP of North Carolina change
their votes from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 86 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Gottheimer) on which further proceedings were postponed and on
which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 418,
noes 12, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 58]
AYES--418
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Auchincloss
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Balint
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NC)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Boebert
Bost
Boyle (PA)
Brecheen
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budzinski
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Ciscomani
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Cline
Cloud
Clyburn
Clyde
Cohen
Cole
Collins
Comer
Connolly
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davidson
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foster
Foushee
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Frost
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Mike
Garcia, Robert
Gimenez
Goldman (NY)
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green, Al (TX)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harder (CA)
Harris
Harshbarger
Hayes
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Horsford
Houchin
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
James
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kaptur
Kean (NJ)
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kiggans (VA)
Kildee
Kiley
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Landsman
Langworthy
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (CA)
Lee (FL)
Lee (NV)
Leger Fernandez
Lesko
Letlow
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCollum
McCormick
McGarvey
McGovern
McHenry
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Moran
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nehls
Newhouse
Nickel
Norcross
Norman
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Pence
Perez
Perry
Peters
Pettersen
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Ross
Rouzer
Roy
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Salazar
Salinas
Sanchez
Santos
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Self
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Stansbury
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Tenney
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOES--12
Bowman
Bush
Casten
Gomez
Grijalva
Huffman
Kamlager-Dove
Lee (PA)
Massie
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Schweikert
NOT VOTING--9
Barragan
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Golden (ME)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1830
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 129 Offered by Mr. Cohen
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee
(Mr. Cohen) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 199,
noes 232, not voting 8, as follows:
[[Page H400]]
[Roll No. 59]
AYES--199
Adams
Aguilar
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Gomez
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--232
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Costa
Craig
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Deluzio
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Moskowitz
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Peltola
Pence
Perez
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wild
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--8
Bonamici
Garcia (IL)
Goldman (NY)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1833
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mr. Robert Garcia of California
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Robert Garcia) on which further proceedings were postponed and on
which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 199,
noes 230, not voting 10, as follows:
[Roll No. 60]
AYES--199
Adams
Aguilar
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Correa
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Matsui
McBath
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--230
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davidson
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
[[Page H401]]
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perez
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wild
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--10
Bonamici
Crane
Garcia (IL)
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Grijalva
Hunt
Moylan
Radewagen
Steube
Trahan
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1837
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I regret to inform you that I was unable to
attend today's legislative session. Had I been present, I would have
voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 37, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 38, ``yea''
on rollcall No. 39, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 40, ``yea'' on rollcall No.
41, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 42, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 43, ``nay'' on
rollcall No. 44, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 45, ``yea'' on rollcall No.
46, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 47, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 48, ``yea'' on
rollcall No. 49, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 50, ``yea'' on rollcall No.
51, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 52, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 53, ``yea'' on
rollcall No. 54, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 55, ``yea'' on rollcall No.
56, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 57, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 58, ``yea'' on
rollcall No. 59, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 60.
{time} 1845
Amendment No. 84 Offered by Ms. Lee of California
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Amodei). The Clerk will designate the
amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date this paragraph takes effect
described in paragraph (4)''.
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect on
the date that the Secretary certifies that any increase in
the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production pursuant to paragraph (1) would not perpetuate
environmental injustice.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 21, which would
prevent increased drilling on Federal lands under this act until the
Secretary of Energy certifies that it would not perpetrate
environmental injustice.
Let me just thank, first of all, Ranking Member Pallone for his
leadership and support in advancing this amendment.
My amendment is very simple. It prohibits increases in the percentage
of Federal lands leased for oil and gas production under this act, if
that new drilling would perpetuate environmental injustice.
Environmental justice is the right to a safe, healthy, productive,
and sustainable environment for all, regardless of race, class, income,
or background.
For too long, we have overlooked the impact of environmental issues
on underserved communities in this country. EPA data shows that people
of color are much more likely to live near polluters and breathe
polluted air. For instance, asthma, which is often caused by a
particular pollution, impacts approximately 13.4 percent of African-
American children, compared to only 7.3 percent of White children.
But all low-income people and communities, and especially in poor
communities, all communities deserve to be safe from environmental
health impacts, and people of all races confront environmental
injustice.
Rural communities are also adversely impacted by mining pollution and
contaminated air and groundwater. Environmental injustices impact all
of us; from urban centers to rural regions.
In my home State of California, we are experiencing the climate
emergency firsthand. We know that these unprecedented fires are driven
by climate change. Preventing harmful oil and gas drilling, especially
when it harms those already most vulnerable, will help get us back on
the path to justice.
This amendment builds off of the A. Donald McEachin, our beloved late
colleague, his Environmental Justice for All Act, that I am proud to
co-lead with Ranking Member Grijalva, which sets the stage to begin
addressing the long history of environmental racism and injustice in
the United States.
Mr. Chairman, this fight for environmental justice is also very
personal for me. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, under the
shadow of the smokestacks of the Asarco copper smelter. Myself, my
friends, my neighbors, we were constantly exposed to toxic chemicals. I
watched so many people close to me, including family members, suffer
with major health challenges because of lead that spewed from that
plant.
In the 1970s, the CDC found that 62 percent of children under 10
living near the plant where I lived had toxic levels of lead in their
blood. Even after the smelter was shut down, I think it was, like,
2013, it took decades before any of the residents harmed saw any sort
of justice.
Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record an article titled: ``Before
Flint, Before East Chicago, There Was Smeltertown.''
[From NRDC, Nov. 29, 2016]
Before Flint, Before East Chicago, There Was Smeltertown
(By Lauren Villagran)
After a 1970s CDC study showed that the mostly Mexican-
American population of this Texas town had dangerously high
blood lead levels, its buildings were demolished and its
residents were booted.
The Smelter Cemetery sits high atop a desert arroyo between
Interstate 10 and the Mexican border in El Paso. Its wind-
worn wooden crosses are almost all that remain of a community
that sprang up more than a century ago next to an Asarco lead
smelter on the banks of the Rio Grande.
The stone-pile graves bear testament to the history of this
place called Smeltertown. At one time it was a village of
more than 2,500 people, most of them Mexican immigrants who
built their lives on company land in the shadow of the
smelter's smokestacks that would poison their air, their
land, and their children. And almost as soon as the
contamination became known in the 1970s, the community of
Smeltertown was erased: its buildings demolished, its people
forced out.
Now, the men and women who lived and worked in Smeltertown,
their children, and their children's children reunite each
year. Many still live in El Paso, in neighborhoods that
cropped up as Smeltertown was torn down. Others travel from
California, the East Coast, and abroad. They come together to
reweave the social fabric of Smeltertown by sharing memories
and retelling stories they all know by heart. They celebrate
their old hometown despite the dangers it posed to their
families.
Seminal research done on Smeltertown in the 1970s by the
Centers for Disease Control found that 62 percent of children
10 and under living within one mile of the smelter had blood
lead levels considered to be ``evidence of undue lead
absorption.'' The residents of Smeltertown would be the first
American community to face the grim prospect of lead exposure
and its consequences--but they wouldn't be the last. The
communities of Flint, Michigan, the West Calumet Housing
Complex in East Chicago, Indiana, and the schools in Newark,
New Jersey, are just three of the most recent examples. But
the CDC estimates that at least half a million children in
the United States have elevated blood lead levels--and many
of them may not even know it.
[[Page H402]]
A Company Town
The American Smelting and Refining Company owned a smelter
in El Paso that, starting in 1910, refined hundreds of
thousands of tons of lead and copper harvested from its mines
in Mexico. It did so with the help of ``an army of Mexican
contract workers,'' according to University of Houston
associate professor of history Monica Perales in her book
Smeltertown: Making and Remembering a Southwest Border
Community.
Mexican workers who labored in Asarco mines began migrating
north, lured by that new operation on the U.S. side of the
border. Many settled on company land below the foothills of
Mt. Cristo Rey. In the early years of the 20th century,
Smeltertown lay outside El Paso city limits, a few miles from
the city's downtown. Divided into an upper section, El Alto,
where the Anglo managers lived, and a lower section, El Bajo,
where the Mexican workers lived, Smeltertown had its own post
office, butcher shop, bakery, cantinas, a theater, San Jose
Catholic parish, a YMCA, a public elementary school, and the
Smelter Vocational School.
Smeltertown was a quintessential company town, in which the
company could be both benefactor and tyrant. Former residents
say Asarco paid well, better than many other employers of the
working class. And yet poverty in Smeltertown could be
extreme. Residents built and invested in their homes, but the
company owned the land; few families could afford cars; many
relied on outhouses into the 1960s. ``As in other single-
industry towns, Smeltertown's residents fashioned their own
way of life in the world the company made, one marked by
inequality, racial segregation, and corporate paternalism,''
Perales writes. The community would flourish for 70 years
under the plumes of the smelter's twin smokestacks, ignorant
of the pervasive danger.
``A Silent Poison''
In March 1971, a team of Epidemic Intelligence Service
officers from the CDC arrived to investigate lead exposure
connected to the Asarco smelter.
Dr. Bernard Rosenblum, the El Paso City-County health
commissioner, had called the CDC after his department
discovered that Asarco was discharging large quantities of
lead and other metallic wastes into the air. Between 1969 and
1971, the smelter's stacks had spewed more than 1,000 tons of
lead, 560 tons of zinc, 12 tons of cadmium, and 1.2 tons of
arsenic into the atmosphere. Soil studies showed the highest
concentrations of lead and other metals in surface soil
closest to the smelter--essentially, in Smeltertown. The city
of El Paso was suing Asarco on the basis of those findings
alone, but Rosenblum wanted to know more. He was worried
about the health of the kids. (OnEarth made several attempts
to reach Asarco and its parent company, Grupo Mexico, for
comment without success.)
The CDC team, led by a 29-year-old pediatrician named
Philip Landrigan, began to explore a subject about which
precious little was known: lead toxicity, especially its
effects on children. Landrigan, now a pediatrician and
epidemiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, says,
``The notion that lead could be toxic at lower levels was
extremely new at that time. Up until 1970 and continuing for
years, people believed you didn't have to worry about lead
unless it was so high that it made a child seriously sick.
The whole idea that lead in the body could be a silent poison
was a new concept.''
Landrigan and the CDC team first looked at whether
environmental contamination would be reflected in human blood
lead levels over three months. The results were startling:
Although they found no cases of overt lead poisoning, 43
percent of people in all age groups and 62 percent of
children 10 and under living within one mile of the smelter
had blood lead levels of at least 40 micrograms per
deciliter. That's eight times the level at which the CDC
recommends a full-fledged public health response today.
Landrigan quickly followed up with a second study in
Smeltertown in 1972, examining the health consequences of
lead exposure in children. The CDC team administered IQ tests
and a finger-tapping test of physical reflexes to the
Smeltertown kids with elevated blood levels; a control group
of children with blood lead levels below 40 micrograms per
deciliter was also tested. The study found that children with
elevated blood lead levels tested as many as seven points
lower on the IQ test than the control group; they also showed
much slower reaction times on the physical reflexes test.
Ms. LEE of California. I am not going to quit until all of my
colleagues understand the human consequences of environmental
discrimination. I ask my colleagues to consider the people, the
families, who every day bear the unequal and unjust consequences of our
addiction to fossil fuels.
As President Biden has said, justice must be at the heart of our
response, and my amendment does just that.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by
requiring any nonemergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce
American oil resources.
Energy security, based on energy abundance, leads to reliable, clean,
and affordable delivery of energy. This is fundamental for our jobs,
our economic health, for communities striving for better opportunities.
It reduces energy poverty and improves health and welfare.
This amendment really is an unnecessary messaging exercise. There is
no reason to delay implementation of this, so let's focus on results
for Americans.
I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I yield back the balance of
my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 76 Offered by Mr. Payne
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end, add the following:
SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL
INJUSTICE.
Nothing in this Act, or the amendment made by this Act, may
be construed to controvert the fact that communities of color
and low-wealth communities face the greatest harms due to
climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, my amendment affirms that minority and low-
income communities disproportionately bear the costs of climate change.
If this misguided bill were to become law, the increased emissions
from oil and gas drilling would increase greenhouse gas emissions,
further exacerbating climate change. Most of the impact would fall on
these vulnerable communities.
This is something we know all too well in my district. In Newark,
minority communities have been dealing with runoff, waste, and
pollution for over a century.
In 2021, EPA scientists confirmed that minorities are 40 percent more
likely to live in areas with extreme temperature-related deaths and 34
percent more likely to live in areas with high concentrations of
childhood asthma.
Extreme weather events also threaten these communities. Black
Americans are 10 percent more likely to live in inland floodplains.
Latinos are 43 percent more likely to work in industries vulnerable to
heat-related deaths, and low-income Americans are projected to
experience a 7 percent increase in premature deaths due to global
warming.
The dangers of extreme weather were made clear for my district during
the Tropical Storm Ida floods in 2021. It was the poorest communities
in my district that experienced the worst damages from the floods that
filled people's homes and apartments. That is why this amendment is
necessary.
