[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 181 (Thursday, November 2, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H5243-H5297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024


                             General Leave

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 4821, and that I may include 
tabular material on the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Idaho?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 838 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. 4821.
  The Chair appoints the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) to preside 
over the Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1102


                     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. 4821) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2024, and for other purposes, with Mr. Pfluger 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 chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective 
designees.
  The gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) and the gentlewoman from Maine 
(Ms. Pingree) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chair, I am pleased to begin consideration of the H.R. 4821, the 
fiscal year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act.
  Before I get into the bill, I commend Chairwoman Granger for her 
steadfast leadership of the Appropriations Committee and her ongoing 
support. I thank the ranking member of the full committee, Ms. DeLauro, 
for her work on this important legislation and other things. I thank 
Ranking Member Pingree for her partnership and the subcommittee members 
for their work on this bill, although Ms. Pingree and I may have some 
differences of opinion on this bill.
  H.R. 4821 provides $25.4 billion in new nondefense discretionary 
spending, which is $13.4 billion, or 35 percent, below the fiscal year 
2023 level. The bill also rescinds $9.4 billion in unnecessary funding 
provided to the EPA, the Presidio Trust, and the Council on 
Environmental Quality through the Inflation Reduction Act.
  Cutting funding is never easy or pretty, but with the national debt 
in excess of $33 trillion and inflation at an unacceptable level, we 
had to make tough choices to rein in Federal spending.
  Last Congress alone, $3 trillion was spent outside the normal 
appropriations process. That is $3 trillion that went into the national 
debt.
  Simply holding funding flat is not enough. We must work to curb our 
out-of-control spending and get our budget back on track. This bill 
does that. This legislation prioritizes critical needs within our 
reduced allocation and addresses specific interests and concerns 
brought to our attention through more than 8,000 Member requests.
  H.R. 4821 fully funds the payments in lieu of taxes program for 
fiscal year 2024, which is estimated to be $515 million. It also makes 
critical investments in Indian Country by providing funding for the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Indian Health 
Service at fiscal year 2023 levels or above.
  To combat catastrophic wildfires and protect communities across the 
country, the bill includes a $1.6 billion discretionary increase to 
fund wildfire activities without budget gimmicks. It also provides a 
$2.65 billion cap adjustment for wildfire suppression activities, as 
authorized.
  To address these priorities while rightsizing the agencies under our 
jurisdiction, the bill reduces funding for nearly every other 
appropriation in the bill, and many agencies received double-digit 
percentage reductions. The EPA is reduced by $4 billion, or 39 percent, 
below the fiscal year 2023 level.
  In terms of policy, the bill makes important steps to reduce 
regulatory burdens imposed by the EPA, expand access to critical 
minerals and natural resources, and promote domestic energy production. 
Such efforts include halting the EPA's job-killing regulations, such as 
repealing the recent waters of the United States regulations and rules 
that target reliable energy sources and domestic manufacturing; 
limiting abuse of the Endangered Species Act regarding species such as 
the sage grouse, gray wolf, bison, and lesser prairie chicken; 
expanding access to critical minerals and promoting proper management 
of our Nation's forests; and requiring oil and gas lease sales. These 
policies will help boost our national security, reduce energy costs, 
and create American jobs.
  Mr. Chairman, this bill will help manage our public lands wisely, 
meet our commitment to our brothers and sisters in Indian Country, and 
restore the fiscal responsibility necessary to get our economy back on 
track.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, as ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am deeply concerned about the 
majority's lack of urgency to fund the government. The continuing 
resolution expires in less than 3 weeks, but instead of getting to 
work negotiating with the Senate on a full-year bill, we are wasting 
time on bills that violate the terms of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 
of 2023.

  I strongly oppose the fiscal year 2024 Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies appropriations bill. This harmful bill debilitates 
America's ability to address the climate crisis and hobbles the 
agencies within its jurisdiction.
  It slashes funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by nearly 
40 percent. That is nearly $4 billion less than we appropriated in 
2023.
  It also rescinds more than $7 billion of vital investments provided 
by the Inflation Reduction Act for the United States to take immediate 
economy-wide climate action. Climate change has reached a crisis point, 
and experts agree that we must take bold action to avoid a major, 
irreversible catastrophe.
  In addition to the cut proposed by the State-Foreign Operations bill, 
the Republicans' Interior bill virtually eliminates the greenhouse gas 
reduction fund, which was established by the Inflation Reduction Act to 
mitigate the costs of climate pollution through investment in low-and 
zero-emission technologies.
  The damage inflicted by this bill extends far beyond climate change. 
The bill wipes out the environmental justice program and cuts $1.4 
billion from the environmental and climate justice grants made possible 
through the Inflation Reduction Act.
  It curtails the progress that has been made to ensure that all people 
are

[[Page H5244]]

equally protected from our environmental and health hazards. This bill 
abandons our most vulnerable groups that currently bear a 
disproportionate share of negative environmental impacts, which 
includes large swaths of rural communities that I, and many of my 
colleagues across the aisle, represent.
  The bill also slashes funding for enforcement of the Clean Air Act 
and Clean Water Act, which will enable polluters.
  The cuts in this bill are so severe that even agencies that usually 
garner bipartisan support are targeted for damaging reductions. Funding 
for the National Park Service, for example, will be cut by 13 percent.
  This bill also significantly reduces funding for the arts and 
humanities agencies. The cuts to the Smithsonian Institution and 
National Gallery of Art are so deep that they will be forced to reduce 
the number of hours or days each week that the museums are open to the 
public.
  When our constituents bring their families to see our Nation's 
Capital, I think all Members in this room expect they should have 
access to these museums, but this bill takes that away.
  The bill also fails our Nation's wildland firefighters. It does not 
provide any of the funding requested by the administration to support 
wildland firefighters and their families through better compensation, 
safe housing, and health and well-being assistance. Without this 
funding, firefighters will lose the compensation increases first 
provided in the bipartisan infrastructure law.
  Sadly, this bill also contains numerous discriminatory riders, as 
well as an exhaustive list of anti-environment riders that seek to 
derail any effort to combat climate change, and it undermines clean 
water and clean air protections.
  They give an open invitation to exploitive oil, gas, and mineral 
leasing by blocking environmental regulations and even overriding 
judicial review. At the same time, the bill suppresses clean energy 
production. Clean, renewable energy is critical if we are going to save 
our planet for future generations.
  The majority of Americans support becoming carbon neutral by 2050, 
and they support prioritizing the development of renewable energy 
sources and preserving biodiversity for the benefit of future 
generations. The austere and irresponsible cuts in this bill do not 
align with their values.
  Mr. Chairman, I thank Chair Simpson and Ranking Member DeLauro for 
their tireless efforts on this committee. As Mr. Simpson mentioned, we 
don't always agree on everything, but we have a chance to work well 
together. I thank the staff on both sides of the aisle who work 
tirelessly.
  Mr. Chairman, I oppose this bill, and I urge my colleagues to oppose 
this bill to protect the world we are leaving to our children and 
grandchildren.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
4821, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act for fiscal year 2024.
  This year's appropriations bill is a win for Minnesota's Eighth 
Congressional District and our Nation.
  It is abundantly clear that the Biden administration has an anti-
mining, anti-farmer, anti-American worker, and anti-energy independence 
agenda. This bill stops that agenda in its tracks.
  The Department of the Interior's mineral withdrawal in northeast 
Minnesota forces us to be dependent on Chinese-owned, child-labor-using 
mines in the Congo. This bill stops that agenda.
  The Biden administration's WOTUS rule that punishes farmers for 
puddles in their fields, this bill repeals the WOTUS rule.
  The EPA's abuse of the Endangered Species Act to list the northern 
long-eared bat, which has stifled responsible logging and forest 
management, this bill stops and reverses that.
  Mr. Chairman, I am proud that we finally have a commonsense funding 
bill that puts American workers and rural America first.
  Mr. Chairman, additionally, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge 
that this bill also provides funding for critical infrastructure 
projects in Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, including 
wastewater treatment projects in Bemidji, Braham, and Silver Bay, 
Minnesota.

                              {time}  1115

  Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairwoman Granger, Chairman Simpson, and my 
colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for all their hard work on 
this legislation. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this legislation.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who is the distinguished ranking member of 
the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I 
thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree for their work on 
this legislation. I would also say thank you to the majority and the 
minority staff, particularly Rita Culp, Jocelyn Hunn, and Farouk 
Ophaso.
  When it comes to caring for the environment--ensuring our air is safe 
to breathe, our water is safe to drink, and we are resilient in a 
changing climate--this bill takes the side of the most egregious 
polluters and climate deniers. This legislation stakes an aggressive 
anti-environment stance with a crippling 39 percent cut to the 
Environmental Protection Agency. The ensuing collapse of our means of 
protecting the environment and public health would mean more asthma 
cases, more cancer diagnoses, and more unmitigated natural disasters 
afflicting American families.
  Let me share a portion of a letter sent to Members of this body from 
the League of Conservation Voters and cosigned by 61 environmental 
organizations, including the Trust for Public Land and the National 
Parks Conservation Association.
  They said of this bill:
  Following `` . . . a summer full of record heat waves, horrific 
flooding, and wildfire smoke blanketing much of the Nation, this bill 
would gut the agencies charged with protecting our environment and our 
health and would massively undermine last year's historic climate 
legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act. It would also introduce an 
onslaught of extreme anti-environmental policy mandates that have no 
place in the appropriations process. This attack on our health, lands, 
wildlife, biodiversity, air, water, oceans, and communities is 
unacceptable and must be rejected.''
  The bill cuts the EPA's clean air program by at least $200 million 
and eliminates funds for environmental justice. It cuts the EPA's 
infrastructure grant programs by a staggering $1.8 billion. These are 
not numbers on a page. We are talking about the air in our skies and in 
our lungs. This is the water we drink, bathe in, and cook with. These 
are basic life necessities that we have a simple obligation to protect 
for the American people.
  In addition to endangering the global climate and public health, this 
bill slashes funding for the arts, including the National Endowment for 
the Arts' flagship Grants for Arts Projects program which benefits 
individual and community well-being and supports the economy in all of 
our 435 congressional districts. This bill will prohibit the 
Smithsonian from highlighting the contributions of Latinos in U.S. 
history and culture by not making it possible to move forward with the 
national museum of the American Latino making Hispanics invisible. This 
is shameful, and it does not represent America's values.
  The ramifications of cuts in this bill would reach every corner of 
the Interior Department. It damages our public lands, promotes dirty 
energy, jeopardizes biodiversity, and disarms America in the face of 
the climate crisis. Sharp cuts to the National Park Service means fewer 
seasonal employees and furloughing existing permanent park employees. 
The funding loss translates to dozens of employees who are trying to do 
their job every single day at Yellowstone National Park, Glacier 
National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Zion National Park, and many 
more of our Nation's prized national parks being furloughed. These are 
beloved public lands, and these cuts will mean longer wait times and 
fewer services available when our constituents

[[Page H5245]]

and visitors from around the globe travel to experience these jewels of 
our Nation's geographic diversity.
  The majority is also opening our public lands--the property of the 
American people--for oil, gas, and mineral leasing, in some cases going 
as far as blocking judicial review of these transactions. The majority 
is hindering clean energy projects while promoting fossil fuels lease 
sales, and the majority is accelerating ecosystem decline by abandoning 
protections for our most vulnerable apex predators like the gray wolf 
and grizzly bear.
  I have proudly worked across the aisle to protect our environment for 
Americans past, present, and future, and I am immensely disappointed to 
see the majority abandon their commitment to conserving America's 
fragile lands and natural resources. I would not think Republicans need 
reminding of their own party's history, but this bill is a notable 
reversal from the proud and bold conservation efforts of the 
Republicans I have worked with in decades past. I need not remind my 
colleagues which President created the EPA: Richard M. Nixon.
  Finally, as we continue to see in each of these partisan bills, this 
legislation includes riders that prohibit funding diversity, equity and 
inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal workforce, none of which 
belong in any bill, but especially appropriations.
  With its dangerous and costly cuts and indefensible riders, I must 
vote against this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. It 
will take bipartisan support to get the 2024 Interior bill signed into 
law, and this bill does not achieve that. I appeal to my colleagues on 
the other side of the aisle to end this partisan charade and join with 
Democrats at the negotiating table.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I would just note that neither the chairwoman or the 
ranking member of the full committee or the ranking member of the 
subcommittee in their comments never mentioned the $33 trillion debt, 
and over the last Congress, there was $3 trillion that was spent 
outside of the regular appropriation process. That is what is causing 
this. That is what is causing the problems in this country.

  This is what reducing spending looks like. Every time you try to 
reduce spending, Mr. Chairman, you would think it is nothing but death 
and destruction. If I believed what was just said, I wouldn't vote for 
this bill, but I think she is wrong on so many counts.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Meuser).
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Simpson for his very 
responsible leadership.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4821, a very fiscally 
responsible Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act.
  I represent the Ninth District of Pennsylvania where part of that 
district includes the Marcellus shale, one of the largest reserves of 
clean natural gas in the world.
  Not only does the natural gas industry support over 250,000 jobs in 
Pennsylvania, but it also contributes $24 billion to the Commonwealth's 
GDP, meaning Biden's continued assault on American energy, including 
the natural gas industry, is truly an assault on Pennsylvania's 
workforce and economy.
  Since taking office, the Biden administration has taken many actions 
to weaken the natural gas industry by blocking pipeline construction, 
implementing burdensome regulations, and issuing costly new rules and 
taxes. This makes foreign producers with less pollutant controls far 
more competitive within the energy industry. Many of these nations 
where these producers exist use these funds to fund terrorist 
activities and fund Vladimir Putin's war. We should take these things 
into consideration, Mr. Chairman.
  While this administration seeks to limit American natural gas, 
despite it being 50 percent cleaner than other fossil fuels, this 
appropriations bill supports domestic energy production because 
Republicans recognize we must embrace an all-of-the-above but also all-
of-the-below solution to achieve energy independence and dominance.
  This legislation requires resumption of gas lease sales on previously 
restricted Federal lands, and it also prohibits a number of onerous 
regulations, such as the EPA's clean power rule that would be 
detrimental to American energy production.
  Among other provisions in the legislation, this legislation will, Mr. 
Chairman, benefit the American consumers, farmers, manufacturers, small 
businesses, the U.S. economy as a whole.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), who is the distinguished ranking member of 
the Defense Subcommittee and the former chair of this subcommittee.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
  I rise, Mr. Chairman, in opposition to this legislation. The bill 
that the majority put before us today grossly underfunds the Department 
of the Interior. I will mention two areas: the Environmental Protection 
Agency and the arts and humanities. The ranking member listed the 
others.
  Once again, the cuts the Republicans made to the appropriation bill 
do not honor the funding levels that were negotiated by the White House 
and the Republican leadership in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. A 
promise was broken.
  Over 35 percent of the reduction to the top line of this bill is 
simply irresponsible. The bill claws back billions of dollars from the 
historic Inflation Reduction Act trying to plug up the holes created by 
the massive top line cuts.
  This will damage the ability of the United States to respond to 
climate change and help communities who are currently affected by it, 
and we are affected by climate change in all of our districts.
  As ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I am 
very aware that the DOD considers climate change to be a top national 
security issue. Harming our country's ability to respond to this threat 
will put us at a severe global disadvantage.
  This bill's drastic cuts to the EPA and the Interior Department also 
affect the life, health, and safety of all Americans. It will increase 
risk to all people who rely on the EPA to safeguard their air and 
water, to clean up harmful pollution, test for chemicals in their 
products, and respond to emergencies.
  There is one small, bright note in this bill, and I thank the chair 
and the ranking member for continuing their work together to honor our 
trust and treaty obligations to our Native American brothers and 
sisters, but on the whole, the bill before us does not, in my opinion, 
reflect the serious commitment to meet the needs of our constituents.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
  Mr. Chair, I could come up with some tax cuts to repeal to pay for 
the things I am asking for.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Carl).
  Mr. CARL. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Simpson for his remarkable work 
on this bill, particularly under these trying circumstances.
  Mr. Chairman, we are $33 trillion in debt. We cannot spend our way 
and we cannot regulate our way out of that debt without having some of 
the sacrifices that are in this bill, quite frankly.
  Chairman Simpson has done an outstanding job identifying the key 
priorities despite a challenging allocation.
  One area of concern I would like to address is related to the Biden 
administration's handling of royalties on Federal land. I would like to 
emphasize the impact on Warrior Met Coal, which produces metallurgical 
coal crucial for steel production and happens to be the largest 
exporter from the Port of Mobile, Alabama, which I am honored to 
represent.
  Regrettably, Warrior Met Coal's Federal lease application with the 
Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management has been 
marred by delays. The Interior Department's shifting requirements, 
including the recent demands for an environmental impact study on top 
of a comprehensive environmental assessment completed over a year ago 
have been the latest obstacles in a near decade-long effort to secure 
this lease.

  As you are aware, Mr. Chairman, the Mineral Leasing Act requires the 
maximum economic recovery of coal within

[[Page H5246]]

the proposed lease area. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing permit 
delays, Federal coal is not currently being efficiently mined, causing 
further setbacks in Federal coal mining. Every day that passes without 
progress results in a loss of crucial revenue from coal royalties for 
affected communities, the State of Alabama, and the Federal Government. 
These are the fees that will help pay some of this debt down.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Alabama.
  Mr. CARL. This situation is unacceptable, and I am eager for our 
colleagues and staff to identify ways to move forward ensuring that the 
Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management uphold 
their responsibilities under the Mineral Lease Act that impacted 
communities receive the essential funding they require.

                              {time}  1130

  Now, regarding the specific language included in the bill, it 
highlights the importance of the Bureau of Land Management's production 
of domestic coal on Federal lands, with a particular emphasis on 
distinguishing between metallurgical coal and thermal coal.
  Additionally, the bill is focused on clawing back wasteful spending, 
reducing bureaucracy, and maintaining responsible funding levels to 
serve the best interests of our constituents in this Nation. It 
addresses the needs of prioritizing essential programs, protecting 
critical minerals, promoting oil and gas lease sales, and limiting 
burdensome regulations, among other key priorities.
  Continuing to claw back wasteful spending is one step closer to 
getting our spending under control. I support this bill. It is my hope 
that, by working together, we can address these critical issues and 
ensure a brighter future for our communities.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman 
for drawing the House's attention to the Department of the Interior and 
Bureau of Land Management's responsibilities under the Mineral Leasing 
Act. I would be pleased to continue to work with him on how the 
agencies in this bill handle royalties on Federal lands as we move 
through the FY 2024 spending process.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), my good friend and the distinguished 
ranking member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and 
Related Agencies Subcommittee.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this 
bill.
  We have felt the effects of climate change for years in south 
Florida, draining millions from State and local government coffers to 
respond to the cycle of natural disasters.
  What is the majority's response in this bill?
  A crippling 39 percent cut to the EPA and policy provisions that will 
severely undercut efforts to curb CO2 emissions. We haven't 
seen EPA funding levels dip this low since 1991, which ironically is 
when experts told us that we needed to start tackling climate change.
  What does that mean for people watching us at home? More asthma, 
higher rates of cancer, and more frequent natural disasters, upending 
American families' lives.
  We need to invest in clean energy, not just right now, but yesterday. 
Besides underfunding clean energy efforts, this bill also neglects the 
cherished Smithsonian Institution. I was extremely disappointed that 
this bill bars funding for the new National Museum of the American 
Latino and the operation of the existing Molina Family Latino Gallery.
  The legislation that created this museum enjoyed strong bipartisan 
support just 3 years. The Latino community is so integral to America's 
heritage, it baffles me why the majority would block the Smithsonian 
from highlighting their historic and cultural contributions, especially 
since Congress established this museum.
  We must embrace the beautiful mosaic that makes our Nation so 
incredible, and that includes investing in public museums to provide a 
cultural and educational platform.
  This bill, by the way, also underfunds the Holocaust Memorial Museum. 
I respectfully requested the majority to include an additional $2 
million over fiscal year 2023 for the museum's education program.
  The intentional, genocidal violence inflicted on Israeli civilians 
and the unconscionable apathy of many nations--and far too many in our 
own Nation--is a sobering reminder that Israel is surrounded by 
hostility and danger. Anti-Semitic threats and attacks in the U.S. were 
already skyrocketing up 37 percent in 2022. Only by fully funding 
education programs can we truly combat this rise in hate.
  Let's take some pride in America. Let's not cloak bigotry and ensure 
that we can educate people and promote understanding and unity, build 
up our public spaces, not starve and neglect them. For these reasons 
and many others, I urge Members to vote ``no.''
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the ongoing 
work within the Interior bill.
  As the Representative for the Fifth District of Colorado and vice 
chair of the Natural Resources Committee, I have long supported our 
critical mineral independence, striving to roll back regulations and 
burdens on this industry.
  However, my background on the House Armed Services Committee and my 
longstanding support of our national security causes me to caution 
support of section 466.
  Railroad Valley in Nevada has been used and cared for by NASA since 
1996 as the world's premier optical sensing calibration site. The 
Railroad Valley site is used daily to calibrate cameras onboard of 
satellites that photograph the world daily. Commercial companies have 
used this playa to provide critical support to satellites that monitor 
the ongoing war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, and many 
other critical needs.
  It is for that reason that I am here advocating for the Railroad 
Valley playa as a national security asset. According to a study done by 
NASA, the capability this playa provides can only be found in four 
sites around the world. Current and future needs of our commercial 
space industry and intelligence community are strongly reliant on the 
benefits this site provides here in the continental U.S. This is not 
something we can turn to in other places because the other three sites 
lie in China, north Africa, and Israel.
  Additionally, NASA's study concluded that the Railroad Valley site 
would be the best option in any case to provide the optimal sensing 
calibration. It is important to protect the critical mineral rights, 
but it must not come at the expense of our national security. We must 
do both.
  I thank Mr. Amodei and Chairman Simpson for their tireless work on 
this issue and their commitment to our future work on compromise 
language and protection of our national security assets. I look forward 
to supporting the language that comes out of conference for the 
Interior appropriations, and I urge adoption of the bill.