We know that more drilling increases greenhouse gas emissions. We
know that more greenhouse gas emissions exacerbates global warming; and
we know that negative impacts of this will continue to fall on minority
and low-income communities.
My amendment simply reaffirms what we already know and ensures that
everyone who votes for this bill also says publicly that they know they
are voting for more pollution for the most vulnerable communities in
our Nation.
I urge all Members to support this amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is really about strengthening the SPR
by requiring nonemergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce
American oil resources. Increased supply of
[[Page H403]]
American-produced energy lowers costs for all Americans.
Energy security provides all communities with reliable, clean, and
affordable energy. This is fundamental for our jobs, economic health,
and for communities to strive for better opportunities.
It reduces energy poverty. Lower-income households pay a higher
percentage of their income for energy. Lower costs help everyone.
Greater supplies lower costs, and create jobs here in America with
American-produced energy resources.
This amendment misses the point. It is an unnecessary messaging
exercise. Let's focus on results for Americans, American jobs, American
energy.
I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 59 Offered by Mr. Magaziner
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed as impacting the authority of the President or
the Secretary of Energy to initiate a drawdown of petroleum
products from the Reserve in order to lower gas prices.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Rhode Island is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve is a critical and commonsense strategy that is helping to lower
the price of energy for working Rhode Islanders and for all Americans.
In my State, and across the country, people have been struggling to
keep up with energy costs. We all hear it from our constituents. They
are struggling with the cost of gas, with the cost of oil, with the
cost of heating their homes.
Many of us campaigned on doing something about it, which is why it
boggles the mind that the Republican leadership has not yet brought us
a single bill to tackle lowering energy costs for consumers and, in
fact, is, instead, introducing a bill to restrict one of the tools the
administration has to lower energy costs.
Who stands to benefit from this attempt to restrict the ability of
the President to utilize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with
unnecessary red tape? Certainly not consumers; certainly not people in
my State who are struggling with the cost of energy.
No. This bill puts oil company profits ahead of working people
struggling to keep up with inflation.
{time} 1900
My amendment is a simple one. It states that this bill, if it should
pass, cannot restrict the ability of the President to utilize the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gas prices for consumers.
I have heard the other side say that there is already an exception in
the bill to allow for emergencies, but that is not entirely accurate.
As it is written, the exception is narrow. It only applies to supply
disruptions. There are many other things that can cause prices to
spike, and there is no protection in those situations.
This amendment is drawing a line in the sand. On one side stand the
oil companies and their profits. On the other side are the working
people of our districts, who are struggling to keep up with the cost of
energy.
This is a moment for every Member of this Chamber to show which side
we are on.
I ask my colleagues to support this amendment to show that we stand
with working people who are struggling with energy costs as opposed to
just the Big Oil companies and their precious profits.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, this is a messaging amendment. We saw the
President draw down the SPR in order to lower gas prices. That is not
the purpose of the SPR. The SPR is not a political tool to be
implemented with a drawdown right before an election.
This was a blip on the radar for lowering gas prices for our
constituents.
The SPR was designed for emergencies for this Nation, whether there
is a hurricane hitting Louisiana or a war. That is the purpose of the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It is not just a reserve that the
President can tap into to influence elections and lower gas prices for
folks. The way to do that is to increase American energy production in
this country.
We are blessed in this Nation with abundant natural resources, but
apparently, we are cursed by liberal politicians who don't want us to
tap into those abundant resources that will help the quality of life of
people not only in America but by exporting some of those resources to
people across the globe, you can improve the quality of lives for
people around the world.
Yet, we saw a drawdown of the SPR to temporarily lower prices. That
was wrong. Emergencies only.
When we draw it down, we ought to produce American energy and refill
it, not buy oil from OPEC or adversaries using American resources,
again, that we are blessed with in this Nation.
This amendment will allow the Department of Energy, the
administration, to continue abusing something that wasn't intended for
that, and that is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We use SPR; we can
call it SPR. We can try to downplay the intended purpose, strategic
purposes, to help Americans at a time when it is needed. That is in a
time of emergency.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Rhode Island
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 58 Offered by Mr. Magaziner
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 58.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date this paragraph takes effect
described in paragraph (4)''.
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall not take effect
until the date on which the Secretary determines that
implementation of paragraph (1) will not negatively affect
consumers the homes of which are heated using heating oil or
other petroleum-based fuels.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Rhode Island is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, it is winter, and in Rhode Island, in my
State, one-third of our households rely on oil to heat their homes. In
response to increased energy prices, the Biden administration has
released oil from the strategic reserve to provide much-needed relief
to families who are worried about heating their homes this winter.
My colleague across the aisle is correct. Extreme weather events like
blizzards and cold snaps are emergencies that are legitimate uses of
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but now, in one of the first acts of
this Congress, the leadership on the other side has introduced a bill
that will restrict the ability of the administration to lower energy
costs for working Americans by introducing unnecessary red tape into
the process.
People are struggling to heat their homes this winter in my State and
in States all across the country, so I am
[[Page H404]]
offering an amendment that will prevent this legislation from taking
effect if the Secretary of Energy determines that it will negatively
impact households that use oil to heat their homes.
I understand that this will not be popular with the oil companies
that are looking to increase their enormous profits by expanding their
drilling on public lands as quickly as possible, but we have a
responsibility to the people back home to make sure that we do not do
something that will impact the administration's ability to help people
heat their homes this winter.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues, once again, to side with the
working people of this country who are struggling to heat their homes
by supporting this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, this is just another distraction and delay
tactic, nothing more than a stunt.
The Secretary of Energy had culpability in drawing down the SPR to
lower gas prices just before a midterm election. She would certainly
delay the implementation of this bill without making that certification
that is included in this amendment.
If we really want to protect consumers, let's prioritize them instead
of radical climate policies. Let's produce American energy here at
home--safe, reliable, deliverable--lowering prices at the pump for
transportation fuels, lowering prices at homes in heating, lowering
prices for manufacturers that need natural gas, reliable electricity
produced by fossil fuels in many instances.
The intent of this bill is protecting the SPR. Let's take the first
step in reducing the price to consumers by unleashing American energy
production, lowering costs here at home.
Let's take care of the SPR for its intended purpose. That is the
purpose of this bill.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Rhode Island
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mr. Goldman of New York
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk,
No. 16.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, beginning on line 4, amend section 2 to read as
follows:
SEC. 2. CERTIFICATION.
Section 161 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42
U.S.C. 6241) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Certification.--
``(1) In general.--Except in the case of a severe energy
supply interruption or by obligations of the United States
under the international energy program, as described in
subsection (d), the Secretary may not execute the first
drawdown of petroleum products in the Reserve after the date
of enactment of this subsection, whether through sale,
exchange, or loan, until the Secretary has submitted to
Congress a certification that--
``(A) the United States is meeting the Paris Climate
Accords targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
``(B) the recommendations of the Justice40 initiative,
established under Executive Order 14008, are being met.
``(2) Consultation.--In submitting a certification to
Congress under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult
with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the
Secretary of State, and the heads of any other relevant
Federal agencies.
``(3) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the Secretary
submits to Congress a certification under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report outlining--
``(A) any progress made to meet the targets of the United
States to the Paris Climate Accords; and
``(B) how funds made available under or by Public Law 117-
169, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law
117-58), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law
117-2) are being used to confront decades of underinvestment
in disadvantaged communities that bear the burden of climate
change and environmental hazards.''.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from New York is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Chair, this bill is simply a Big Oil
bill that is a massive gift to fossil fuel interests.
We are facing a climate crisis. In my district, 10 years ago, a
little more, Hurricane Sandy decimated New York City, and it was
considered to be a 100-year storm. Now, as we are trying to make our
district and our city resilient, we are told that this storm may happen
in another 10 or 20 years. Climate change is real, and this bill just
continues to destroy our climate.
Consistent with our Nation's commitment to tackling climate change,
my green equity amendment would turn a planet-killing corporate
giveaway into a recommitment to energy independence and a comprehensive
and equitable green energy transition.
Rather than increase our production, we should be investing here at
home in green energy. This amendment would kill the GOP's attempted
giveaway to Big Oil and instead require that in order to release oil
from the SPR, the executive branch must first certify to Congress that,
first, the United States is meeting the Paris climate accord's targets
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and, second, the recommendations of
the Justice40 Initiative, requiring that 40 percent of Federal
investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized,
underserved, and overburdened by pollution, are met.
While tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve can be a critical
tool to protect American families from high gas prices, we have an
obligation to future generations to make dramatic and sustained
progress toward an equitable and sustainable future. That is why I urge
my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I insist on the point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, the amendment violates clause 7 of rule XVI of
the House rules because it is not germane to the underlying bill.
Specifically, the bill limits the drawdown of petroleum from the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a
plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production. The amendment limits the drawdown of petroleum in the SPR
until the Department of Energy certifies to Congress that the U.S. is
meeting the Paris climate accord's targets to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and the recommendations of the Justice40 Initiative.
The amendment also requires a report outlining how funds made
available under Public Law 117-169 ``are being used to confront decades
of underinvestment in disadvantaged communities that bear the burden of
climate change and environmental hazards.''
All of this is well outside the scope of H.R. 21, which simply asks
for a plan to increase oil and gas production on Federal lands.
Mr. Chair, for that reason, the amendment is not germane, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. Any discussion on the point of order?
The gentleman from New York is recognized.
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Chair, I am not surprised that my
colleague across the aisle thinks this is not germane because I
understand that my colleagues on the other side don't believe that oil
production has an impact on climate change.
The sad reality is that fossil fuel production is what is causing our
climate to burn and is what is causing the climate crisis that we are
facing. Whether it is in California recently, after years and years of
drought that now has torrential downpours, or other extreme weather
events around the country, the reason for that is greenhouse gas
emissions, and that stems directly from fossil fuel production.
[[Page H405]]
So, yes, this is precisely germane to what the issue is in terms of
additional oil production and the----
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will suspend.
Please confine your remarks to arguing the point of order as opposed
to the underlying amendment.
Please proceed.
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Chair, I was getting to the point that
it is very germane to meet our climate change promises, pursuant to the
Paris accords, to meet the Justice40 Initiative, to make sure that
economic justice is also at the forefront of our energy production. It
is very germane.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair is prepared to rule.
Both gentlemen have yielded back.
The gentleman from South Carolina makes a point of order that the
amendment offered by the gentleman from New York is not germane.
Clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule, provides that no
proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall
be admitted under color of amendment.
The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed
a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for
oil or gas production. The amendment would add new requirements beyond
the plan in the bill to address the Paris climate accords.
The Chair finds that the amendment goes beyond the subject matter of
the underlying bill. It is, therefore, not germane. The point of order
is sustained.
{time} 1915
Amendment No. 74 Offered by Ms. Ocasio-Cortez
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No.
74.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 2, strike ``shall not provide'' and insert
``may not--''.
Page 3, line 2, before ``for a total'' insert the
following:
``(A) provide
Page 3, line 5, strike the period at the end and insert ``;
and''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) include the lease of any land for oil or gas
production to a company that has, within the previous decade,
purchased an equity security of the company that is listed on
a national securities exchange.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New York is recognized for 5
minutes in support of her amendment.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits fossil fuel
companies that have engaged in stock buybacks over the last decade from
leasing land for oil production, particularly with respect to the
strategic reserve.
I sat here for much of today and listened to many of my colleagues,
particularly those on the opposite side of the aisle, introduce
amendments and legislation that conveniently benefit the fossil fuel
industry while fearmongering about things like the Green New Deal and
positive climate action, to which I say: Boo.
Last year, four of the major oil companies, Shell, Chevron, BP, and
ExxonMobil posted record profits totaling $75 billion.
Speaking of $75 billion, yesterday it was announced that Chevron will
spend $75 billion on buying back their own stock after reaping record
quarterly profits in 2022, driving up their own stock prices and
padding CEO compensation.
This reckless Wall Street profiteering at the public's expense and
the planet's expense should have consequences.
In this bill, the Republican majority seeks to give away even more
sensitive land for oil and gas development without even the pretense of
a guarantee that it would even lower gas prices.
This amendment is simple. Companies who engaged in stock buybacks in
the last 10 years should be prohibited from leasing new land for oil
and gas production.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by
requiring nonemergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce
American energy resources.
We have witnessed the tremendous benefits of energy security from the
shale revolution, the amazing technological advancements and
innovations from American companies, private companies, companies that
have ownership in equities markets.
America does not have State-owned oil companies like OPEC and Russia.
This amendment not only undermines the important purpose of this
bill, it undermines American innovators who thrive on the capital
markets. Capitalism.
I understand the gentlewoman across the aisle doesn't like
capitalism, but capitalism provides benevolence. In so many ways, this
amendment is anti-free market.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New York
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 72 Offered by Ms. Ocasio-Cortez
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No.
72.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 2, strike ``shall not provide'' and insert
``may not--''.