  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the distinguished ranking member of the Natural 
Resources Committee and my good friend.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chair, this Interior and Environment appropriations 
bill, much like the House Republican appropriations bills that have 
come before it, is an extreme MAGA manifesto. It is not at all 
representative of the values of the American people.
  This bill is full of reckless policy riders that undermine the most 
basic environmental protections, take us backwards in the climate 
fight, and introduce climate change denial as part of a policy for the 
Republican majority. It pads Big Oil's profits by selling off our 
Nation's public lands, waters, wildlife, and endangered species.
  It rips away the historic and hard-fought climate wins in the 
Inflation Reduction Act that are not only for protecting our future but 
growing the middle class with hundreds of thousands of good-paying 
jobs. It bullies American communities that have already been 
overburdened by pollution and guts environmental justice efforts.

[[Page H5247]]

  We have seen many of these riders in the Natural Resources Committee 
this year. They don't have a future as stand-alone bills. Instead of 
putting in the work to govern and finding meaningful solutions, seeking 
compromise that the American people actually want, House Republicans 
are shamelessly burying these provisions in the most extreme Interior 
Appropriations bill we have ever seen.
  House Republicans are following the marching orders of their monarch, 
former President Trump. It doesn't matter how many times he is indicted 
for fraud, for stealing classified documents, or for orchestrating an 
insurrection and a coordinated attempt to overthrow our democracy, they 
are here doing his bidding to prop up Big Oil and its favorite 
oligarchs, no matter who gets hurt.
  To protect the American people, I and 33 of my colleagues submitted 
an amendment to strip from this bill the dangerous policy riders, but 
the Rules Committee, controlled by the most extreme members of the 
Republican Conference, wouldn't allow a vote on the floor.
  The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. My Republican colleagues are always quick to protest 
about process, but it seems that their actions speak louder than their 
crocodile tears. Their rejection of this amendment demonstrates yet 
again that this appropriations process is a sham. This particular bill 
ignores climate and the effects of climate change that are ongoing 
worldwide and in this country. It undoes any protections to vulnerable 
communities and communities in general by gutting essential programs 
and monitoring an enforcement of clean air and clean water, and it 
erases history. It says we are going to wash this part of history out 
as, for example, the blocking of the Latino museum, that that part of 
American history does not exist, and we will not appropriate for that.
  Mr. Chair, I urge rejection of this legislation. It is not just a 
step backward, it is a dismantling of basic public health, 
environmental, and consequential issues dealing with the identity of 
this great Nation of ours.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Yakym).
  Mr. YAKYM. Mr. Chair, the National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA, 
was created to balance environmental protection with our need to build 
infrastructure. The NEPA process was once timely and concise, but over 
time NEPA has become a four-letter word associated with frivolous 
litigation, mountains of paperwork, project delays, and cost overruns. 
Congress has taken meaningful bipartisan steps toward reform, but the 
work is far from over.
  My amendment would require the Council on Environmental Quality to 
report on current NEPA bottlenecks. It mirrors the legislation I 
introduced yesterday with my friend   Jimmy Panetta, the Studying 
NEPA's Impact on Projects Act, which would require annual reporting on 
NEPA litigation, average page length, and timeliness. The American 
people deserve a government that does not give radicals a heckler's 
veto over roads, bridges, and energy projects.
  I thank the chair and ranking member for including the Yakym-Panetta 
amendment in this en bloc. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to close.
  The challenge here, as I stated earlier, my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle never saw a problem that they didn't think a 
government program could solve. Anybody that thought that we were not 
going to have to reduce spending I think was living in a different 
world. When you are facing $33 trillion and getting on to $34 trillion 
in debt, the reality is you are going to have to cut spending.

  Now, this is not a criticism of them. I think they honestly believe 
that all the profligate spending that went on the last couple of years 
was absolutely necessary. I think the American people expect us to 
start addressing the debt that our children, grandchildren, and great-
grandchildren are going to face, and this is what cutting spending 
looks like.
  It is easy to write a bill. Anybody can write a bill if you have 
unlimited funds, and that is pretty much what they have had last year 
and the year before. In spite of almost having unlimited funds to write 
the Interior bill, they actually took $1.6 billion in wildfire fighting 
costs and made it emergency spending. We had to bring it back into the 
bill, where it should be, instead of using budget gimmicks. That put us 
$1.6 billion behind.
  We said we are not going to hurt Indian Country with this bill, even 
with the cuts that we had to make. We were going to fully fund PILT 
payments. We were going to make sure that we took care of those things 
that were necessary, like wildfire fighting, because those costs are 
going to go up. That meant the rest of the bill was going to take some 
cuts. We used rescissions by pulling back some of the money that was 
spent over the last several years to make sure that the cuts in this 
bill were not as dramatic as they would otherwise have been. This is 
still a 10 percent reduction in the overall bill.
  I disagree with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Death 
and destruction will not follow if we pass this bill. I encourage my 
colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  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. This bill shall be considered as read.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4821

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Department of 
     the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other 
     purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                       Bureau of Land Management

                   management of lands and resources

       For necessary expenses for protection, use, improvement, 
     development, disposal, cadastral surveying, classification, 
     acquisition of easements and other interests in lands, and 
     performance of other functions, including maintenance of 
     facilities, as authorized by law, in the management of lands 
     and their resources under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of 
     Land Management, including the general administration of the 
     Bureau, and assessment of mineral potential of public lands 
     pursuant to section 1010(a) of Public Law 96-487 (16 U.S.C. 
     3150(a)), $1,180,645,000, to remain available until September 
     30, 2025; of which $57,140,250 for annual maintenance and 
     deferred maintenance programs and $154,787,000 for the wild 
     horse and burro program, as authorized by Public Law 92-195 
     (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), shall remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That amounts in the fee account of the 
     BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund may be used for any 
     bureau-related expenses associated with the processing of oil 
     and gas applications for permits to drill and related use of 
     authorizations: Provided further, That of the amounts made 
     available under this heading, up to $3,500,000 may be made 
     available for the purposes described in section 122(e)(1)(A) 
     of division G of Public Law 115-31 (43 U.S.C. 
     1748c(e)(1)(A)).
       In addition, $35,000,000 is for Mining Law Administration 
     program operations, including the cost of administering the 
     mining claim fee program, to remain available until expended, 
     to be reduced by amounts collected by the Bureau and credited 
     to this appropriation from mining claim maintenance fees and 
     location fees that are hereby authorized for fiscal year 
     2024, so as to result in a final appropriation estimated at 
     not more than $1,170,645,000, and $2,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended, from communication site rental fees 
     established by the Bureau for the cost of administering 
     communication site activities.

                   oregon and california grant lands

       For expenses necessary for management, protection, and 
     development of resources and for construction, operation, and 
     maintenance of access roads, reforestation, and other 
     improvements on the revested Oregon and California Railroad 
     grant lands, on other Federal lands in the Oregon and 
     California land-grant counties of Oregon, and on adjacent 
     rights-of-way; and acquisition of lands or interests therein, 
     including existing connecting roads on or adjacent to such 
     grant lands; $60,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That 25 percent of the aggregate of all receipts 
     during the current fiscal year from the revested Oregon and 
     California Railroad grant lands is hereby made a charge 
     against the Oregon and California land-grant fund and shall 
     be transferred to the General Fund in the Treasury

[[Page H5248]]

     in accordance with the second paragraph of subsection (b) of 
     title II of the Act of August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 2605).

                           range improvements

       For rehabilitation, protection, and acquisition of lands 
     and interests therein, and improvement of Federal rangelands 
     pursuant to section 401 of the Federal Land Policy and 
     Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1751), notwithstanding any 
     other Act, sums equal to 50 percent of all moneys received 
     during the prior fiscal year under sections 3 and 15 of the 
     Taylor Grazing Act (43 U.S.C. 315b, 315m) and the amount 
     designated for range improvements from grazing fees and 
     mineral leasing receipts from Bankhead-Jones lands 
     transferred to the Department of the Interior pursuant to 
     law, but not less than $10,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That not to exceed $600,000 shall be 
     available for administrative expenses.

               service charges, deposits, and forfeitures

       For administrative expenses and other costs related to 
     processing application documents and other authorizations for 
     use and disposal of public lands and resources, for costs of 
     providing copies of official public land documents, for 
     monitoring construction, operation, and termination of 
     facilities in conjunction with use authorizations, and for 
     rehabilitation of damaged property, such amounts as may be 
     collected under Public Law 94-579 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), 
     and under section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
     185), to remain available until expended: Provided, That 
     notwithstanding any provision to the contrary of section 
     305(a) of Public Law 94-579 (43 U.S.C. 1735(a)), any moneys 
     that have been or will be received pursuant to that section, 
     whether as a result of forfeiture, compromise, or settlement, 
     if not appropriate for refund pursuant to section 305(c) of 
     that Act (43 U.S.C. 1735(c)), shall be available and may be 
     expended under the authority of this Act by the Secretary of 
     the Interior to improve, protect, or rehabilitate any public 
     lands administered through the Bureau of Land Management 
     which have been damaged by the action of a resource 
     developer, purchaser, permittee, or any unauthorized person, 
     without regard to whether all moneys collected from each such 
     action are used on the exact lands damaged which led to the 
     action: Provided further, That any such moneys that are in 
     excess of amounts needed to repair damage to the exact land 
     for which funds were collected may be used to repair other 
     damaged public lands.

                       miscellaneous trust funds

       In addition to amounts authorized to be expended under 
     existing laws, there is hereby appropriated such amounts as 
     may be contributed under section 307 of Public Law 94-579 (43 
     U.S.C. 1737), and such amounts as may be advanced for 
     administrative costs, surveys, appraisals, and costs of 
     making conveyances of omitted lands under section 211(b) of 
     that Act (43 U.S.C. 1721(b)), to remain available until 
     expended.

                       administrative provisions

       The Bureau of Land Management may carry out the operations 
     funded under this Act by direct expenditure, contracts, 
     grants, cooperative agreements, and reimbursable agreements 
     with public and private entities, including with States. 
     Appropriations for the Bureau shall be available for 
     purchase, erection, and dismantlement of temporary 
     structures, and alteration and maintenance of necessary 
     buildings and appurtenant facilities to which the United 
     States has title; up to $100,000 for payments, at the 
     discretion of the Secretary, for information or evidence 
     concerning violations of laws administered by the Bureau; 
     miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement 
     activities authorized or approved by the Secretary and to be 
     accounted for solely on the Secretary's certificate, not to 
     exceed $10,000: Provided, That notwithstanding Public Law 90-
     620 (44 U.S.C. 501), the Bureau may, under cooperative cost-
     sharing and partnership arrangements authorized by law, 
     procure printing services from cooperators in connection with 
     jointly produced publications for which the cooperators share 
     the cost of printing either in cash or in services, and the 
     Bureau determines the cooperator is capable of meeting 
     accepted quality standards: Provided further, That projects 
     to be funded pursuant to a written commitment by a State 
     government to provide an identified amount of money in 
     support of the project may be carried out by the Bureau on a 
     reimbursable basis.

                United States Fish and Wildlife Service

                          resource management

       For necessary expenses of the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service, as authorized by law, and for scientific 
     and economic studies, general administration, and for the 
     performance of other authorized functions related to such 
     resources, $1,340,019,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2025: Provided, That not to exceed $21,058,200 
     shall be used for implementing subsections (a), (b), (c), and 
     (e) of section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
     U.S.C. 1533) (except for processing petitions, developing and 
     issuing proposed and final regulations, and taking any other 
     steps to implement actions described in subsection (c)(2)(A), 
     (c)(2)(B)(i), or (c)(2)(B)(ii) of such section).

                              construction

       For construction, improvement, acquisition, or removal of 
     buildings and other facilities required in the conservation, 
     management, investigation, protection, and utilization of 
     fish and wildlife resources, and the acquisition of lands and 
     interests therein; $15,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended.

            cooperative endangered species conservation fund

       For expenses necessary to carry out section 6 of the 
     Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535), $22,000,000, 
     to remain available until expended, to be derived from the 
     Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.

                     national wildlife refuge fund

       For expenses necessary to implement the Act of October 17, 
     1978 (16 U.S.C. 715s), $13,228,000.

               north american wetlands conservation fund

       For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of the 
     North American Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4401 et 
     seq.), $48,500,000, to remain available until expended.

                neotropical migratory bird conservation

       For expenses necessary to carry out the Neotropical 
     Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), 
     $5,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                multinational species conservation fund

       For expenses necessary to carry out the African Elephant 
     Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.), the Asian Elephant 
     Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261 et seq.), the 
     Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 
     et seq.), the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
     6301 et seq.), and the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 
     (16 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.), $20,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended.

                    state and tribal wildlife grants

       For wildlife conservation grants to States and to the 
     District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States 
     Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, 
     and Indian Tribes under the provisions of the Fish and 
     Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
     Act, for the development and implementation of programs for 
     the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species 
     that are not hunted or fished, $72,612,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That of the amount 
     provided herein, $6,200,000 is for a competitive grant 
     program for Indian Tribes not subject to the remaining 
     provisions of this appropriation: Provided further, That 
     $7,612,000 is for a competitive grant program to implement 
     approved plans for States, territories, and other 
     jurisdictions and at the discretion of affected States, the 
     regional Associations of fish and wildlife agencies, not 
     subject to the remaining provisions of this appropriation: 
     Provided further, That the Secretary shall, after deducting 
     $13,812,000 and administrative expenses, apportion the amount 
     provided herein in the following manner: (1) to the District 
     of Columbia and to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, each a 
     sum equal to not more than one-half of 1 percent thereof; and 
     (2) to Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin 
     Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, each a sum equal to not more than one-fourth of 1 
     percent thereof: Provided further, That the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall apportion the remaining amount in the 
     following manner: (1) one-third of which is based on the 
     ratio to which the land area of such State bears to the total 
     land area of all such States; and (2) two-thirds of which is 
     based on the ratio to which the population of such State 
     bears to the total population of all such States: Provided 
     further, That the amounts apportioned under this paragraph 
     shall be adjusted equitably so that no State shall be 
     apportioned a sum which is less than 1 percent of the amount 
     available for apportionment under this paragraph for any 
     fiscal year or more than 5 percent of such amount: Provided 
     further, That the Federal share of planning grants shall not 
     exceed 75 percent of the total costs of such projects and the 
     Federal share of implementation grants shall not exceed 65 
     percent of the total costs of such projects: Provided 
     further, That the non-Federal share of such projects may not 
     be derived from Federal grant programs: Provided further, 
     That any amount apportioned in 2024 to any State, territory, 
     or other jurisdiction that remains unobligated as of 
     September 30, 2025, shall be reapportioned, together with 
     funds appropriated in 2026, in the manner provided herein.

                       administrative provisions

       The United States Fish and Wildlife Service may carry out 
     the operations of Service programs by direct expenditure, 
     contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and reimbursable 
     agreements with public and private entities. Appropriations 
     and funds available to the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service shall be available for repair of damage to public 
     roads within and adjacent to reservation areas caused by 
     operations of the Service; options for the purchase of land 
     at not to exceed one dollar for each option; facilities 
     incident to such public recreational uses on conservation 
     areas as are consistent with their primary purpose; and the 
     maintenance and improvement of aquaria, buildings, and other 
     facilities under the jurisdiction of the Service and to which 
     the United States has title, and which are used pursuant to 
     law in connection with management, and investigation of fish 
     and wildlife resources: Provided, That notwithstanding 44 
     U.S.C. 501, the Service may, under cooperative cost sharing 
     and partnership arrangements authorized by law, procure 
     printing services from cooperators

[[Page H5249]]

     in connection with jointly produced publications for which 
     the cooperators share at least one-half the cost of printing 
     either in cash or services and the Service determines the 
     cooperator is capable of meeting accepted quality standards: 
     Provided further, That the Service may accept donated 
     aircraft as replacements for existing aircraft: Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, all fees 
     collected for non-toxic shot review and approval shall be 
     deposited under the heading ``United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service--Resource Management'' and shall be available to the 
     Secretary, without further appropriation, to be used for 
     expenses of processing of such non-toxic shot type or coating 
     applications and revising regulations as necessary, and shall 
     remain available until expended.

                         National Park Service

                 operation of the national park system

       For expenses necessary for the management, operation, and 
     maintenance of areas and facilities administered by the 
     National Park Service and for the general administration of 
     the National Park Service, $2,654,000,000, of which 
     $11,661,000 shall be for planning and interagency 
     coordination in support of Everglades restoration, and 
     $15,000,000 shall be for uses authorized by section 101122 of 
     title 54, United States Code, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2025: Provided, That funds appropriated under 
     this heading are available for the purposes of section 5 of 
     Public Law 95-348: Provided further, That notwithstanding 
     section 9 of the 400 Years of African-American History 
     Commission Act (36 U.S.C. note prec. 101; Public Law 115-
     102), $2,500,000 of the funds provided under this heading 
     shall be made available for the purposes specified by that 
     Act.
       In addition, for purposes described in section 2404 of 
     Public Law 116-9, an amount equal to the amount deposited in 
     this fiscal year into the National Park Medical Services Fund 
     established pursuant to such section of such Act, to remain 
     available until expended, shall be derived from such Fund.

                  national recreation and preservation

       For expenses necessary to carry out recreation programs, 
     natural programs, cultural programs, heritage partnership 
     programs, environmental compliance and review, international 
     park affairs, and grant administration, not otherwise 
     provided for, $80,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2025.

                       historic preservation fund

       For expenses necessary in carrying out the National 
     Historic Preservation Act (division A of subtitle III of 
     title 54, United States Code), $175,400,000, to be derived 
     from the Historic Preservation Fund and to remain available 
     until September 30, 2025, of which $26,500,000 shall be for 
     Save America's Treasures grants for preservation of 
     nationally significant sites, structures and artifacts as 
     authorized by section 7303 of the Omnibus Public Land 
     Management Act of 2009 (54 U.S.C. 3089): Provided, That an 
     individual Save America's Treasures grant shall be matched by 
     non-Federal funds: Provided further, That individual projects 
     shall only be eligible for one grant: Provided further, That 
     all projects to be funded shall be approved by the Secretary 
     of the Interior in consultation with the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations: Provided further, That of the 
     funds provided for the Historic Preservation Fund, 
     $30,250,000 is for the Competitive Grants Subactivity; 
     $11,000,000 is for grants to Historically Black Colleges and 
     Universities; $12,500,000 is for competitive grants for the 
     restoration of historic properties of national, State, and 
     local significance listed on or eligible for inclusion on the 
     National Register of Historic Places, to be made without 
     imposing the usage or direct grant restrictions of section 
     101(e)(3) (54 U.S.C. 302904) of the National Historic 
     Preservation Act; and $10,000,000 is for a competitive grant 
     program to honor the semiquincentennial anniversary of the 
     United States by restoring and preserving sites and 
     structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places 
     that commemorate the founding of the nation: Provided 
     further, That such competitive grants shall be made without 
     imposing the matching requirements in section 302902(b)(3) of 
     title 54, United States Code, to States and Indian Tribes as 
     defined in chapter 3003 of such title, Native Hawaiian 
     organizations, local governments, including Certified Local 
     Governments, and nonprofit organizations.

                              construction

       For construction, improvements, repair, or replacement of 
     physical facilities, and related equipment, and compliance 
     and planning for programs and areas administered by the 
     National Park Service, $114,600,000, to remain available 
     until expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, for any project initially funded in fiscal 
     year 2024 with a future phase indicated in the National Park 
     Service 5-Year Line Item Construction Plan, a single 
     procurement may be issued which includes the full scope of 
     the project: Provided further, That the solicitation and 
     contract shall contain the clause availability of funds found 
     at 48 CFR 52.232-18: Provided further, That National Park 
     Service Donations, Park Concessions Franchise Fees, and 
     Recreation Fees may be made available for the cost of 
     adjustments and changes within the original scope of effort 
     for projects funded by the National Park Service Construction 
     appropriation: Provided further, That the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations, 
     in accordance with current reprogramming thresholds, prior to 
     making any charges authorized under this heading.