Page 3, line 2, before ``for a'' insert the following:
``(A) provide
Page 3, line 5, strike the period at the end and insert ``;
and''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) include any Federal land that, if leased for oil and
gas production, will increase net carbon emissions.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New York is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, let's get to our second point of
business here and break down this myth that oil companies need even
more permits. This is simply not true.
In fact, the oil industry already possesses more than 9,000 unused
drilling permits on Federal lands. Nearly 5,000 of those permits were
approved in 2021 alone.
The oil industry already has at least 10 years' worth of unused
leases at its disposal. They are only producing oil or gas on roughly
half the area that is already leased. There are nearly 14 million acres
onshore and more than 9 million offshore that are currently under lease
but not being used for oil production.
Why lease even more?
My amendment prohibits oil and gas leasing on Federal lands in a way
that would increase even further our net carbon emissions. That is to
say, we shall not include any Federal lands where oil and gas leasing
would increase net carbon emissions.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, let me state again that H.R. 21 is about
strengthening the SPR by requiring nonemergency use to be accompanied
by a plan to produce American resources.
Mr. Chair, I invite the Members across the aisle to actually go out
and talk to oil and gas producers, understand leases, understand that
every square acre out in the ocean or on land doesn't have oil or gas
under it. They have got to find it.
They have got to start drilling, exploring, and producing. And once
they produce, they have got to pipe that either to the beach or put it
on a ship to be taken to refineries.
[[Page H406]]
They have a permitting process for pipelines that do that, permitting
processes to get the well actually permitted once they discover
resources. Go and learn. Go and learn for yourself about this. Educate
yourself on how America attained its low emissions.
If you care about the air quality, you care about climate change--
natural gas is what got America there. Educate yourself on that, and we
can have a better debate about future resources and future energy
production.
This debate tonight is not about any of that. It is about the SPR. It
is about the fact that the Biden administration drew down on the SPR
for one purpose: to lower gas prices for Americans right before an
election. That is influential politics.
This is about efficient, clean American energy production. Efforts to
reduce our production means the world relies more on nations that do
not impose state-of-the-art controls on emissions. Think Russia. Think
China. Think about what America has done.
This amendment would limit clean energy, American-produced clean
energy, and increase emissions-heavy foreign energy.
It hurts me when I see an American LNG tanker in the Boston Harbor
when we have the natural gas here in this country, cleaner burning
natural gas. This is about the SPR.
As chair of the Energy Subcommittee, I look forward to a lot of
debates on energy resources, American energy production, and clean
energy, and what works to make America energy dominant once again--but
we are not doing it tonight.
We are going to talk about the SPR. We are going to talk about
replenishing it. We are going to talk about American resources. This
amendment is counterproductive to energy security and addressing
climate risk.
American oil production is the cleanest in the world; where it is
produced and where it is used.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair would remind all Members to address their
remarks to the Chair.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez).
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms.
Ocasio-Cortez).
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, I understand in this body it is not the
first time that it seems as though the opposing side can't seem to be
able to debate the issue, and so they must come after my character.
While I cannot control the fact that the other side seems to have
made the assumption that I am uneducated or what they may say about my
world view, one of the things that I can say is I may not work for Wall
Street; that is true. I may not be here with the mission to increase
profits for corporations; that is true.
My mission here is for the well-being and dignity of our family and
our planet's future, and for our children's ability to live on this
planet. That is what this amendment is about.
Moreover, when we talk about education, we should all take it upon
ourselves in this body to educate ourselves on the science of the
challenge of climate change that is before us. In 2050, we are looking
at the Western States to be projected to further increase--that
wildfires will increase two to six times. And that is just scratching
the surface.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New York
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 73 Offered by Ms. Ocasio-Cortez
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, lastly, I have an amendment at the
desk, No. 73.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 2, strike ``shall not provide'' and insert
``may not--''.
Page 3, line 2, before ``for a total'' insert the
following:
``(A) provide
Page 3, line 5, strike the period at the end and insert ``;
and''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) include tracts of Federal land where oil and gas
leasing would be inconsistent with the goals of the Paris
Climate Accords.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New York is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chair, lastly, this final amendment requires
and states that we shall not include tracts where oil and gas leasing
would be inconsistent with our goals and the goals of the Paris
accords.
We know that leasing more lands to fossil fuel companies does not
guarantee that gas prices will drop. As we have seen this past year,
even when these companies have record profits, they do not pass along
those savings to their customers.
What leasing more land does do, however, is guarantee that we will
accelerate the devastating impacts of climate change and see more
deadly and destructive weather events.
In 2015, the nations behind the Paris Agreement set a target for
keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The latest IPCC
report spells out just how difficult it will be for the world to stay
under that limit unless we drastically slash emissions in the very near
future.
If we do not course correct now, the impacts on the daily lives of
our children and grandchildren will be devastating. No one will be
immune, and the most vulnerable communities right now will continue to
be hit the hardest moving forward.
Even in rainy regions like the Southeast, wildfires are also
projected to increase by about 30 percent. The Southeast United States
is also expected to see a rise in new mosquito-borne diseases as
temperatures warm. Farmers in all parts of the country will suffer
enormous losses, and grocery prices will continue to rise.
We don't even need to look toward the future to understand the cost
of climate change. In 2021, the Federal Government estimates that 20
different natural disasters that year alone cost the Nation an
estimated $145 billion and killed nearly 700 people.
The only way to guarantee consumers reliable, affordable energy is
for the United States to invest in renewable energy. It is also the
only way to protect our country from increasingly devastating weather
events and rising temperatures.
Mr. Chair, I urge the adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chair, the last time I checked, I don't think the
United States of America signed onto or ratified the Paris accords.
This is a messaging amendment.
If we are serious about addressing global climate risk and preserving
and expanding the prosperity of the American people, we should focus on
American energy security and American energy resources.
When you bring in the Paris climate accord, or Kyoto, the United
States, to my understanding, has actually achieved the carbon emissions
goals set forth in those agreements, and we have done it through
American energy resources, like clean burning natural gas.
This bill is about protecting our strategic resources and ensuring
American energy production, which we do more cleanly than most any
other Nation. I mentioned Russian natural gas in Massachusetts. It
burns dirtier than American-produced gas.
I have got a solution. How about we permit pipelines from the
Marcellus up to New England and allow New England to burn cleaner
burning, less carbon-emission-emitting natural gas produced here at
home.
This amendment is unnecessary. It is a messaging amendment.
[[Page H407]]
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1930
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New York
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 35 Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask to present amendment No. 35.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 11, insert ``or a drawdown with respect to
which the petroleum products drawn down will be exchanged
pursuant to subsection (i),'' after ``(d),''.
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date this paragraph takes effect
described in paragraph (4)''.
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall not take effect
until the Secretary submits to Congress a report on the
necessity of acting under the authority of this section to
refill the Reserve.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I see that I have my good friend, Mr.
Pallone, over on this side, and I thought I would have my good friend
from South Carolina, but now I have my good friend from Texas who is
here.
I am sure they understand that everyone who comes to the floor is
sincere. The gentlewoman from New York and others who have offered
their amendments are sincere and factual. They have knowledge. I just
want to put that in the Record so that no one's integrity is
challenged.
I am sincere, and I believe that we need to have a little history
lesson as to what the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is all about.
It exists first and foremost as an emergency response tool that the
President can use should the United States be confronted with an
economically threatened disruption in oil supply. It is also where oil
can be released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve under exchange
arrangements similar to loans to private companies. Exchange contracts
provide for a loan of crude oil to be repaid in kind within a certain
timeframe and with additional petroleum barrels.
However, as we move toward an increasing respect for climate change,
I think amendments have to be in place that strategically allow for the
utilization of this reserve to decrease emissions, to provide relief in
emergencies, and to understand that we must have a 21st century
Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Let me cite for you, Mr. Chairman, when this reserve has been used:
2005, Hurricane Katrina sale; 1991, Operation Desert Storm; 1990,
Desert Storm--Shield tests; 2006, ship channel closure exchange; 2006,
barge accident exchange; 2005, Hurricane Katrina exchange; 2000,
heating oil exchange.
Again, it is doing what it is supposed to do. At the same time, I
believe it is important to modernize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
I have a very simple amendment. My amendment would preserve exchanges
that occur and protect the Nation from gasoline shortages and likely
much higher fuel prices following natural disasters. We have had many,
and I cannot, for the life of me, understand the opposition to what
President Biden did where we have heard complete silence about high
gasoline prices.
So it is important in amendment No. 35 that we have the ability to
help those desperately suffering from natural disasters that certainly
occur in the Gulf. They also occur in the Atlantic, and they occur in
the Pacific, and we need to be able to help the American people.
I ask my colleagues to support Jackson Lee amendment No. 35 that
would preserve exchanges that occur to protect the Nation from gasoline
shortages in the likely face of the terrible natural disasters that
have hit our American citizens or our country in various regions.
Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support amendment No. 35 to help
the American people and to ensure that when disasters come, America
stands with the American people.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, this amendment fails to see that
depleting our strategic reserve for nonemergent reasons hurts our
ability to help hurricane victims.
The Gulf Coast of Texas, District 14, where I am a Member of
Congress, suffers all the consequences of hurricanes. We need to have
the stability of a strong SPR. America needs that ability.
Downplaying the role of domestic supply--as it seems the other side
is intent on--guts the legislation in several ways.
First, it treats swaps of oil out of the strategic reserve that were
not done--were not done--Mr. Chairman, for emergency reasons--as an
emergency. For instance, we could lend oil to China for any reason for
an indefinite period without a need to explain how we are going to make
ourselves whole in the interim, a/k/a, keep our country safe and keep
District 14 safe in Texas. This is extremely personal to me.
Second, it takes the lawmaking role from Congress and gives it to the
executive branch. Mr. Chairman, I have read the Constitution. I don't
think the President is supposed to make laws. I think it is supposed to
be up to us in Congress. It gives the DOE, the Department of Energy,
power to decide whether or not the law takes effect. That is not their
role.
Finally, even though it conditions the effective date on a finding by
the Department of Energy, in no way does it require the Energy
Department to make a finding of one way or the other.
So this amendment would make this bill worse--absolutely worse. So we
would love to see our colleagues say ``no.'' This amendment is not
something that we need.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 36 Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No.
36.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 11, insert ``or a test drawdown under
subsection (g),'' after ``(d),''.
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date this paragraph takes effect
described in paragraph (4)''.
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall not take effect
until the Secretary submits to Congress a report on the
necessity of acting under the authority of this section to
refill the Reserve.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. My good friend from Texas apparently did not
understand the prior amendment in terms of its utilization in the time
of disasters that his district faces as mine does all the time and many
other Americans.
So let me indicate as I move to No. 36, this is, again, an effort to
help Americans and to address the question of the efficiency of the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
My amendment would allow the necessary and routine test drawdowns
that occur as part of the work to make sure the reserve can fulfill its
function of providing access to the resources on a moment's notice in
time of emergencies. Those of us in various parts of the Nation
understand emergencies.
[[Page H408]]
In keeping with our commitment to addressing the core mission of many
of us to reduce emissions, we may need a number of tests. Tests are
basic to the core mission of the reserve and often involve numbers of
barrels or less being drawn down.
The Jackson Lee amendment would provide the provisions of this bill
should not be triggered by Strategic Petroleum Reserve tests. The
Jackson Lee amendment would ensure that tests can continue without
delay or suspension out of concern regarding the requirements of the
bill so that this Strategic Petroleum Reserve can stand ready to be
able to efficiently address what is needed.
I am concerned about the direct attack because the CEO--the President
of the United States--in the executive article utilizes his powers to
help Americans in the midst of a disaster.
I hope that this amendment can be accepted by my friends which says
that we have to do due diligence on testing. I understand the authors
of the bill have a specific policy objective in mind and believe that
the bill will accomplish a narrow policy change. However, I would hope
that they believe in efficiency, and the utilization of this Strategic
Petroleum Reserve in an efficient manner requires tests and drawdowns
if we are going to be ready for emergencies to save lives in a crisis
that is either heating or otherwise.
Again, let me remind my colleagues that we did not hear a word--a
Republican word or a Democratic word--when gasoline prices came down.
So the executive branch should have the right, if you will, to make
those emergency decisions. But to have the ability to test is a
reasonable response to ensuring that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
works well every single day that we need to use it.
I ask my colleagues to support Jackson Lee amendment No. 36. I will
also finish by saying: Please understand what we are saying. Please
know that we understand both the legislation and the need for
improvement of the legislation.
Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support amendment No. 36 Jackson
Lee, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to amendment
No. 36.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to hear the
comment that apparently I didn't understand the last amendment. Having
grown up on the Gulf Coast of Texas, first, Hurricane Carla, in 1961, I
went through that. I think I understand the Gulf Coast of Texas, and I
think I understand hurricanes. I have been there a long time.
So I have to rise in opposition to this amendment.
Why?
This amendment fails to see that depleting our strategic reserve for
nonemergency reasons could actually hurt our ability to help the
American people exactly in those times and those events of a real
supply interruption like a hurricane or natural disaster. Lord knows I
have lived and been through a lot of them.