                          centennial challenge

       For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of 
     section 101701 of title 54, United States Code, relating to 
     challenge cost share agreements, $15,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended, for Centennial Challenge projects 
     and programs: Provided, That not less than 50 percent of the 
     total cost of each project or program shall be derived from 
     non-Federal sources in the form of donated cash, assets, or a 
     pledge of donation guaranteed by an irrevocable letter of 
     credit.

                       administrative provisions

                     (including transfer of funds)

       In addition to other uses set forth in section 101917(c)(2) 
     of title 54, United States Code, franchise fees credited to a 
     sub-account shall be available for expenditure by the 
     Secretary, without further appropriation, for use at any unit 
     within the National Park System to extinguish or reduce 
     liability for Possessory Interest or leasehold surrender 
     interest. Such funds may only be used for this purpose to the 
     extent that the benefitting unit anticipated franchise fee 
     receipts over the term of the contract at that unit exceed 
     the amount of funds used to extinguish or reduce liability. 
     Franchise fees at the benefitting unit shall be credited to 
     the sub-account of the originating unit over a period not to 
     exceed the term of a single contract at the benefitting unit, 
     in the amount of funds so expended to extinguish or reduce 
     liability.
       For the costs of administration of the Land and Water 
     Conservation Fund grants authorized by section 105(a)(2)(B) 
     of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (Public Law 
     109-432), the National Park Service may retain up to 3 
     percent of the amounts which are authorized to be disbursed 
     under such section, such retained amounts to remain available 
     until expended.
       National Park Service funds may be transferred to the 
     Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
     Transportation, for purposes authorized under 23 U.S.C. 203. 
     Transfers may include a reasonable amount for FHWA 
     administrative support costs.

                    United States Geological Survey

                 surveys, investigations, and research

       For expenses necessary for the United States Geological 
     Survey to perform surveys, investigations, and research 
     covering topography, geology, hydrology, biology, and the 
     mineral and water resources of the United States, its 
     territories and possessions, and other areas as authorized by 
     43 U.S.C. 31, 1332, and 1340; classify lands as to their 
     mineral and water resources; give engineering supervision to 
     power permittees and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
     licensees; administer the minerals exploration program (30 
     U.S.C. 641); conduct inquiries into the economic conditions 
     affecting mining and materials processing industries (30 
     U.S.C. 3, 21a, and 1603; 50 U.S.C. 98g(a)(1)) and related 
     purposes as authorized by law; and to publish and disseminate 
     data relative to the foregoing activities; $1,347,460,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2025; of which 
     $84,788,000 shall remain available until expended for 
     satellite operations; and of which $39,030,000 shall be 
     available until expended for deferred maintenance and capital 
     improvement projects that exceed $100,000 in cost: Provided, 
     That none of the funds provided for the ecosystem research 
     activity shall be used to conduct new surveys on private 
     property, unless specifically authorized in writing by the 
     property owner: Provided further, That no part of this 
     appropriation shall be used to pay more than one-half the 
     cost of topographic mapping or water resources data 
     collection and investigations conducted in cooperation with 
     States and municipalities.

                       administrative provisions

       From within the amount appropriated for activities of the 
     United States Geological Survey such sums as are necessary 
     shall be available for contracting for the furnishing of 
     topographic maps and for the making of geophysical or other 
     specialized surveys when it is administratively determined 
     that such procedures are in the public interest; construction 
     and maintenance of necessary buildings and appurtenant 
     facilities; acquisition of lands for gauging stations, 
     observation wells, and seismic equipment; expenses of the 
     United States National Committee for Geological Sciences; and 
     payment of compensation and expenses of persons employed by 
     the Survey duly appointed to represent the United States in 
     the negotiation and administration of interstate compacts: 
     Provided, That activities funded by appropriations herein may 
     be accomplished through the use of contracts, grants, or 
     cooperative agreements (including noncompetitive cooperative 
     agreements with Tribes) as defined in section 6302 of title 
     31, United States Code: Provided further, That the United 
     States Geological Survey may enter into contracts or 
     cooperative agreements directly with individuals or 
     indirectly with institutions or nonprofit organizations, 
     without regard to 41 U.S.C. 6101, for the temporary or 
     intermittent services of students or recent graduates, who 
     shall be considered employees for the purpose of chapters 57 
     and 81 of title 5, United States Code, relating to 
     compensation for travel and work injuries, and chapter 171 of 
     title 28, United States Code, relating to tort claims, but 
     shall not be considered to be Federal employees for any other 
     purposes.

[[Page H5250]]

  


                   Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

                        ocean energy management

       For expenses necessary for granting and administering 
     leases, easements, rights-of-way, and agreements for use for 
     oil and gas, other minerals, energy, and marine-related 
     purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf and approving 
     operations related thereto, as authorized by law; for 
     environmental studies, as authorized by law; for implementing 
     other laws and to the extent provided by Presidential or 
     Secretarial delegation; and for matching grants or 
     cooperative agreements, $210,000,000, of which $154,000,000 
     is to remain available until September 30, 2025, and of which 
     $56,000,000 is to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That this total appropriation shall be reduced by amounts 
     collected by the Secretary of the Interior and credited to 
     this appropriation from additions to receipts resulting from 
     increases to lease rental rates in effect on August 5, 1993, 
     and from cost recovery fees from activities conducted by the 
     Bureau of Ocean Energy Management pursuant to the Outer 
     Continental Shelf Lands Act, including studies, assessments, 
     analysis, and miscellaneous administrative activities: 
     Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated shall be 
     reduced as such collections are received during the fiscal 
     year, so as to result in a final fiscal year 2024 
     appropriation estimated at not more than $154,000,000: 
     Provided further, That not to exceed $3,000 shall be 
     available for reasonable expenses related to promoting 
     volunteer beach and marine cleanup activities.

             Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

             offshore safety and environmental enforcement

       For expenses necessary for the regulation of operations 
     related to leases, easements, rights-of-way, and agreements 
     for use for oil and gas, other minerals, energy, and marine-
     related purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf, as 
     authorized by law; for enforcing and implementing laws and 
     regulations as authorized by law and to the extent provided 
     by Presidential or Secretarial delegation; and for matching 
     grants or cooperative agreements, $172,000,000, of which 
     $141,000,000 is to remain available until September 30, 2025, 
     and of which $31,000,000 is to remain available until 
     expended, including $3,000,000 for offshore decommissioning 
     activities: Provided, That this total appropriation shall be 
     reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary of the Interior 
     and credited to this appropriation from additions to receipts 
     resulting from increases to lease rental rates in effect on 
     August 5, 1993, and from cost recovery fees from activities 
     conducted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
     Enforcement pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
     Act, including studies, assessments, analysis, and 
     miscellaneous administrative activities: Provided further, 
     That the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced as such 
     collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to 
     result in a final fiscal year 2024 appropriation estimated at 
     not more than $144,000,000.
       For an additional amount, $33,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended, to be reduced by amounts collected by the 
     Secretary and credited to this appropriation, which shall be 
     derived from non-refundable inspection fees collected in 
     fiscal year 2024, as provided in this Act: Provided, That to 
     the extent that amounts realized from such inspection fees 
     exceed $33,000,000, the amounts realized in excess of 
     $33,000,000 shall be credited to this appropriation and 
     remain available until expended: Provided further, That for 
     fiscal year 2024, not less than 50 percent of the inspection 
     fees expended by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
     Enforcement will be used to fund personnel and mission-
     related costs to expand capacity and expedite the orderly 
     development, subject to environmental safeguards, of the 
     Outer Continental Shelf pursuant to the Outer Continental 
     Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), including the 
     review of applications for permits to drill.

                           oil spill research

       For necessary expenses to carry out title I, section 1016; 
     title IV, sections 4202 and 4303; title VII; and title VIII, 
     section 8201 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, $15,099,000, 
     which shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust 
     Fund, to remain available until expended.

          Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

                       regulation and technology

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
     Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public 
     Law 95-87, $108,923,000, to remain available until September 
     30, 2025, of which $65,000,000 shall be available for State 
     and Tribal regulatory grants: Provided, That appropriations 
     for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
     may provide for the travel and per diem expenses of State and 
     Tribal personnel attending Office of Surface Mining 
     Reclamation and Enforcement sponsored training.
       In addition, for costs to review, administer, and enforce 
     permits issued by the Office pursuant to section 507 of 
     Public Law 95-87 (30 U.S.C. 1257), $40,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That fees assessed and 
     collected by the Office pursuant to such section 507 shall be 
     credited to this account as discretionary offsetting 
     collections, to remain available until expended: Provided 
     further, That the sum herein appropriated from the general 
     fund shall be reduced as collections are received during the 
     fiscal year, so as to result in a fiscal year 2024 
     appropriation estimated at not more than $108,923,000.

                    abandoned mine reclamation fund

       For necessary expenses to carry out title IV of the Surface 
     Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, 
     $34,000,000, to be derived from receipts of the Abandoned 
     Mine Reclamation Fund and to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That pursuant to Public Law 97-365, the Department 
     of the Interior is authorized to use up to 20 percent from 
     the recovery of the delinquent debt owed to the United States 
     Government to pay for contracts to collect these debts: 
     Provided further, That funds made available under title IV of 
     Public Law 95-87 may be used for any required non-Federal 
     share of the cost of projects funded by the Federal 
     Government for the purpose of environmental restoration 
     related to treatment or abatement of acid mine drainage from 
     abandoned mines: Provided further, That such projects must be 
     consistent with the purposes and priorities of the Surface 
     Mining Control and Reclamation Act: Provided further, That 
     amounts provided under this heading may be used for the 
     travel and per diem expenses of State and Tribal personnel 
     attending Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
     Enforcement sponsored training.
       In addition, $136,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended, for payments to States and federally recognized 
     Indian Tribes for reclamation of abandoned mine lands and 
     other related activities in accordance with the terms and 
     conditions described in the report accompanying this Act: 
     Provided, That such additional amount shall be used for 
     economic and community development in conjunction with the 
     priorities described in section 403(a) of the Surface Mining 
     Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1233(a)): 
     Provided further, That of such additional amount, $89,042,000 
     shall be distributed in equal amounts to the three 
     Appalachian States with the greatest amount of unfunded needs 
     to meet the priorities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     such section, $35,218,000 shall be distributed in equal 
     amounts to the three Appalachian States with the subsequent 
     greatest amount of unfunded needs to meet such priorities, 
     and $11,740,000 shall be for grants to federally recognized 
     Indian Tribes, without regard to their status as certified or 
     uncertified under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 
     Act of 1977, for reclamation of abandoned mine lands and 
     other related activities in accordance with the terms and 
     conditions described in the report accompanying this Act and 
     shall be used for economic and community development in 
     conjunction with the priorities in section 403(a) of the 
     Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977: Provided 
     further, That such payments shall be made to States and 
     federally recognized Indian Tribes not later than 90 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act: Provided 
     further, That if payments have not been made by the date 
     specified in the preceding proviso, the amount appropriated 
     for salaries and expenses under the heading ``Office of 
     Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement'' shall be reduced 
     by $100,000 per day until such payments have been made.

                             Indian Affairs

                        Bureau of Indian Affairs

                      operation of indian programs

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For expenses necessary for the operation of Indian 
     programs, as authorized by law, including the Snyder Act of 
     November 2, 1921 (25 U.S.C. 13) and the Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 
     5301 et seq.), $2,010,574,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2025, except as otherwise provided herein; of 
     which not to exceed $8,500 may be for official reception and 
     representation expenses; of which not to exceed $78,494,000 
     shall be for welfare assistance payments: Provided, That in 
     cases of designated Federal disasters, the Secretary of the 
     Interior may exceed such cap for welfare payments from the 
     amounts provided herein, to provide for disaster relief to 
     Indian communities affected by the disaster: Provided 
     further, That federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal 
     organizations of federally recognized Indian Tribes may use 
     their Tribal priority allocations for unmet welfare 
     assistance costs: Provided further, That not to exceed 
     $83,402,000 shall remain available until expended for housing 
     improvement, road maintenance, land acquisition, attorney 
     fees, litigation support, land records improvement, hearings 
     and appeals, and the Navajo-Hopi Settlement Program: Provided 
     further, That any forestry funds allocated to a federally 
     recognized Tribe which remain unobligated as of September 30, 
     2025, may be transferred during fiscal year 2026 to an Indian 
     forest land assistance account established for the benefit of 
     the holder of the funds within the holder's trust fund 
     account: Provided further, That any such unobligated balances 
     not so transferred shall expire on September 30, 2026: 
     Provided further, That in order to enhance the safety of 
     Bureau field employees, the Bureau may use funds to purchase 
     uniforms or other identifying articles of clothing for 
     personnel: Provided further, That not to exceed $7,096,000 in 
     funds for trust, probate, and administrative functions may, 
     as needed, be transferred to the Office of the Secretary, 
     ``Departmental Operations'' account: Provided further, That 
     the

[[Page H5251]]

     Bureau of Indian Affairs may accept transfers of funds from 
     United States Customs and Border Protection to supplement any 
     other funding available for reconstruction or repair of roads 
     owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as identified on the 
     National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory, 23 U.S.C. 
     202(b)(1).

                         contract support costs

       For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for 
     contract support costs associated with Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act agreements with 
     the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian 
     Education for fiscal year 2024, such sums as may be 
     necessary, which shall be available for obligation through 
     September 30, 2025: Provided, That notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, no amounts made available under this 
     heading shall be available for transfer to another budget 
     account.

                       payments for tribal leases

       For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for leases 
     pursuant to section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination 
     and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5324(l)) for fiscal 
     year 2024, such sums as may be necessary, which shall be 
     available for obligation through September 30, 2025: 
     Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
     amounts made available under this heading shall be available 
     for transfer to another budget account.

                              construction

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For construction, repair, improvement, and maintenance of 
     irrigation and power systems, buildings, utilities, and other 
     facilities, including architectural and engineering services 
     by contract; acquisition of lands, and interests in lands; 
     and preparation of lands for farming, and for construction of 
     the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project pursuant to Public Law 
     87-483; $153,309,000, to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That such amounts as may be available for the 
     construction of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project may be 
     transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation: Provided further, 
     That any funds provided for the Safety of Dams program 
     pursuant to the Act of November 2, 1921 (25 U.S.C. 13), shall 
     be made available on a nonreimbursable basis: Provided 
     further, That this appropriation may be reimbursed from the 
     Bureau of Trust Fund Administration appropriation for the 
     appropriate share of construction costs for space expansion 
     needed in agency offices to meet trust reform implementation: 
     Provided further, That of the funds made available under this 
     heading, $10,000,000 shall be derived from the Indian 
     Irrigation Fund established by section 3211 of the WIIN Act 
     (Public Law 114-322; 130 Stat. 1749): Provided further, That 
     amounts provided under this heading are made available for 
     the modernization of Federal field communication 
     capabilities, in addition to amounts otherwise made available 
     for such purpose.

 indian land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to 
                                indians

       For payments and necessary administrative expenses for 
     implementation of Indian land and water claim settlements 
     pursuant to Public Laws 99-264 and 116-260, and for 
     implementation of other land and water rights settlements, 
     $825,000, to remain available until expended.

                 indian guaranteed loan program account

       For the cost of guaranteed loans and insured loans, 
     $11,744,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, of 
     which $2,680,000 is for administrative expenses, as 
     authorized by the Indian Financing Act of 1974: Provided, 
     That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, 
     shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
     Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are 
     available to subsidize total loan principal, any part of 
     which is to be guaranteed or insured, not to exceed 
     $150,213,551.

                       Bureau of Indian Education

                 operation of indian education programs

       For expenses necessary for the operation of Indian 
     education programs, as authorized by law, including the 
     Snyder Act of November 2, 1921 (25 U.S.C. 13), the Indian 
     Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 
     U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 
     U.S.C. 2001-2019), and the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 
     1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.), $1,131,617,000 to remain 
     available until September 30, 2025, except as otherwise 
     provided herein: Provided, That federally recognized Indian 
     Tribes and Tribal organizations of federally recognized 
     Indian Tribes may use their Tribal priority allocations for 
     unmet welfare assistance costs: Provided further, That not to 
     exceed $833,592,000 for school operations costs of Bureau-
     funded schools and other education programs shall become 
     available on July 1, 2024, and shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2025: Provided further, That notwithstanding 
     any other provision of law, including but not limited to the 
     Indian Self-Determination Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et 
     seq.) and section 1128 of the Education Amendments of 1978 
     (25 U.S.C. 2008), not to exceed $95,822,000 within and only 
     from such amounts made available for school operations shall 
     be available for administrative cost grants associated with 
     grants approved prior to July 1, 2024: Provided further, That 
     in order to enhance the safety of Bureau field employees, the 
     Bureau may use funds to purchase uniforms or other 
     identifying articles of clothing for personnel.

                         education construction

       For construction, repair, improvement, and maintenance of 
     buildings, utilities, and other facilities necessary for the 
     operation of Indian education programs, including 
     architectural and engineering services by contract; 
     acquisition of lands, and interests in lands; $267,887,000 to 
     remain available until expended: Provided, That in order to 
     ensure timely completion of construction projects, the 
     Secretary of the Interior may assume control of a project and 
     all funds related to the project, if, not later than 18 
     months after the date of the enactment of this Act, any 
     Public Law 100-297 (25 U.S.C. 2501, et seq.) grantee 
     receiving funds appropriated in this Act or in any prior Act, 
     has not completed the planning and design phase of the 
     project and commenced construction.

                       administrative provisions

       The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian 
     Education may carry out the operation of Indian programs by 
     direct expenditure, contracts, cooperative agreements, 
     compacts, and grants, either directly or in cooperation with 
     States and other organizations.
       Notwithstanding Public Law 87-279 (25 U.S.C. 15), the 
     Bureau of Indian Affairs may contract for services in support 
     of the management, operation, and maintenance of the Power 
     Division of the San Carlos Irrigation Project.
       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds 
     available to the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Bureau of 
     Indian Education for central office oversight and Executive 
     Direction and Administrative Services (except Executive 
     Direction and Administrative Services funding for Tribal 
     Priority Allocations, regional offices, and facilities 
     operations and maintenance) shall be available for contracts, 
     grants, compacts, or cooperative agreements with the Bureau 
     of Indian Affairs or the Bureau of Indian Education under the 
     provisions of the Indian Self-Determination Act or the Tribal 
     Self-Governance Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-413).
       In the event any Tribe returns appropriations made 
     available by this Act to the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the 
     Bureau of Indian Education, this action shall not diminish 
     the Federal Government's trust responsibility to that Tribe, 
     or the government-to-government relationship between the 
     United States and that Tribe, or that Tribe's ability to 
     access future appropriations.
       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds 
     available to the Bureau of Indian Education, other than the 
     amounts provided herein for assistance to public schools 
     under 25 U.S.C. 452 et seq., shall be available to support 
     the operation of any elementary or secondary school in the 
     State of Alaska.
       No funds available to the Bureau of Indian Education shall 
     be used to support expanded grades for any school or 
     dormitory beyond the grade structure in place or approved by 
     the Secretary of the Interior at each school in the Bureau of 
     Indian Education school system as of October 1, 1995, except 
     that the Secretary of the Interior may waive this prohibition 
     to support expansion of up to one additional grade when the 
     Secretary determines such waiver is needed to support 
     accomplishment of the mission of the Bureau of Indian 
     Education, or more than one grade to expand the elementary 
     grade structure for Bureau-funded schools with a K-2 grade 
     structure on October 1, 1996. Appropriations made available 
     in this or any prior Act for schools funded by the Bureau 
     shall be available, in accordance with the Bureau's funding 
     formula, only to the schools in the Bureau school system as 
     of September 1, 1996, and to any school or school program 
     that was reinstated in fiscal year 2012. Funds made available 
     under this Act may not be used to establish a charter school 
     at a Bureau-funded school (as that term is defined in section 
     1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021)), 
     except that a charter school that is in existence on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act and that has operated at a 
     Bureau-funded school before September 1, 1999, may continue 
     to operate during that period, but only if the charter school 
     pays to the Bureau a pro rata share of funds to reimburse the 
     Bureau for the use of the real and personal property 
     (including buses and vans), the funds of the charter school 
     are kept separate and apart from Bureau funds, and the Bureau 
     does not assume any obligation for charter school programs of 
     the State in which the school is located if the charter 
     school loses such funding. Employees of Bureau-funded schools 
     sharing a campus with a charter school and performing 
     functions related to the charter school's operation and 
     employees of a charter school shall not be treated as Federal 
     employees for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United 
     States Code.
       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including 
     section 113 of title I of appendix C of Public Law 106-113, 
     if in fiscal year 2003 or 2004 a grantee received indirect 
     and administrative costs pursuant to a distribution formula 
     based on section 5(f) of Public Law 101-301, the Secretary 
     shall continue to distribute indirect and administrative cost 
     funds to such grantee using the section 5(f) distribution 
     formula.
       Funds available under this Act may not be used to establish 
     satellite locations of schools in the Bureau school system as 
     of September 1, 1996, except that the Secretary may waive 
     this prohibition in order for an Indian Tribe to provide 
     language and cultural immersion educational programs for non-
     public schools located within the jurisdictional area of the 
     Tribal government

[[Page H5252]]

     which exclusively serve Tribal members, do not include grades 
     beyond those currently served at the existing Bureau-funded 
     school, provide an educational environment with educator 
     presence and academic facilities comparable to the Bureau-
     funded school, comply with all applicable Tribal, Federal, or 
     State health and safety standards, and the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act, and demonstrate the benefits of 
     establishing operations at a satellite location in lieu of 
     incurring extraordinary costs, such as for transportation or 
     other impacts to students such as those caused by busing 
     students extended distances: Provided, That no funds 
     available under this Act may be used to fund operations, 
     maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, or other 
     facilities-related costs for such assets that are not owned 
     by the Bureau: Provided further, That the term ``satellite 
     school'' means a school location physically separated from 
     the existing Bureau school by more than 50 miles but that 
     forms part of the existing school in all other respects.
       Funds made available for Tribal Priority Allocations within 
     Operation of Indian Programs and Operation of Indian 
     Education Programs may be used to execute requested 
     adjustments in Tribal priority allocations initiated by an 
     Indian Tribe.