This amendment would jeopardize Americans' energy security and energy
jobs in several ways. First, it actually creates a loophole to allow
``test sales,'' Mr. Chairman, of oil out of the strategic reserve to be
exempted even when it is not an emergency like we talked about on the
Gulf Coast of Texas, my home area.
How do we know this?
History teaches us a valid lesson.
For instance, under this amendment, the Biden administration could
abuse its authority by using, again, a ``test sale'' to fund a new
government program just like President Obama did in 2014.
Second, again, it takes the lawmaking role of Congress and gives it
to the executive branch.
I have read the Constitution, too. I have read the Constitution.
It gives the Department of Energy the power to decide whether the law
takes effect. That is unbelievable to me, Mr. Chairman.
Finally, even though it ``conditions'' the effective date on a
finding by the Department of Energy, the DOE, in no way--in no way--
does it require the Energy Department to make a finding of one way or
the other. We could be stuck in limbo for Lord knows how long.
This amendment would make the bill worse, and, indeed, it is a poison
pill. For this I urge my colleagues to make a ``no'' vote.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 70 Offered by Ms. Ross
Ms. ROSS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, Ross No. 70.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, add the following:
``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph
(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract
located in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Ms. ROSS. Mr. Chairman, the bill we are considering today does not
protect U.S. consumers, and, instead, it is a giveaway to Big Oil. The
fossil fuel industry already controls large swaths of our public lands
and our waters. Offshore, the industry already has over 2,000 active
leases covering 12 million acres of Federal waters--75 percent of which
are not even being used to produce oil and gas.
North Carolinians cherish our pristine coastline and rely upon a
clean and healthy marine ecosystem to support robust tourism,
recreation, and fishing which are vital to our economy. They are the
economic lifelines of many of our coastal communities.
{time} 1945
Elected officials of both parties in North Carolina, up and down the
Atlantic Coast as well, ranging from county commissioners to Governors,
have expressed staunch opposition to opening our waters to offshore
drilling.
Putting our coastal economy and environment at risk is the last thing
that North Carolinians need, and our neighbors to the north and south
agree. Congresswoman Mace, my neighbor to the south, made this same
point today.
My amendment would take the simple step of preventing the plan
required by this bill from including oil and gas leasing in the mid-
Atlantic, including my home State of North Carolina. This protects our
constituents, our economy, and our environment.
I hope that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, just like
people from both sides of the aisle in my State, will listen to their
constituents and support this commonsense amendment rather than putting
both our environment and our economy at risk.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, this amendment goes beyond the
status quo in even existing law by creating new barriers to oil
exploration and development. It is funny because the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve is about storing that same oil for our Nation for
what is strategic. It is funny that they want to actually put in new
barriers.
H.R. 21 is about strengthening that Strategic Petroleum Reserve and
our Nation's very energy security by requiring any nonemergency use to
be accompanied by a plan, I don't know, to actually produce more
American oil reserves.
Why wouldn't we want to do that to make our Nation safe and energy
dependent on nobody? That is why we have the SPR, Mr. Chair.
This amendment undermines the purpose of this legislation, and I urge
a ``no'' vote on the amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H409]]
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. ROSS. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from North
Carolina will be postponed.
Amendment No. 66 Offered by Mr. Casten
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 66.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 20, strike ``and gas''.
Page 2, line 24, strike ``limitation'' and insert
``limitations''.
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 5, and insert the following:
``(2) Limitations.--
``(A) Total increase.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall not provide for a total increase in the percentage of
Federal lands described in paragraph (1) leased for oil
production in excess of 10 percent.
``(B) Participation by fossil industry entities.--
``(i) In general.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall
not allow for the participation of a fossil industry entity
in oil production activities on Federal lands described in
paragraph (1) leased for oil production as a result of such
plan unless such fossil industry entity submits to the
Secretary a plan for--
``(I) reducing the total global warming pollution of the
fossil industry entity by 2030 by not less than 50 percent of
the total global warming pollution of the fossil industry
entity in calendar year 2022, without the use of offsets;
``(II) eliminating the total global warming pollution of
the fossil industry entity by 2050, without the use of
offsets; and
``(III) allowing, in any given calendar year, the release
into the atmosphere of not more than 1 percent of the methane
brought to the surface through such oil production
activities.
``(ii) Definitions.--In this subparagraph:
``(I) Fossil industry entity.--The term `fossil industry
entity' means an entity or individual that engages in the
production, purchase, or sale of oil or natural gas.
``(II) Global warming pollution.--The term `global warming
pollution' includes each of the following:
``(aa) Any gas that is determined by the Secretary to trap
heat in the atmosphere, contributing to an increase in heat
waves, flooding, drought, sea level rise, storm intensity,
disease, disruption of agricultural production, or ecosystem
disruption.
``(bb) Carbon dioxide.
``(cc) Methane.
``(dd) Nitrous oxide.
``(ee) Sulfur hexafluoride.
``(ff) Any hydrofluorocarbon.
``(gg) Any perfluorocarbon.
``(hh) Nitrogen trifluoride.
``(ii) Any fully fluorinated linear, branched, or cyclic--
``(AA) alkane;
``(BB) ether;
``(CC) tertiary amine; or
``(DD) aminoether.
``(jj) Any perfluoropolyether.
``(kk) Any hydrofluoropolyether.
``(ll) Any other fluorocarbon, except for a fluorocarbon
with a vapor pressure of less than 1 mm of Hg absolute at 25
degrees Celsius.
``(III) Total global warming pollution.--The term `total
global warming pollution' means, with respect to a fossil
industry entity, the aggregate amount by weight of global
warming pollution released into the atmosphere in association
with the production, processing, refinement, transportation,
combustion, and use of oil or natural gas that is produced,
purchased, or sold by the fossil industry entity.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would require oil and gas
companies drilling on public lands to submit plans for cutting the
greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and use of
their products in half by 2030 and to zero by 2050, as is called for by
climate science. My amendment would allow the release of no more than 1
percent of the superpollutant methane brought to the surface by
drilling operations.
Mr. Chairman, let's be honest here. We have been here a long night.
H.R. 21 is not about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, nor is it about
domestic energy security, because if it was, we would be talking about
the fact that the United States is an oil exporter.
We have a lot of tools, not just limited to what is in a few tanks
around the country, to affect domestic supply of oil, but we are not
talking about that, are we? We are talking about using the SPR to get a
nose under the tent to meet the larger and consistent Republican goal
to expand drilling on public lands.
Since this bill is really about public lands, we cannot discuss this
bill without addressing our stewardship responsibilities for those
lands, forested lands that are increasingly prone to climate change-
driven wildfires; coastal lands that are prone to climate change-driven
sea level rises; and wild lands where climate change and drilling is
destroying habitat and contributing to the most rapid rate of
extinction in our history. Our stewardship of those lands, Republicans
and Democrats, compels us to eliminate the causes of global warming, to
stop emitting greenhouse gases.
Public reporting has shown that Exxon scientists not only knew their
products were responsible for climate change in 1977, but they did a
really good job of predicting the changes that were going to follow. So
did the world's climate scientists, who called for global action.
The 1992 Rio summit and Kyoto Protocol were designed to avert climate
disaster, but as we know, the fossil energy industry did not respond
with stewardship. They started a massive disinformation campaign that
continues to this day, spending enormous amounts of money to confuse
the American public and to delay climate action.
Today, I will be honest, every major oil company pays lip service to
the reality of climate change and the need to address it. Many have
even pledged sharp reductions of their direct emissions, but they know
that most of their contributions to global warming are downstream--it
is what people do with their products--or upstream, the methane that
gets released from their production.
It would take leadership on their behalf, it would take
entrepreneurial vision, and it would take stewardship for them to
realize that they are experts at giving people useful energy. They are
in the business of providing that. They could do that, but instead,
they have decided that they just want to be committed to the extraction
of oil.
Mr. Chairman, this amendment just provides an appropriate stewardship
of our public lands to this bill. We know from history that the oil
companies cannot be trusted to protect those lands, and so it behooves
us in this body to require that any expansion of drilling on those
lands must be met by a reduction in the gross greenhouse gas emissions
associated with drillers' operations.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, it is interesting to hear this
isn't really about energy or we would be talking about more than just a
few tanks in the country. That is a really interesting phrase.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is put in for strategic reasons for
the entire country, not for political gain.
This amendment would prohibit oil and gas companies from producing on
a lease outlined in the leasing plan unless the fossil industry entity
submits to the Secretary of Energy a plan to reduce its global warming
pollution.
This amendment is simply nothing more than to delay the
implementation of H.R. 21. That is all this is. Let's call it what it
is. It is not about a few tanks in the country. Really? It is not about
that.
Americans are suffering under record-high gas prices that hurt low-
income Americans the most, and they want to call that, oh, a discussion
about a few tanks in the country. Really?
Families can't put food on their tables. They can't put gas in their
tanks. They are struggling to get by. Oh, this is just a discussion
about a few tanks in America, that is all.
Mr. Chairman, we have the strongest environmental and safety
standards in the world, bar none. Let's let American energy workers do
their job, make America safe, and make the world cleaner. Let's pass
H.R. 21. Vote ``no'' on this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H410]]
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Casten).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 67 Offered by Mr. Casten
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 67.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 20, strike ``and gas''.
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 5, and insert the following:
``(2) Limitation.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall
not provide for a total increase in the percentage of Federal
lands described in paragraph (1) leased for oil production--
``(A) in excess of 10 percent; and
``(B) unless the Secretary determines that--
``(i) the amount of oil that the Secretary intends to draw
down from the Reserve in the first and subsequent drawdowns
described in paragraph (1) is greater than the amount of oil
produced in the United States that is reasonably expected to
be exported from the United States during the 6 month period
following the date of the intended drawdown;
``(ii) the expected exports of oil produced in the United
States during the 6 month period described in clause (i)
cannot be curtailed by an amount that is greater than the
quantity of oil planned to be released from the Reserve; and
``(iii) the curtailment of exports of oil by an amount that
is greater than the quantity of oil planned to be released
from the Reserve would not have a comparable or greater
effect than the planned drawdown of the Reserve in--
``(I) ensuring the energy security of the United States;
``(II) maintaining the stability of the price in the United
States of petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel
fuel; or
``(III) the achievement of other objectives cited by the
Secretary to justify the drawdown from the Reserve.
``(3) Report.--The Secretary shall provide to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representative and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a
report on the data and analyses used in the determination of
the Secretary under paragraph (2)(B) upon publication of the
determination.
Page 3, line 6, redesignate paragraph (3) as paragraph (4).
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chairman, my friend from Texas and I are going to get
to continue talking about a few tanks.
My amendment would require the Secretary of Energy to determine
whether curtailing U.S. oil exports would be more effective than
drawing from the SPR to stabilize U.S. oil prices and protect U.S.
energy security. If it is determined that curtailing oil exports would
be more effective, the increased drilling on Federal lands otherwise
required by H.R. 21 would not be allowed.
Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is based on the false premise that a drawdown from
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve weakens our energy security and
therefore must be made up for by expanding drilling on Federal land.
Let's run through a little history here. The Strategic Petroleum
Reserve was created in 1975 in response to the first OPEC price shocks
to provide a domestic buffer against future global market volatility
and supply constraints.
We had that oil in our country, and we wanted to use that to bolster
domestic supplies. The conditions under which it was created changed in
October 2019. That was the month when the United States, for the first
time, became a net oil exporter, and we have remained one since.
That means that, for the last 4 years, we have had not one but two
tools we could use to protect ourselves domestically from global
volatility. We could either release from those few tanks in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve or we could reduce the exports that are
leaving our country, keep that, and prioritize good old, apple-pie-
smelling United States oil for United States use.
As an economic matter, both of those are equivalent, right? If we add
a barrel to our domestic supplies, that is a barrel we don't have to
import. That is a barrel that eases price pressure internally,
regardless of where that barrel came from.
Moreover--and this is important because this is about those few tanks
we were talking about before--the volume of oil that we export today is
way bigger than the amount that we release from the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve. If I may, Mr. Chairman, most of our Strategic Petroleum
Reserve is still underground.
When the United States became a net exporter in 2019, though,
something changed. The thing that changed was the politics of this
conversation because it created a new set of players at the table: oil
exporters, who have a vested interest in a high oil price.
They don't seek to maximize value for the American people. They seek
to maximize value for their shareholders. I would point out, many of
their shareholders are not U.S. citizens. They want to maximize that
value by selling American oil overseas at the highest possible price.
Now, let's be really clear. Every single American is an energy
consumer. A tiny number of Americans are oil exporters. The greater
good is always to maximize the benefit to U.S. consumers by lowering
energy prices.
I have introduced this amendment to ensure that we use the full suite
of tools available to us when we face domestic price or supply
constraints, inclusive of SPR releases and export curtailments.