                  Bureau of Trust Funds Administration

                         federal trust programs

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the operation of trust programs for Indians by direct 
     expenditure, contracts, cooperative agreements, compacts, and 
     grants, $104,176,000, to remain available until expended, of 
     which not to exceed $17,867,000 from this or any other Act, 
     may be available for settlement support: Provided, That funds 
     for trust management improvements and litigation support may, 
     as needed, be transferred to or merged with the Bureau of 
     Indian Affairs, ``Operation of Indian Programs'' and Bureau 
     of Indian Education, ``Operation of Indian Education 
     Programs'' accounts; the Office of the Solicitor, ``Salaries 
     and Expenses'' account; and the Office of the Secretary, 
     ``Departmental Operations'' account: Provided further, That 
     funds made available through contracts or grants obligated 
     during fiscal year 2024, as authorized by the Indian Self-
     Determination Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), shall 
     remain available until expended by the contractor or grantee: 
     Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary shall not be required to provide a 
     quarterly statement of performance for any Indian trust 
     account that has not had activity for at least 15 months and 
     has a balance of $15 or less: Provided further, That the 
     Secretary shall issue an annual account statement and 
     maintain a record of any such accounts and shall permit the 
     balance in each such account to be withdrawn upon the express 
     written request of the account holder: Provided further, That 
     not to exceed $100,000 is available for the Secretary to make 
     payments to correct administrative errors of either 
     disbursements from or deposits to Individual Indian Money or 
     Tribal accounts after September 30, 2002: Provided further, 
     That erroneous payments that are recovered shall be credited 
     to and remain available in this account for this purpose: 
     Provided further, That the Secretary shall not be required to 
     reconcile Special Deposit Accounts with a balance of less 
     than $500 unless the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration 
     receives proof of ownership from a Special Deposit Accounts 
     claimant: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 102 
     of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 
     1994 (Public Law 103-412) or any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary may aggregate the trust accounts of individuals 
     whose whereabouts are unknown for a continuous period of at 
     least 5 years and shall not be required to generate periodic 
     statements of performance for the individual accounts: 
     Provided further, That with respect to the preceding proviso, 
     the Secretary shall continue to maintain sufficient records 
     to determine the balance of the individual accounts, 
     including any accrued interest and income, and such funds 
     shall remain available to the individual account holders.

                          Departmental Offices

                        Office of the Secretary

                        departmental operations

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses for management of the Department of 
     the Interior and for grants and cooperative agreements, as 
     authorized by law, $67,942,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2025; of which not to exceed $15,000 may be for 
     official reception and representation expenses; of which up 
     to $1,000,000 shall be available for workers compensation 
     payments and unemployment compensation payments associated 
     with the orderly closure of the United States Bureau of 
     Mines; and of which $14,958,000 for Indian land, mineral, and 
     resource valuation activities shall remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That funds for Indian land, mineral, and 
     resource valuation activities may, as needed, be transferred 
     to and merged with the Bureau of Indian Affairs ``Operation 
     of Indian Programs'' and Bureau of Indian Education 
     ``Operation of Indian Education Programs'' accounts and the 
     Bureau of Trust Funds Administration ``Federal Trust 
     Programs'' account: Provided further, That funds made 
     available through contracts or grants obligated during fiscal 
     year 2024, as authorized by the Indian Self-Determination Act 
     of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), shall remain available 
     until expended by the contractor or grantee.

                       administrative provisions

       For fiscal year 2024, up to $400,000 of the payments 
     authorized by chapter 69 of title 31, United States Code, may 
     be retained for administrative expenses of the Payments in 
     Lieu of Taxes Program: Provided, That the amounts provided 
     under this Act specifically for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes 
     program are the only amounts available for payments 
     authorized under chapter 69 of title 31, United States Code: 
     Provided further, That in the event the sums appropriated for 
     any fiscal year for payments pursuant to this chapter are 
     insufficient to make the full payments authorized by that 
     chapter to all units of local government, then the payment to 
     each local government shall be made proportionally: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary may make adjustments to payment 
     to individual units of local government to correct for prior 
     overpayments or underpayments: Provided further, That no 
     payment shall be made pursuant to that chapter to otherwise 
     eligible units of local government if the computed amount of 
     the payment is less than $100.

                            Insular Affairs

                       assistance to territories

       For expenses necessary for assistance to territories under 
     the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and other 
     jurisdictions identified in section 104(e) of Public Law 108-
     188, $107,857,000, of which: (1) $97,640,000 shall remain 
     available until expended for territorial assistance, 
     including general technical assistance, maintenance 
     assistance, disaster assistance, coral reef initiative and 
     natural resources activities, and brown tree snake control 
     and research; grants to the judiciary in American Samoa for 
     compensation and expenses, as authorized by law (48 U.S.C. 
     1661(c)); grants to the Government of American Samoa, in 
     addition to current local revenues, for construction and 
     support of governmental functions; grants to the Government 
     of the Virgin Islands, as authorized by law; grants to the 
     Government of Guam, as authorized by law; and grants to the 
     Government of the Northern Mariana Islands, as authorized by 
     law (Public Law 94-241; 90 Stat. 272); and (2) $10,217,000 
     shall be available until September 30, 2025, for salaries and 
     expenses of the Office of Insular Affairs: Provided, That all 
     financial transactions of the territorial and local 
     governments herein provided for, including such transactions 
     of all agencies or instrumentalities established or used by 
     such governments, may be audited by the Government 
     Accountability Office, at its discretion, in accordance with 
     chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code: Provided further, 
     That Northern Mariana Islands Covenant grant funding shall be 
     provided according to those terms of the Agreement of the 
     Special Representatives on Future United States Financial 
     Assistance for the Northern Mariana Islands approved by 
     Public Law 104-134: Provided further, That the funds for the 
     program of operations and maintenance improvement are 
     appropriated to institutionalize routine operations and 
     maintenance improvement of capital infrastructure with 
     territorial participation and cost sharing to be determined 
     by the Secretary based on the grantee's commitment to timely 
     maintenance of its capital assets: Provided further, That any 
     appropriation for disaster assistance under this heading in 
     this Act or previous appropriations Acts may be used as non-
     Federal matching funds for the purpose of hazard mitigation 
     grants provided pursuant to section 404 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5170c).

                      compact of free association

       For grants and necessary expenses, $1,463,000, to remain 
     available until expended, as provided for in sections 
     221(a)(2) and 233 of the Compact of Free Association for the 
     Republic of Palau; and section 221(a)(2) of the Compacts of 
     Free Association for the Government of the Republic of the 
     Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, as 
     authorized by Public Law 99-658 and Public Law 108-188.

                       Administrative Provisions

                     (including transfer of funds)

       At the request of the Governor of Guam, the Secretary may 
     transfer discretionary funds or mandatory funds provided 
     under section 104(e) of Public Law 108-188 and Public Law 
     104-134, that are allocated for Guam, to the Secretary of 
     Agriculture for the subsidy cost of direct or guaranteed 
     loans, plus not to exceed three percent of the amount of the 
     subsidy transferred for the cost of loan administration, for 
     the purposes authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 
     1936 and section 306(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act for construction and repair projects in Guam, 
     and such funds shall remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying 
     such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That such 
     loans or loan guarantees may be made without regard to the 
     population of the area, credit elsewhere requirements, and 
     restrictions on the types of eligible entities under the 
     Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and section 306(a)(1) of 
     the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act: Provided 
     further, That any funds transferred to the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall be in addition to funds otherwise made 
     available to make or guarantee loans under such authorities.

[[Page H5253]]

  


                        Office of the Solicitor

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Solicitor, 
     $90,945,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025.

                      Office of Inspector General

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, 
     $64,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025.

                        Department-Wide Programs

                        wildland fire management

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses for fire preparedness, fire 
     suppression operations, fire science and research, emergency 
     rehabilitation, fuels management activities, and rural fire 
     assistance by the Department of the Interior, $1,097,443,000, 
     to remain available until expended, of which not to exceed 
     $12,000,000 shall be for the renovation or construction of 
     fire facilities: Provided, That such funds are also available 
     for repayment of advances to other appropriation accounts 
     from which funds were previously transferred for such 
     purposes: Provided further, That of the funds provided 
     $247,000,000 is for fuels management activities: Provided 
     further, That persons hired pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 1469 may be 
     furnished subsistence and lodging without cost from funds 
     available from this appropriation: Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding 42 U.S.C. 1856d, sums received by a bureau or 
     office of the Department of the Interior for fire protection 
     rendered pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1856 et seq., protection of 
     United States property, may be credited to the appropriation 
     from which funds were expended to provide that protection, 
     and are available without fiscal year limitation: Provided 
     further, That using the amounts designated under this title 
     of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into 
     procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, for 
     fuels management activities, and for training and monitoring 
     associated with such fuels management activities on Federal 
     land, or on adjacent non-Federal land for activities that 
     benefit resources on Federal land: Provided further, That the 
     costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the 
     Federal Government and any non-Federal entity may be shared, 
     as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding requirements of the Competition 
     in Contracting Act, the Secretary, for purposes of fuels 
     management activities, may obtain maximum practicable 
     competition among: (1) local private, nonprofit, or 
     cooperative entities; (2) Youth Conservation Corps crews, 
     Public Lands Corps (Public Law 109-154), or related 
     partnerships with State, local, or nonprofit youth groups; 
     (3) small or micro-businesses; or (4) other entities that 
     will hire or train locally a significant percentage, defined 
     as 50 percent or more, of the project workforce to complete 
     such contracts: Provided further, That in implementing this 
     section, the Secretary shall develop written guidance to 
     field units to ensure accountability and consistent 
     application of the authorities provided herein: Provided 
     further, That funds appropriated under this heading may be 
     used to reimburse the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     and the National Marine Fisheries Service for the costs of 
     carrying out their responsibilities under the Endangered 
     Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to consult and 
     conference, as required by section 7 of such Act, in 
     connection with wildland fire management activities: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary of the Interior may use wildland 
     fire appropriations to enter into leases of real property 
     with local governments, at or below fair market value, to 
     construct capitalized improvements for fire facilities on 
     such leased properties, including but not limited to fire 
     guard stations, retardant stations, and other initial attack 
     and fire support facilities, and to make advance payments for 
     any such lease or for construction activity associated with 
     the lease: Provided further, That the Secretary of the 
     Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may authorize the 
     transfer of funds appropriated for wildland fire management, 
     in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 between the 
     Departments when such transfers would facilitate and expedite 
     wildland fire management programs and projects: Provided 
     further, That funds provided for wildfire suppression shall 
     be available for support of Federal emergency response 
     actions: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this 
     heading shall be available for assistance to or through the 
     Department of State in connection with forest and rangeland 
     research, technical information, and assistance in foreign 
     countries, and, with the concurrence of the Secretary of 
     State, shall be available to support forestry, wildland fire 
     management, and related natural resource activities outside 
     the United States and its territories and possessions, 
     including technical assistance, education and training, and 
     cooperation with United States and international 
     organizations: Provided further, That of the funds provided 
     under this heading, $383,657,000 shall be available for 
     wildfire suppression operations, and is provided to meet the 
     terms of section 251(b)(2)(F)(ii)(I) of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

              wildfire suppression operations reserve fund

                     (including transfers of funds)