This amendment would simply direct the Secretary of Energy to
determine whether curtailing U.S. exports would be more effective than
drawing from the SPR at stabilizing U.S. oil prices and protecting U.S.
energy security. If it is determined that curtailing exports would be
more effective, the increased drilling on Federal lands otherwise
required by H.R. 21 would not be allowed.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, what can I say? To block exports of
oil from America--we just reinstated them in December 2015, if I
remember correctly. This is nothing more than a delaying tactic to
delay and defeat H.R. 21. It is just that simple. I urge my colleagues
to vote ``no.''
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Casten).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 68 Offered by Mr. Casten
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 68.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 20, strike ``and gas''.
Page 3, line 4, strike ``and gas''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to tell you I will not need 5
minutes. This is a really short amendment. It simply strikes the words
``natural gas'' from this bill.
Mr. Chairman, domestic production of natural gas has nothing to do
with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve
is a strategic reserve of petroleum. Today, it holds about 372 million
barrels of petroleum--oil, if you prefer. It does not hold natural gas.
{time} 2000
Yet, H.R. 21 says that a release from the SPR--again, of oil--should
be linked to an increase in drilling for oil and gas on Federal lands.
Now, if you are not following that, I want you to imagine that you
are at the grocery store, and your significant other calls you up and
says: ``Hey, we are out of turkey.'' You come back and say: ``Well, I
will return with turkey or milk.'' You might not have a happy spouse.
Same deal here.
[[Page H411]]
If the majority would like to provide more subsidies to drill for gas
on public lands, you are, of course, free to do that and propose
legislation to do that, but that has nothing to do with releases from
this Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Since the underlying bill is predicated on an event of SPR release,
my amendment is both simple and necessary. It simply strikes all
mentions of ``natural gas'' from a bill that claims to be about oil.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, it is kind of funny that our friends
across the aisle don't understand that natural gas burns so clean, and
that is one of the reasons America produces energy cleaner than almost
every other country in the world.
Now, Democrats are waging war on natural gas. There is no shock,
right?
This amendment would limit the leasing plan to only considering oil
production, not gas. We have two LNG plants in my district. We ought to
be producing as much gas in every facet that we can to help bring down
CO2 emissions, indeed helping other countries. This
amendment is short-sighted.
Here is a news flash for my friends across the aisle: Oil and gas
production are linked. Increasing both oil and gas is imperative.
For that reason, Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Casten).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 75 Offered by Ms. Wasserman Schultz
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
It is amendment No. 75.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Sessions). The Clerk will designate the
amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Big cypress national preserve exclusion.--The plan
required by paragraph (1) shall not include oil and gas
leasing in any tract located within the Big Cypress National
Preserve.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to
H.R. 21 that would prohibit the SPR plan from including oil and gas
leasing within the ecologically critical Big Cypress National Preserve.
Established in 1974 as one of the first national preserves, Big
Cypress is a unique and fragile ecosystem that spans 720,000 south
Florida acres and hosts an array of plant and animal life.
It is also an important cultural site for the Miccosukee and Seminole
Tribes of Florida.
Opening this area to oil and gas drilling would not only be
environmentally destructive, it would also threaten the livelihoods of
the people who depend on it for hunting, fishing, and tourism.
We know that drilling causes pollution and habitat destruction.
Just a few years ago, Big Oil speculators hauled in massive trucks
weighing 33 tons and used low-frequency vibrations to look for oil.
They left deep ruts in the swamp and plowed over dwarf cypress trees
that had survived for more than 200 years.
In pure economic terms, this vast sensitive swampland is essential to
the health of the neighboring Everglades, which is vital in providing
clean drinking water to millions of Floridians.
The solution here is to protect this national treasure by banning the
SPR plan from including oil and gas drilling in Big Cypress in
perpetuity.
Just don't take my word for it, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Talbert Cypress, chair of the Miccosukee Tribe very succinctly
describes why it is so vital that we protect this land saying: ``The
Tribe would not exist without the Everglades, which Big Cypress Natural
Preserve sits on. We used it for survival. We used it to keep our
traditions alive and our culture still going to this day. So that's why
it means so much to us.''
This is simple. We can protect an ecologically sensitive treasure,
drinking water for millions, and a traditional way of life all by
voting to ensure that Big Cypress National Preserve is never littered
with reckless speculators or polluting oil derricks.
I urge you to join me in taking action to protect Big Cypress
National Preserve from oil and gas drilling by voting ``yes'' on this
amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, this amendment blocks energy
production on Federal lands that are not subject to any restrictions.
This is nothing other than another messaging amendment, which is
meant to undermine H.R. 21, quite frankly, quite simply stated.
Mr. Chair, we need to be focused on ways to make America more energy.
That needs to be our focus. We want to make America more energy secure
and lower gas prices for the American people. They want to know
Congress is doing that. That is a good message for the American people.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 131 Offered by Mr. Schneider
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No.
131.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Great lakes exclusion.--The plan required by
paragraph (1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in the
Great Lakes.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chairman, the Great Lakes are a national treasure
and a regional economic driver for all of us in the Midwest. The lakes
account for more than 90 percent of our Nation's surface water and 20
percent of the surface freshwater on the planet. More than 30 million
Americans rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water.
For generations, there has been a deeply held bipartisan consensus on
the need to protect the Great Lakes: from invasive species, from
environmental challenges, and from irresponsible development. Look no
further than the broad bipartisan support for the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative.
I want to work with my colleagues in making progress to protect our
Great Lakes, not to open the door--even the slightest crack--for
dangerous development. That is why today I offer an amendment to
clearly reiterate our vital protections of these Great Lakes.
My amendment ensures that H.R. 21 would continue the bipartisan
consensus that there will be no exploration, development, or drilling
for oil and gas in the Great Lakes.
With nearly 1 in 10 Americans relying on the Great Lakes for drinking
water, we must ensure that a disaster like the Deepwater Horizon ever
happening in Lake Michigan is not only unfathomable, but impossible.
This amendment ensures that that is the case.
Today, we must say with one unified bipartisan voice that there will
never be drilling in the Great Lakes.
[[Page H412]]
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, the diversions, the deflections, and
the dereliction of congressional duty by the other side is getting
increasingly disappointing, if I can use the ``D'' words.
Congress' duty is to protect Americans and help them with energy
prices. The legislation we are considering today is a national solution
for a national challenge to prevent national energy emergencies.
We can't arbitrarily remove places from consideration if the best
science, technology, and practices can safely and responsibly obtain
the energy Americans need to survive through an emergency.
H.R. 21 does not require the Secretary of Energy to drill any
specific area. We shouldn't take items off the table before a
considered review by the experts has been done.
There is a novel thought. Let the experts look at it, review it. How
about that?
Moreover, a plan can be changed as new information comes along, while
the mandate in this amendment is inflexible to facts, science, and
needs arising from national emergencies.
For that reason, Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 27 Offered by Ms. Manning
Ms. MANNING. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, amendment
No. 27.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 16, strike ``including'' and insert ``not
including''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Ms. MANNING. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer my amendment which would
help protect our Nation's public waters and coastline.
My commonsense amendment would prevent additional leases for drilling
on Federal lands on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Fossil fuel companies can currently access public lands and waters to
help secure our Nation's energy independence and reduce energy costs
for hardworking American families.
Yet, even as Americans faced high gas prices in 2022, oil companies
failed to use thousands of existing permits for millions of acres that
they had already leased.
Currently, oil companies are sitting on more than 2,000 active leases
covering 12 million acres of Federal waters. Mr. Chair, 75 percent of
these leases aren't being used.
We should use existing leases, rather than increasing threats to our
coasts, including the beautiful coast in my State of North Carolina.
That is why my commonsense amendment seeks to protect our Nation's
shores, public waters, and marine life. Thirty states have shorelines,
and millions of Americans rely on clean beaches and clean oceans for
countless jobs, nutritious food, and much-loved recreation.
In closing, I encourage all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle
to support this reasonable, commonsense amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. This amendment severely limits the potential for
energy production by prohibiting lands within the Outer Continental
Shelf from being included in the leasing plan.
Here is a factoid that my colleagues across the aisle need to
understand: virtually all oil and gas leasing in the OCS occurs in the
Gulf of Mexico. Oil and gas exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf
accounts for roughly 15 percent of all domestic oil production and 2
percent of domestic natural gas production.
By actually further limiting this vast resource, are they going to
bring American energy prices down?
No way.
If we limit this vast resource we will not--I repeat, we will not--be
able to meet the demand for oil and gas.
For that reason, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. MANNING. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from North
Carolina will be postponed.
{time} 2015
Amendment No. 60 Offered by Ms. Scholten
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 11, after ``(d)'' insert ``or if the Secretary
determines that a situation exists in which a delay in
executing a drawdown of petroleum products in the Reserve in
order to comply with this paragraph will increase gas
prices''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, I rise today to address an issue which every
American cares about: gas prices.
When gas prices were high last summer, the administration took action
by releasing millions of barrels of oil from our Strategic Petroleum
Reserve to lower the cost for consumers.
The Treasury Department has estimated that the administration's use
of the SPR cut prices for American consumers by as much as 40 cents per
gallon, saving the average driver hundreds of dollars per year.
This use of the SPR not only helps insulate Americans from foreign
adversaries' price manipulations; it puts money back in the pockets of
working families and is a top concern among young people.
By introducing H.R. 21, a bill inhibiting the administration's
flexibility to use the SPR, Republicans are showing once again that
they care more about their friends in the oil industry than hardworking
Americans.
My amendment will address this issue by allowing the Department of
Energy to release oil from the SPR if the Department thinks that a
delay in doing so would lead to an increase in gas prices.
This commonsense amendment gives the Department the flexibility it
needs to help lower the price at the pump. I urge my colleagues to
support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition.
The Acting Chair. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, this bill does not require a leasing
plan if the Secretary of Energy determines that delaying a drawdown
would increase gas prices.
As has been previously stated, the SPR is not supposed to be used to
lower gas prices. It is supposed to be used in case of emergencies, for
reasons that, I don't know, might be strategic; thus, the name:
Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
It is supposed to be used for our national security, another very
important strategic reason.
Our friends across the aisle, the Democrats, say they want to lower
gas prices when nearly every single one of their energy policies does
exactly the opposite.
The way to lower gas prices and keep them low--and I applaud their
apparent want and desire to lower gas prices--their aim is a little off
target.
The way to lower gas prices, when nearly every single one of their
energy
[[Page H413]]
policies is exactly the same, is to change that focus.
Because the way to lower gas prices and to keep them low is to
increase American energy production at home, right here at home. That
is exactly what H.R. 21 does.
If the Democrats want to support lowering gas prices, I urge them to
support this bill. I am glad they want to.
They should support this bill, H.R. 21, to require the Secretary of
Energy to develop a plan to actually increase energy production for
those working Americans that they cited.
For this reason, Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment
and a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 21 to decrease energy costs for all
Americans.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Scholten).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 25 Offered by Mrs. Lee of Nevada
Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 2, strike ``provide for a'' and insert
``provide for--''.
Page 3, line 2, before ``total increase'' insert the
following:
``(A) a
Page 3, line 5, strike the period at the end and insert ``;
and''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) an increase in Federal lands described in paragraph
(1) that have no or low potential for oil and gas
development.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of my
amendment to H.R. 21.
This amendment would ensure that the Federal Government is not forced
into leasing public lands with low- or no-potential for oil and gas
development to the fossil fuel industry as a result of this bill.
The reckless leasing of low- to no-potential lands, also known as
speculative leasing, has allowed millions of acres of our Nation's
invaluable public lands to be put in harm's way for no real economic
benefit in return.
The problem is pervasive, affecting all Western States. However, it
is particularly severe in my home State of Nevada where there are very
few productive oil and gas formations but plenty of Federal land.
Speculative leasing is a serious problem that costs taxpayers serious
money. These leases are cheap. They are easy to acquire, usually
selling at near the minimum bid of $2 per acre.
Because they are so cheap, companies with purely speculative
interests target these lands with little intent or likelihood of
putting them into production.
Thus, the government is then forced to use taxpayer dollars to
administer and monitor them, but the leases almost never generate
royalties or other benefits for the American taxpayer.
In fact, according to the GAO, 99 percent of these noncompetitive
leases, which are frequently issued with little or no-potential lands,
never went into production or generated royalties for taxpayers.
In addition to burdening taxpayers, these leases also come with
environmental risks. In many instances, low-potential lands receive
fewer protections than areas with high potential because Federal land
managers forecast low likelihood of development activity. This leaves
land, water, and wildlife all incredibly vulnerable.
The current policy creates an opportunity cost. Once leased, low-
potential lands are not prioritized for other uses like conservation
and recreation, regardless of their development status.
My amendment will prevent speculative leasing from becoming an even
bigger problem. It will exclude Federal lands with no or low potential
for oil and gas development from the scope of this bill.
My amendment will save taxpayer dollars instead of strong-arming
Federal agencies into spending those tax dollars on issuing and
administering speculative leases that generate little or no revenue.
This means the Federal oil and gas program can more efficiently focus
on managing leases that actually generate royalties and revenues for
taxpayers.
My amendment will mitigate environmental risk. Nearly 50 percent of
all leases in the West--spanning 9.9 million acres--are currently idle,
with iconic landscapes they encompass frequently left neglected, and
the unique cultural and natural resources of these storied places,
likewise, are left largely unprotected.
This amendment will prevent additional acreage from being put in
environmental jeopardy to satisfy leases that half the time are simply
left to gather dust.
On balance, this amendment reins in the practice that has numerous
costs and provides little or no return on investment for us, the
American taxpayers.
So I implore all of you, Democrats and Republicans, to vote ``yes''
on my amendment, a clear example of commonsense land management and
fiscal responsibility. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, this amendment precludes land that has
``no or low potential for oil and gas development'' from being included
in the production plan.
I have got news for my friends across the aisle. If lands have ``no
or low to no potential for oil and gas development,'' the private
sector likely would not seek a lease for that land in the first place.
Regardless, it is not the government's job to make that decision. The
government shouldn't be in the business of choosing winners and losers.
Didn't we see that with some other industry out in California a while
back?
If it were the government's job to choose winners and losers, we
would not have had the Shale Revolution. Look at what that has done for
America.
This amendment is unnecessary, and it is vague enough to be abused as
a political tool, as we have seen with the current administration with
the SPR. We don't want that to keep happening.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Nevada (Mrs. Lee).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Nevada
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 45 Offered by Ms. Porter
Ms. PORTER. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer amendment No. 45.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 24, strike ``limitation'' and insert
``limitations''.
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 5 and insert the following:
``(2) Limitations.--
``(A) Total increase.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall not provide for a total increase in the percentage of
Federal lands described in paragraph (1) leased for oil and
gas production in excess of 10 percent.
``(B) Financial benefit or participation.--The plan
required by paragraph (1) shall not provide for the financial
benefit or participation of any entity which is allowed any
allowance for depletion which is determined under section 613
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. PORTER. Taxpayers should not be a piggy bank for Big Oil to line
its pockets. As a taxpayer advocate, I am introducing an amendment to
protect our money from Big Oil's greed.
Under current law, oil and gas companies get a tax break when they
tap into their reserves as part of doing business. This amounts to
about a $2 to $3 billion handout each year.
[[Page H414]]
Now, as we look to spend taxpayer dollars to replenish the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve, corporations are poised to double dip, to profit off
the American people.
Without a change in policy, polluters get tax dollars once in the
form of a government contract and again in the form of a special tax
break. As a champion for capitalism, I strongly oppose this corporate
abuse.
When the Federal Government negotiates a contract with oil companies
to buy their product with tax dollars, they do it at a fair price. That
is capitalism.
But to turn around and then give them a tax break, that is
corruption, bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry, which
spends $100 million each year on lobbying.
As a consumer protection attorney, I have never met any American--
Democrat, Republican, Independent--who likes to be cheated.
Consumers should get what we pay for. Big Oil should not get to
double charge taxpayers for the same oil.
Many of my Republican colleagues talk about safeguarding capitalism.
They stress the importance of protecting tax dollars.
A handout to Big Oil is antithetical to these goals. Big Oil
shouldn't get a bonus helping of tax dollars after they have received
government contracts.
I urge all my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to stand up for
our capitalist principles, to protect taxpayers, and to adopt this
amendment.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, this amendment prohibits the
leasing plan from providing a financial benefit for any entity that is
allowed to make gross income or take a tax deduction on an oil
depletion.
Really? They are really going after the companies that are providing
energy for Americans, lowering the price of energy?
This amendment is not only punitive; it is literally aimed to hurt
American energy and the American energy workers, the families who are
working and striving hard to make America energy independent.
Mr. Chairman, the left needs to stop trying to punish the oil and gas
industry for trying to produce and unleash American energy independence
so that we can increase the supply, which helps American families.
For this reason, Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment,
and I yield the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. PORTER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California
will be postponed.
{time} 2030
Amendment No. 63 Offered by Mr. Vasquez
Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, Number
63.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``effective date of this
subsection''.
Add at the end the following:
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act, and any amendments made by this Act, shall not
take effect until the Secretary of Energy, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Interior, publishes a report on the
number, location, and owner of all unused permits to drill
for oil and gas on Federal land.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Mexico is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R.
21, the Strategic Production Response Act.
I represent the Second District of New Mexico, home to the Permian
Basin. Public lands are where I hunt; they are where I fish; they are
where I live. They are part of who I am, and they are part of the
culture and the tradition of my district.
Now, my amendment is simple. It requires the Departments of Energy
and the Interior to publish a report on the number, the location, and
the owners of all unused permits to drill for oil and gas on Federal
land.
We must proactively look at the resources the energy industry already
has and is not using.
I am proud that my district in New Mexico is one of the top energy
producing districts in the United States, so I am well aware of the
vast resources that are available to us.
Today, there are over 9,000 unused permits for drilling across 26
million acres of public land. I will say that again: 9,000 existing
unused permits locking up public lands for no other use.
Why wouldn't we look at these existing permits before locking up new
Federal land? That is just common sense.
I know that in my family, when the pantry is full, we don't go to the
grocery store to look for more. That is called hoarding.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a critical tool to ensure that
Americans don't pay the price for global shocks in the energy market
and the volatility in the global energy market.
When I was in my district last week, I traveled more than 1,600 miles
between constituent meetings, from Albuquerque to Santa Teresa to
Carlsbad. Those meetings included meetings with oil and gas producers,
with folks in Carlsbad and in Hobbs.
My constituents make these commutes every single day, paying more at
the pump because we are not passing commonsense legislation that allows
us to lower the cost of gas in this country, which the SPR allows us to
do.
I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, this amendment is simply another
delaying tactic to delay the effects of the bill until after the
Secretary of Energy publishes a report exposing how backlogged the
Department of the Interior is on drilling permits. It is nothing more
than a delaying tactic that is going to simply hurt American families,
American workers.
We already know the answer, Mr. Chairman. There are thousands of
permits awaiting action from the Department of Energy for wells that
could actually come online and help respond to the energy crisis and
help American workers and American families.
There is no need to wait for DOE to issue a study. That is a delaying
tactic, especially on matters at the Department of the Interior. It is
nothing but a delaying tactic.
For that reason, Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Vasquez).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Mexico
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 64 Offered by Mr. Vasquez
Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. DOMESTIC OIL AND GAS FOR THE SPR.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary
of Energy shall, to the greatest extent possible, acquire
petroleum products for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve that
are produced from sources located in the United States.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Mexico is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 21, the
Strategic Production Response Act.
My amendment removes the needless, burdensome paperwork for Federal
agencies and simply says that the Department of Energy should seek to
[[Page H415]]
stock the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with American-produced energy.
This will help Americans, including my constituents who commute
hours--countless hours--every day across our expansive State, save
money at the gas pump.
If the goal is to support American workers, then my amendment to
prioritize existing American production is the answer.
If the point of this legislation is to support American workers in
the energy industry, many of whom are in the Permian Basin in New
Mexico, then I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.
Pass my amendment to prioritize domestic energy over reliance on
foreign nations because the reality is that the bill before us today
adds more government bureaucracy and more needless paperwork.
Why would we pass a bill that would delay using the SPR in the times
of our country's greatest need?
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a critical tool to ensure that
Americans don't pay for these global energy shocks.
H.R. 21 is a bill to make Americans pay higher prices for longer.
This doesn't make sense.
Last week, as I mentioned, I was in my district, traveling across the
vast district almost the size of the State of Pennsylvania, and I heard
directly from my constituents, from energy officials, from folks that
are in Carlsbad and Hobbs, and I know what it means to support American
workers.
Mr. Chair, if we want to support our workers we should pass my
amendment, to guarantee that the first place we turn to restock the SPR
is right here in the United States, without the needless paperwork.
I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, plain and simple, plain and simple,
this amendment is unnecessary and misguided and, not to mention, oh, it
strikes the whole bill.
Maybe a lesson is needed for our friends across the aisle. The United
States is the world's largest energy producer, in case y'all didn't
know that; and combined with our allies, Canada and Mexico, North
America is the world's largest energy superpower.
Our network of pipelines, production platforms, and refineries span
our borders, providing the American people with energy security that is
absolutely unmatched around the world. Let me repeat that: Absolutely
unmatched around the world.
Our refineries along the Gulf Coast, which I have the third upper
part of the Gulf Coast in the State of Texas, are the most complex and
technically advanced in the entire world, bar none. We take crude oil
of all grades from around the world and make valuable fuels and refined
products that actually drive our entire economy.
This amendment would cut off a valuable source of energy, just like
when President Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline.
I think I heard them say that they were about helping American
workers, and how many jobs were lost when he canceled the Keystone
pipeline.
For that reason, Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment
because it will make America less energy secure, the exact opposite
purpose of H.R. 21, the bill before us.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Vasquez).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Mexico
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 135 Offered by Mr. Cicilline
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer Amendment No. 135.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 1, strike ``Limitation'' and insert
``Limitations''.
Page 3, line 2, strike ``shall not'' and insert ``shall
not--''.
Page 3, line 2, strike ``provide for'' and insert the
following:
``(A) provide for''.
Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent;
and''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) provide for leasing for oil and gas production in any
area of the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of the
State of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, or New York.''.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from Rhode Island is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment
to H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act.
My amendment would prohibit offshore drilling for oil and gas along
the coast of New England and the contiguous waters of the State of New
York.
In Rhode Island and throughout New England, the health of our coast
is sacred. Rhode Island's coastline supports good-paying jobs and
economic growth in every city and town across our State. Crucial
coastal industries like tourism, commercial and recreational fishing
and boating are really the lifeblood of our communities.
According to NOAA, the NOAA Office for Coastal Management, Rhode
Island's coastal economy employs more than 467,000 people and
contributes $59.3 billion in Gross Domestic Product annually.
Rhode Islanders do not want oil and gas drilling just a few miles off
our shores threatening our health, our economic livelihoods, and our
way of life.
When the former President announced a plan in 2018 to open New
England's coastal waters to offshore drilling, I introduced the New
England Coastal Protection Act to ban his administration and any future
administration from taking this disastrous action.
So I am here, Mr. Chairman, to ask my colleagues to support this
amendment that really, without it, this legislation threatens the
economic stability of my constituents and the quality of life for those
who live in coastal communities all across the New England coast.
Make no mistake: This legislation would have catastrophic effects on
the ocean and many of the other invaluable natural resources that we
hold so dear and that we are obligated to protect.
While my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to place
the profits of Big Oil above all else, I oppose these dangerous and
shortsighted policies at every turn, and I am committed to protecting
my constituents and the communities that I represent.
I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of a point of
order.
The Acting CHAIR. The reservation of the point of order is withdrawn.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chairman, the legislation we are considering today
is a national solution for a national challenge. We cannot arbitrarily
remove places from consideration if the best science, technology, and
practices can safely and responsibly obtain the energy we need to power
our economy.
H.R. 21 will strengthen our energy security and stop the Biden
administration from raiding our strategic stockpile.
I urge a ``no'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Rhode Island
will be postponed.
[[Page H416]]
Amendment No. 125 Offered by Mr. Quigley
Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``date on which the Secretary
certifies that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has ended''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment today to ensure that
the President and the Secretary of Energy are able to use the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve without arbitrary limitations during a time of war.
This amendment allows for the U.S. to have the full capabilities of
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at its disposal without restrictions
for as long as Russia continues to illegally attack Ukraine.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine,
altering the geopolitical landscape, not only in Europe but across the
globe. President Biden and our allies took swift and significant action
to support Ukraine by banning Russian energy imports. These actions
have put pressure on Putin and allowed Ukraine to continue defending
its sovereignty, and with it, our democratic ideals.
Putin's war has caused a global energy crisis which has been
exacerbated by increased demand as we recover from the COVID-19
pandemic.
Americans felt the energy and gas prices rising as U.S. energy
suppliers worked to meet the need. Thankfully, the U.S. has the
strategic reserve at its disposal. This reserve is the world's largest
supply of emergency crude oil with the sole purpose of meeting energy
demands in times of crisis.
President Biden smartly utilized all the tools at his disposal to
limit energy supply constraints and released enough barrels of crude
oil to fill the gap left by Russian oil. Experts show that Biden's
actions helped lower the price of gasoline for Americans everywhere
from 13 to 31 cents a gallon.
Sadly, almost 1 year later, the international landscape continues to
be in crisis. We are no closer to re-establishing Ukrainian
sovereignty, while Russia continues to launch offenses.
Until Ukraine is free, until Ukrainians feel safe, until Russia is
held accountable, our global energy markets are at risk.
I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 2045
Point of Order
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I insist on my point of order against the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, clause 7 of rule XVI prohibits the House
and its committees from considering nongermane amendments. The
amendment violates clause 7 of rule XVI of the House rule because it is
not germane to the underlying bill.
Specifically, the bill limits the drawdown of petroleum in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a
plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production, but the amendment addresses the Russian invasion of
Ukraine.
This is outside the scope of H.R. 21. Conditioning enactment of this
bill upon an entirely unrelated foreign military event is not germane.
The Acting CHAIR. Does any Member wish to be heard on this point of
order?
Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chair, for these purposes, the subject matter can be
construed as preventing certain SPR drawdowns until the administration
develops a production increase plan. This amendment narrowly addresses
the same subject matter without broadening the plan. Rather, it ensures
a timeline conducive with our current state of international crisis.
This amendment says the plan can't be implemented before the
Secretary of Energy certifies that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has
ended. It does not condition the effectiveness of the bill, nor does it
require any extraneous action or bring any new statute or new
committees of jurisdiction.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. Does any other Member wish to be heard on this
point of order?
The Chair is now prepared to rule.
The gentleman from North Dakota makes a point of order that the
amendment is not germane to the bill. Clause 7 of rule XVI provides
that no proposition on a subject different from that under
consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.
One of the central tenets of the germaneness rule is that an
amendment may impose a related condition on the terms of a bill. The
bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed a plan to
increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production.
The amendment provides that the prohibition contemplated by the bill
may be effective only when ``Russia's invasion of Ukraine has ended.''
Various precedents recorded in the manual section 940 illustrate the
principle that an amendment may subject the operation of a bill to a
condition, but only if that condition is ``related to the general
purpose and within the scope of the pending proposition.''
The Chair would note a relevant precedent as an example of this
principle.
On December 11, 1973, a bill authorizing military assistance to
Israel and funds for the United Nations Emergency Force in the Middle
East was under consideration. An amendment was offered conditioning the
availability of the authorized funds on a Presidential certification
related to a specified level of domestic energy supplies was ruled out
of order because the amendment conditioned the effectiveness of the
underlying measure on an unrelated contingency. That precedent is
carried in Deschler's Precedents, chapter 28, section 31.22.
The amendment in question provides a condition on the effectiveness
of the bill as earlier described.
The Chair believes that the condition based on a foreign invasion is
not related to a prohibition on the drawdown at the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve pursuant to this bill.
In this way, the Chair finds that the condition imposed by the
amendment is not related to the subject matter of the bill.
For this reason, the Chair finds that the amendment is not germane.
The point of order is sustained.
Amendment No. 80 Offered by Mr. Takano
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 80.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closed quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Comment period.--Before finalizing the plan required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide an
opportunity for public comment on the plan for a period of at
least 90 days.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, my amendment is simple in that it would
improve the transparency of the process around the development of the
plan required in the underlying bill.
Like other regulatory processes where public input is required, my
amendment would require the Secretary to provide for an opportunity for
at least a 90-day public comment period on the plan.
If Congress is going to open up more Federal land for oil and gas
production, we must hear from the communities and stakeholders that
would be affected by most of these projects. This amendment simply
gives an opportunity for the public to offer their views and knowledge
for the Secretary to consider in the formation of any plan.
Oil and gas drilling can be a terribly destructive process for the
environment and the communities around these drilling sites. The
individuals and families who must live near drilling sites are forced
to experience the harsh day-to-day realities of air and water quality
impacts, which can lead to increased risks of developing asthma,
respiratory disease, cancer, and other harmful side effects.
If the Secretary is going to recommend a plan to expand more
drilling, then we should hear from experts,
[[Page H417]]
stakeholders, and others who have a vested interest and allow them to
participate openly and honestly in the process.
This is a simple, good-governance amendment. We are elected to
Congress by the people, and it is the people who are affected who
deserve a say in what happens in their communities.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve by requiring any nonemergency use to be
accompanied by a plan to produce American oil resources. It is about
conditioning nonemergency uses with the requirement to focus on energy
production.
Notably, this amendment does not seek public comment on nonemergency
political uses of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It doesn't require
comment on the value of preserving our strategic assets for true energy
emergencies. This amendment needlessly delays the plan, and I urge a
``no'' vote.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).
The amendment was rejected.
Amendment No. 81 Offered by Mr. Takano
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 81.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Considerations.--In developing the plan under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the number of
inactive but approved Federal oil and gas leases and permits
to drill issued before the date of enactment of this
subsection.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, my amendment would require the Secretary to
consider the current number of inactive but approved Federal oil and
gas leases and permits to drill in the development of any proposed
plan. My amendment is vital to fully capturing the scope of unused oil
and gas leases and permits to drill on Federal lands that companies are
choosing not to utilize.
There are currently over 9,000 approved permits to drill on Federal
land, yet my Republican colleagues want to open up even more Federal
lands and approve additional permits to drill. The underlying bill is
merely a politically motivated effort to undermine this
administration's ability to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
while opening up more Federal lands to exploitation by private-sector
interests.
Before the Secretary can draft any plan that proposes expanded
drilling on Federal lands, I believe it is important that it consider
all information relevant to such a plan, and that includes how many
leases and permits are already approved but left inactive.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support
this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve by requiring nonemergency use to be
accompanied by a plan to produce American resources. This amendment
raises a misleading issue.
Consider a couple of facts. The majority of leases on Federal land
are currently producing oil and gas. Two-thirds of active leases are
producing. The rest are going through a burdensome regulatory process
or being tied up by litigation. This is an unnecessary amendment that
seeks to impede the important goals of H.R. 21.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 82 Offered by Mr. Takano
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 82.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 13, strike ``date of enactment of this
subsection'' and insert ``effective date of this
subsection''.
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 5 and insert the following:
``(2) Limitations.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall not--
``(A) provide for a total increase in the percentage of
Federal lands described in paragraph (1) leased for oil and
gas production in excess of 10 percent; or
``(B) provide for any increase in oil and gas drilling if
that oil and gas drilling would impact deployment of
renewable energy projects on Federal lands.''.
Add at the end the following:
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act, and any amendments made by this Act, shall take
effect on the date on which the Secretary of Energy certifies
that increased oil and gas drilling on Federal lands will not
impact deployment of renewable energy projects on Federal
lands.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, the United States is at the forefront of clean
energy development and clean energy deployment globally. Not only are
we developing countless private renewable energy projects across the
country, but we have hundreds more wind, solar, and geothermal projects
on Federal lands, with many more on the way.
If we are to remain a global leader in renewable energy deployment,
then we should ensure any new oil and gas drilling does not impede the
rapid deployment of renewable energy projects that are so critical to
our energy independence and security.
Before we consider approving even more land for outdated and highly
polluting forms of energy, we must continue on our march into the
future and invest in renewable energy projects, not just on Federal
lands but in every community that stands to benefit from these
projects.
My amendment would require the Secretary to not only certify that
increased oil and gas drilling on Federal lands will not negatively
impact renewable energy project development but also prohibit the
inclusion of any recommendations to expand such drilling in this plan
if it would do so.
Yes, we must make gas affordable at the pump, but the President of
the United States has already helped lower prices for the American
people by drawing down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In fact, the
underlying legislation would create additional barriers to keeping gas
prices low.
The answer is not more drilling. The answer is to invest in renewable
energy and to make these new technologies more affordable for everyday
Americans.
If we want to keep the United States from falling second to China in
the deployment of renewable energy projects, then we should be taking
every reasonable step to continue their deployment. My amendment would
do just that by ensuring the plan required in the underlying bill
mitigates any impacts to renewable energy projects on Federal lands.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I do insist on the point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, the amendment violates clause 7 of rule XVI
of the rules of the House because it is not germane to the underlying
bill.
Specifically, the bill limits the drawdown of petroleum in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a
plan to increase
[[Page H418]]
the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas production, but
the amendment would establish an effective date based on the
certification that the Federal lands considered for the plan will not
impact deployment of renewable energy projects on Federal lands.
Since this bill is about strategic petroleum supply, the deployment
of renewable energy projects is outside the scope of H.R. 21, and the
amendment is not germane.
{time} 2100
The Acting CHAIR. Does any Member seek to speak on this point of
order?
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Chair, I respectfully reject the point of order
against my amendment. Adding limitations to the scope of the existing
plan required in paragraph 1 falls squarely within the jurisdiction of
the base text and the legislative intent of the bill.
The Acting CHAIR. Do any other Members seek time on this point of
order to be heard? If not, the Chair is prepared to rule.
The gentleman from North Dakota makes a point of order that the
amendment is not germane to the bill.
The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed
a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for
oil and gas production.
The amendment in question provides a condition on the effectiveness
of the bill. The condition provides that the Secretary will certify
that increased drilling will not impact deployment of energy projects
on Federal land.
The Chair believes that oil and gas drilling is reasonably related to
the plan contemplated by the bill.
In accordance with the Chair's detailed analysis of the underlying
procedural principles stated earlier today, the Chair finds that the
conditions imposed by the amendment is related to the subject of the
bill.
For this reason, the Chair finds that the amendment is germane. The
point of order is overruled.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by
requiring any nonemergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce
American oil resources.
This amendment undermines the purpose of the bill. It seeks to erect
limits for the sake of expanding renewable energy projects on Federal
lands. Yet, these very same renewable projects--such as weather-
dependent wind and solar--must have natural gas backup and other firm
energy to assure reliability.
This amendment not only undermines the energy security purpose of
this bill, it would help intensify the reliability crisis that is
growing worse and worse all across the United States.
It is time to get serious about energy security and affordable,
reliable energy.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).
The amendment was rejected.
Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Castro of Texas
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer Castro amendment No.
4.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 1, strike ``Limitation'' and insert
``Limitations''.
Page 3, line 2, strike ``shall not'' and insert ``shall
not--''.
Page 3, line 2, strike ``provide for'' and insert the
following:
``(A) provide for''.
Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent;
and''.
Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) provide for oil and gas leasing of any Federal lands
that have a high concentration of orphaned oil and gas
wells.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment to the
Strategic Production Reserve Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy
from approving new oil and gas leases on Federal lands that have high
concentrations of orphaned oil and gas wells.
Over the 160-year history of industrial oil and gas extraction in the
United States, companies have dug millions of oil wells to fuel energy
demands at home and around the world.
When the pumps run dry and the wells are no longer profitable,
companies are supposed to seal them up to stop toxic chemicals from
escaping into the environment. Unfortunately, they often have not.
Between the lax regulations of the oil boom and the patchwork of
current State and Federal laws, oil companies have been able to shirk
their responsibility to keep the communities around their wells safe.
Today, the American landscape is dotted with abandoned, uncapped
wells that leak toxins into the air we breathe and the water we drink.
The U.S. Geological Survey has documented more than 117,000 orphaned
wells, and the EPA estimates that as many as 3 million could exist
across the country.
Last year, as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress
authorized $4.7 billion in investment to plug orphaned wells and
protect the areas around them from further environmental harm.
But even with this funding, the government is playing whack-a-mole--
with new orphaned wells emerging as we struggle to clean up the ones we
already have.
Right now, as we debate this bill, the largest owner of oil and gas
wells in the country is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy that could
leave more than 70,000 orphaned wells spewing poison in different parts
of the country.
As taxpayers cover the tab for the mess that oil companies created,
we should not be signing leases that open the door to a new generation
of orphaned wells.
My State of Texas is the top oil and gas producing State in the
Nation, and I am acutely aware of how important the energy industry is
to our State and our national economy.
This amendment does not ask oil companies to repay taxpayers for the
billions we have already spent to clean up their toxic wells, and it
doesn't prevent further drilling.
Instead, it pauses new drilling leases on Federal lands with the
highest concentration of orphaned wells--giving the government a chance
to catch up with the cleanup efforts that are already underway.
This is a commonsense amendment that would bring relief to the 14
million Americans who live within a mile of an orphaned well.
Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, the purpose of the bill is to prevent
further abuse of the SPR and require the Secretary to establish a plan
to increase and unleash American energy production on Federal lands and
offshore waters.
This amendment is nothing more than another attempt to limit oil and
gas production in the United States. American energy workers are eager
to get back to work--we can produce millions more barrels of oil per
day instead of relying on OPEC and Russia for our energy needs.
President Biden's Department of the Interior only leased 126,228
acres for drilling during his first 19 months in office.
To put that in perspective, no other President since Richard Nixon
leased out fewer than 4.4 million acres at that stage in their first
term.
The Biden administration has made it more difficult than any other
administration in history to produce energy, and this amendment would
add to that.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
[[Page H419]]
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will
be postponed.
{time} 2110
Amendment No. 24 Offered by Ms. Barragan
Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 24.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 5, strike the period at the end and insert ``,
nor shall it include any Federal land a boundary of which is
within 3,200 feet of a residence, school, or hospital.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to protect
the public health of our communities in this plan to increase oil and
gas production on public lands. My amendment prevents Federal lands
from being included in the required oil drilling plan if it is within
3,200 feet of a residence, a school, or a hospital.
This is a commonsense measure to limit the harmful impact of this
legislation. People living near oil wells are exposed to air pollutants
that can cause asthma, cancer, pregnancy complications, and preterm
births. I have seen it firsthand in my district. Kids are suffering
from headaches and nosebleeds from being too close to oil drilling.
Come to my district in California in Wilmington, Mr. Chairman, to
meet these kids. See how many of them have asthma inhalers around their
necks and in their pockets.
But whether you are in an urban community, a suburban community, a
rural community, or a Tribal community, everyone has a right to clean
air and a safe environment.
Now, oil and gas producing States like Colorado, Pennsylvania,
Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico have drilling setback laws to
protect communities. California also has passed a public health setback
of 3,200 feet for any new well.
This is a commonsense amendment for Democrats and Republicans to
protect communities near our Federal lands from drilling.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment to
protect public health, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits oil and gas
production within 3,200 feet of a residence, school, or a hospital. The
limits established by this amendment are arbitrary and would further
restrict our ability to lease land to produce energy.
A 3,200-foot boundary would be among the most aggressive prohibitions
in the country. This is an issue best handled by State and local
governments, not the Federal Government.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 43 Offered by Ms. Plaskett
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add to the end the following:
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON RAISING ENERGY PRICES.
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall not
take effect until the date on which the Secretary of Energy,
in consultation with other Federal agencies as appropriate,
submits to Congress a certification that implementation of
this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, will not
increase the average price of energy for American consumers.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands is
recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would prohibit the bill
from taking effect until the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with
other Federal agencies, certifies that this bill will not result in an
increase to the average price of energy for Americans.
The world's largest supply of emergency crude oil--the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve--was established to reduce the devastating impact of
supply shocks on prices. When supply shocks are allowed to occur
uninhibited, prices rise, and the American people suffer.
Whether it is mile-long lines at your local gas station or home
energy costs that force families into the cold or heat, supply shocks
in energy markets hurt people. They might not hurt some of my
colleagues' neighborhoods, but they certainly hurt mine.
My constituents would feel deeply the pain that would happen if the
President was not permitted to utilize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
to do its job.
All too often, affording to keep the lights on is an everyday
struggle for my constituents and for many other Americans, as well. My
district, the Virgin Islands, has among the highest residential and
commercial electric rates in the country.
The SPR is one of the few mechanisms that the Federal Government has
to prevent ever-growing price pressures from crushing people. Less than
1 year ago, in the face of global crude oil instability following
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Biden acted with great positive
effect to make measured drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,
causing price reductions by as much as 40 cents per gallon at the pump.
Today, average gasoline prices are down by more than $1.50 per gallon
from their peak last summer. So the utilization of the SPR thus far to
release oil into the market has been very effective for American
taxpayers. The SPR is a force for good when it is allowed to operate
unencumbered.
However, this bill would significantly weaken this critical energy
security tool and hamstring the President's ability to utilize the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a time of disruption, which will result
in more oil supply shortages. It would do so by making it harder to
withdraw oil into the market quickly to increase supply when the market
needs it most--which will drive up gasoline prices.
The President must be able to rapidly provide oil from the SPR to
address supply disruptions and respond to emergencies. Arbitrarily
requiring the completion of reports related to energy production on
Federal lands specifically--a matter which the Department of Energy
does not control--would only delay response and increase prices when
energy disruptions occur.
So my amendment is simple. It provides that SPR utilization may not
be limited unless the Secretary of Energy certifies that this would not
push up average energy prices in America.
Nothing is standing in the way of domestic oil production. Oil
production is up by 1 million barrels per day under President Biden and
is on track to reach a new record high this year. There are nearly
10,000 approved but unused permits to drill.
The basic rules of economics must continue to apply. The SPR should
continue to serve as a flexible and responsible emergency supply
recourse to put down pressure on energy prices. Under my amendment,
this bill must not yield the opposite and raise energy prices.
Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to please approve my
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is just aimed at delaying
the implementation of the bill.
We all know the Biden administration has used the SPR for political
gain to artificially decrease the price of gas at politically
convenient times for his administration. They have deflected the blame
for high energy prices everywhere but their own policy.
They have attempted to blame these record-high prices on Russia, on
Putin,
[[Page H420]]
on gas station owners, and on oil companies.
The reality is prices were already up over $1 a gallon well before
Russia invaded Ukraine. Maybe it has something to do with President
Biden's stating on the campaign trail: no more subsidies for the fossil
fuel industry. No more drilling on Federal lands. No more drilling,
including offshore. No ability for the oil industry to continue to
drill, period.
He also pledged to stop the Keystone XL. On his very first day in
office, he placed a moratorium on drilling and revoked the permit for
the Keystone XL pipeline.
Earlier this week, Secretary Granholm said at the White House press
briefing that there is nothing standing in the way of oil and gas
production in the United States.
The simple fact is the Biden administration has taken a whole-of-
government approach to regulate the industry and try and force it out
of existence.
Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from the Virgin
Islands will be postponed.
Amendment No. 79 Offered by Ms. Perez
Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 79.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 9, strike the closing quotation mark and the
final period.
Page 3, after line 9, insert the following:
``(4) Coastal fisheries exclusion.--The plan required by
paragraph (1) shall not provide for oil and gas leasing in
any tract in the Washington/Oregon Planning Area if such oil
and gas leasing would adversely impact coastal fisheries.''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Washington is recognized for 5
minutes.
{time} 2120
Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment prohibiting oil
and gas leasing on any tract of the Washington-Oregon Planning Area,
where leasing would negatively impact coastal fisheries.
The health of our economies depends on a clean Pacific. Washington
generates over $8.5 billion of revenue in fisheries and seafood
processing a year. My district is home to one of the most fishing-
dependent communities in the entire U.S.
Pacific County is home to the largest shellfish-producing community
on the entire West Coast. Pacific County produces almost 50 million
pounds of shellfish a year. That is 600 jobs and over $10 million of
value.
The towns of Ilwaco and Chinook support over 200 fishing vessels.
That is 1,300 jobs, generating 21 million pounds of fish and shellfish
and $25 million of personal income. To be clear, this is critical to
the economies of our coastal communities.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve will continue to be a critical part
of our national security infrastructure, and oil and gas will continue
to be part of our energy economy for a long time, but we can't
sacrifice our rural economies for a one-off jackpot in oil.
I am proud to offer this amendment to protect coastal fisheries and
the communities they support, and I am glad to stand up for people who
work for a living. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes in opposition.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve by requiring a nonemergency use to be
accompanied by a plan to produce American oil resources.
Increasing energy security means increasing energy supply, reducing
prices as we witnessed during the tremendous advancement of American
energy production up until just a few years ago.
This amendment aims to limit any expansion of energy in these areas,
regardless of the environmental practices. It will harm local
economies, ensure higher prices for fishermen, and undermine the
purpose of this bill.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Perez).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Washington
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 92 Offered by Mr. Bowman
Mr. BOWMAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 92.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 2, line 24, strike ``limitation'' and insert
``limitations''.
Page 3, strike lines 1 and 2, and insert the following:
``(2) Limitations.--The plan required by paragraph (1)
shall not--
``(A) provide for a total increase in
Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent;
or''.
Page 3 after line 5, insert the following:
``(B) authorize the participation, including in any lease
auction that occurs pursuant to such plan, by any corporation
or entity that the Secretary determines contributed to price-
gouging in the oil and gas sector in 2022.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New York is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. BOWMAN. Mr. Chairman, according to my friends across the aisle,
the purpose of this bill is to promote energy security and lower costs
for consumers. I hope they will agree that if our goal is to protect
Americans, then we cannot allow price-gouging corporations to
participate in any increased drilling on Federal lands under this bill.
That would defeat the entire purpose.
My amendment to H.R. 21 simply says that if you price gouged the
American people last year, you should not be allowed to participate in
a plan whose goal is to reduce prices and promote the public interest.
Nobody can deny that Big Oil and Gas engaged in price gouging in
2022. They raked in record profits--$343 billion in the first three
quarters of last year--at the same time that historically high gas
prices were pummeling American workers across the country. Inflation
gave these companies cover to jack up prices even higher. Supply chain
disruptions and a refinery crunch gave them cover to keep supply
restricted and to engage in market manipulation.
This is not my interpretation. This is what they broadcast to their
investors. Exxon and Chevron executives, for example, bragged about
maintaining capital discipline and about funneling billions back to
shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buybacks.
We should not accept that behavior. Let's come together on a
bipartisan basis and protect the American people from corporate price
gouging.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by
requiring any nonemergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce
American oil resources. This increases energy security, increases the
supply and affordability of oil, and creates stable prices.
This amendment seeks to condition a plan based on entities that may
or may not even participate in available lease tract auctions. This
amendment undermines the purpose of the bill, and I urge a ``no'' vote
on the amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Bowman).
[[Page H421]]
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. BOWMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 13 Offered by Ms. Tlaib
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 13.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end the following:
SEC. 3. REPORT ON CAMPAIGN DONATIONS FROM THE OIL AND GAS
INDUSTRY.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Chair of the Federal Election Commission shall
submit to Congress a report on campaign donations made during
the 2 most recent election cycles to Members of Congress from
oil and gas industry lobbyists and corporations.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.
The gentlewoman from Michigan is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, our residents elect each of us to represent
them in this body, not special interest groups or well-funded lobbies.
Yet, each year, the oil and gas lobby spends millions of dollars
buying meetings with Members, influencing and writing bills, and
defeating even the smallest efforts to help address our reliance on
oil.
I believe the American people deserve to know just how much their
Member is receiving from the oil and gas lobby to support their
favorite policies, and that is what this amendment would do.
Transparency, Mr. Chair, is paramount to building public trust, and
this amendment would go a long way in restoring the public's faith in
this body.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Point of Order
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I do insist on my point of order.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his point of order.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, the amendment violates clause 7 of rule XVI
of the rules of the House because it is not germane to the underlying
bill.
Specifically, the bill limits the drawdown of the petroleum in the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Department of Energy develops a
plan to increase the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas
production.
This amendment requires the Chair of the Federal Election Commission
to submit to Congress a report of certain campaign donations. Campaign
donations are outside the scope of H.R. 21.
I would also suggest that the disclosure of campaign donations falls
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on House Administration, but
that committee does not have any jurisdiction over the subject matter
of H.R. 21.
This amendment is not germane.
The Acting CHAIR. Does anyone else seek to be heard on the point of
order?
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, although I respectfully disagree with the
gentleman, I also acknowledge the importance of the Parliamentarian
ruling, and whatever rule or decision by the Parliamentarian is made, I
will respect that decision. Again, I respectfully disagree and believe
very much that this is applicable to this bill.
The Acting CHAIR. Does anyone else seek time to speak on the point of
order?
The Chair is prepared to rule.
The gentleman from North Dakota makes a point of order that the
amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan is not germane.
Clause 7 of rule XVI, the germaneness rule, provides that no
proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall
be admitted under color of amendment.
Among the fundamental principles of germaneness is that an amendment
must confine itself to matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee or committees with jurisdiction over the pending measure, as
documented in section 934 of the House Rules and Manual.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The
amendment falls within the legislative jurisdiction of the Committee on
House Administration.
By addressing a matter within the jurisdiction of a committee not
represented in the bill, the amendment is not germane. The point of
order is sustained.
{time} 2130
Amendment No. 14 Offered by Ms. Tlaib
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment No. 14.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 3, line 5, strike ``10 percent'' and insert ``0.1
percent''.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Michigan is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, Big Oil is sitting on 9,000 approved, unused
drilling permits on Federal lands. Folks are lying to you when they say
we need more permits and more drilling.
My amendment is simple. It lowers the permissible increase in Federal
lands available for drilling from 10 percent to 0.1 percent.
What we really need, Mr. Chair, are windfall profit taxes on Big Oil
so that they stop price gouging our constituents at the pump.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to please support me on this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from North Dakota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, H.R. 21 is about strengthening the SPR by
requiring any nonemergency use to be accompanied by a plan to produce
American resources. By lowering the number from 10 percent to 0.1
percent, you essentially defeat the whole purpose of introducing the
bill.
To be quite frank, it wouldn't be worth the paper we are using to put
it in front of Congress at this point in time.
We should have a conversation about this because at any point in time
we are going to blame, whether it is an invasion in the Ukraine or Big
Oil or small oil or gas stations or American consumers or the climate
crisis or all of those different things. The reality of this
conversation is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is at the lowest
rate it has been since 1983, is putting us at dangerous risk if any
kind of weather event happens in the Chair's home State of Texas or
Florida or the Gulf, where we really have these types of issues.
The reality to this entire conversation is that prior to the election
of President Biden as President, the oil and gas production onshore and
offshore in the United States had made us less vulnerable to foreign
interference than at any other time in our current history.
Since this administration has been in place, we have relied more and
more on outside oil and become subject to the same crises and problems
that we witnessed in the 1980s and the 1990s and until we discovered
shale in places like North Dakota.
This amendment guts the entire purpose of the bill. And while that is
the intent of the amendment, I would strongly urge a ``no'' vote, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Brecheen) having assumed the chair, Mr. Sessions, Acting Chair of the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 21) to
provide for the development of a plan to increase oil and gas
production under oil and gas leases of Federal lands under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy,
the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Defense in
conjunction with a drawdown of petroleum reserves from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve, had come to no resolution thereon.
[[Page H422]]
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