       In addition to the amounts provided under the heading 
     ``Department of the Interior--Department-Wide Programs--
     Wildland Fire Management'' for wildfire suppression 
     operations, $350,000,000, to remain available until 
     transferred, is additional new budget authority specified for 
     purposes of section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided, That such 
     amounts may be transferred to and merged with amounts made 
     available under the headings ``Department of Agriculture--
     Forest Service--Wildland Fire Management'' and ``Department 
     of the Interior--Department-Wide Programs--Wildland Fire 
     Management'' for wildfire suppression operations in the 
     fiscal year in which such amounts are transferred: Provided 
     further, That amounts may be transferred to the ``Wildland 
     Fire Management'' accounts in the Department of Agriculture 
     or the Department of the Interior only upon the notification 
     of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that all 
     wildfire suppression operations funds appropriated under that 
     heading in this and prior appropriations Acts to the agency 
     to which the funds will be transferred will be obligated 
     within 30 days: Provided further, That the transfer authority 
     provided under this heading is in addition to any other 
     transfer authority provided by law: Provided further, That, 
     in determining whether all wildfire suppression operations 
     funds appropriated under the heading ``Wildland Fire 
     Management'' in this and prior appropriations Acts to either 
     the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the 
     Interior will be obligated within 30 days pursuant to the 
     preceding proviso, any funds transferred or permitted to be 
     transferred pursuant to any other transfer authority provided 
     by law shall be excluded.

                    central hazardous materials fund

       For necessary expenses of the Department of the Interior 
     and any of its component offices and bureaus for the response 
     action, including associated activities, performed pursuant 
     to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
     and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), $9,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.

                energy community revitalization program

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Department of the Interior to 
     inventory, assess, decommission, reclaim, respond to 
     hazardous substance releases, remediate lands pursuant to 
     section 40704 of Public Law 117-58 (30 U.S.C. 1245), and 
     carry out the purposes of section 349 of the Energy Policy 
     Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15907), as amended, $5,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended: Provided, That such amount 
     shall be in addition to amounts otherwise available for such 
     purposes: Provided further, That amounts appropriated under 
     this heading are available for program management and 
     oversight of these activities: Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may transfer the funds provided under this heading 
     in this Act to any other account in the Department to carry 
     out such purposes, and may expend such funds directly, or 
     through grants: Provided further, That these amounts are not 
     available to fulfill Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) 
     obligations agreed to in settlement or imposed by a court, 
     whether for payment of funds or for work to be performed.

           natural resource damage assessment and restoration

                natural resource damage assessment fund

       To conduct natural resource damage assessment, restoration 
     activities, and onshore oil spill preparedness by the 
     Department of the Interior necessary to carry out the 
     provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the 
     Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), 
     the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), and 
     54 U.S.C. 100721 et seq., $7,750,000, to remain available 
     until expended.

                          working capital fund

       For the operation and maintenance of a departmental 
     financial and business management system, data management, 
     information technology improvements of general benefit to the 
     Department, cybersecurity, and the consolidation of 
     facilities and operations throughout the Department, 
     $89,758,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That none of the funds appropriated in this Act or any other 
     Act may be used to establish reserves in the Working Capital 
     Fund account other than for accrued annual leave and 
     depreciation of equipment without prior approval of the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate: Provided further, That the Secretary of the 
     Interior may assess reasonable charges to State, local, and 
     Tribal government employees for training services provided by 
     the National Indian Program Training Center, other than 
     training related to Public Law 93-638: Provided further, That 
     the Secretary may lease or otherwise provide space and 
     related facilities, equipment, or professional services of 
     the National Indian Program Training Center to State, local 
     and Tribal government employees or persons or organizations 
     engaged in cultural, educational, or recreational activities 
     (as defined in section 3306(a) of title 40, United States 
     Code) at the prevailing rate for similar space, facilities, 
     equipment, or services in the vicinity of the National Indian 
     Program Training Center: Provided further, That all funds 
     received pursuant to the two preceding provisos shall be 
     credited to this account, shall be available until expended, 
     and

[[Page H5254]]

     shall be used by the Secretary for necessary expenses of the 
     National Indian Program Training Center: Provided further, 
     That the Secretary may enter into grants and cooperative 
     agreements to support the Office of Natural Resource 
     Revenue's collection and disbursement of royalties, fees, and 
     other mineral revenue proceeds, as authorized by law.

                        administrative provision

       There is hereby authorized for acquisition from available 
     resources within the Working Capital Fund, aircraft which may 
     be obtained by donation, purchase, or through available 
     excess surplus property: Provided, That existing aircraft 
     being replaced may be sold, with proceeds derived or trade-in 
     value used to offset the purchase price for the replacement 
     aircraft.

                  office of natural resources revenue

       For necessary expenses for management of the collection and 
     disbursement of royalties, fees, and other mineral revenue 
     proceeds, and for grants and cooperative agreements, as 
     authorized by law, $157,440,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2025; of which $71,251,000 shall remain 
     available until expended for the purpose of mineral revenue 
     management activities: Provided, That notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, $15,000 shall be available for 
     refunds of overpayments in connection with certain Indian 
     leases in which the Secretary of the Interior concurred with 
     the claimed refund due, to pay amounts owed to Indian 
     allottees or Tribes, or to correct prior unrecoverable 
     erroneous payments.

             General Provisions, Department of the Interior

                     (including transfers of funds)

               emergency transfer authority--intra-bureau

       Sec. 101. Appropriations made in this title shall be 
     available for expenditure or transfer (within each bureau or 
     office), with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, 
     for the emergency reconstruction, replacement, or repair of 
     aircraft, buildings, utilities, or other facilities or 
     equipment damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, storm, or 
     other unavoidable causes: Provided, That no funds shall be 
     made available under this authority until funds specifically 
     made available to the Department of the Interior for 
     emergencies have been exhausted: Provided further, That all 
     funds used pursuant to this section must be replenished by a 
     supplemental appropriation, which must be requested as 
     promptly as possible.

             emergency transfer authority--department-wide

       Sec. 102. The Secretary of the Interior may authorize the 
     expenditure or transfer of any no year appropriation in this 
     title, in addition to the amounts included in the budget 
     programs of the several agencies, for the suppression or 
     emergency prevention of wildland fires on or threatening 
     lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of the 
     Interior; for the emergency rehabilitation of burned-over 
     lands under its jurisdiction; for emergency actions related 
     to potential or actual earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, 
     storms, or other unavoidable causes; for contingency planning 
     subsequent to actual oil spills; for response and natural 
     resource damage assessment activities related to actual oil 
     spills or releases of hazardous substances into the 
     environment; for the prevention, suppression, and control of 
     actual or potential grasshopper and Mormon cricket outbreaks 
     on lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, pursuant to 
     the authority in section 417(b) of Public Law 106-224 (7 
     U.S.C. 7717(b)); for emergency reclamation projects under 
     section 410 of Public Law 95-87; and shall transfer, from any 
     no year funds available to the Office of Surface Mining 
     Reclamation and Enforcement, such funds as may be necessary 
     to permit assumption of regulatory authority in the event a 
     primacy State is not carrying out the regulatory provisions 
     of the Surface Mining Act: Provided, That appropriations made 
     in this title for wildland fire operations shall be available 
     for the payment of obligations incurred during the preceding 
     fiscal year, and for reimbursement to other Federal agencies 
     for destruction of vehicles, aircraft, or other equipment in 
     connection with their use for wildland fire operations, with 
     such reimbursement to be credited to appropriations currently 
     available at the time of receipt thereof: Provided further, 
     That for wildland fire operations, no funds shall be made 
     available under this authority until the Secretary determines 
     that funds appropriated for ``wildland fire suppression'' 
     shall be exhausted within 30 days: Provided further, That all 
     funds used pursuant to this section must be replenished by a 
     supplemental appropriation, which must be requested as 
     promptly as possible: Provided further, That such 
     replenishment funds shall be used to reimburse, on a pro rata 
     basis, accounts from which emergency funds were transferred.

                        authorized use of funds

       Sec. 103. Appropriations made to the Department of the 
     Interior in this title shall be available for services as 
     authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 
     when authorized by the Secretary of the Interior, in total 
     amount not to exceed $500,000; purchase and replacement of 
     motor vehicles, including specially equipped law enforcement 
     vehicles; hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft; hire 
     of passenger motor vehicles; purchase of reprints; payment 
     for telephone service in private residences in the field, 
     when authorized under regulations approved by the Secretary; 
     and the payment of dues, when authorized by the Secretary, 
     for library membership in societies or associations which 
     issue publications to members only or at a price to members 
     lower than to subscribers who are not members.

            authorized use of funds, indian trust management

       Sec. 104. Appropriations made in this Act under the 
     headings ``Bureau of Indian Affairs,'' ``Bureau of Indian 
     Education,'' and ``Bureau of Trust Funds Administration'' and 
     any unobligated balances from prior appropriations Acts made 
     under the same headings shall be available for expenditure or 
     transfer for Indian trust management and reform activities. 
     Total funding for settlement support activities shall not 
     exceed amounts specifically designated in this Act for such 
     purpose. The Secretary shall notify the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of the 
     expenditure or transfer of any funds under this section, 
     including the amount expended or transferred and how the 
     funds will be used.

           redistribution of funds, bureau of indian affairs

       Sec. 105. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary of the Interior is authorized to redistribute any 
     Tribal Priority Allocation funds, including Tribal base 
     funds, to alleviate Tribal funding inequities by transferring 
     funds to address identified, unmet needs, dual enrollment, 
     overlapping service areas or inaccurate distribution 
     methodologies. No Tribe shall receive a reduction in Tribal 
     Priority Allocation funds of more than 10 percent in fiscal 
     year 2024. Under circumstances of dual enrollment, 
     overlapping service areas or inaccurate distribution 
     methodologies, the 10 percent limitation does not apply.

                outer continental shelf inspection fees

       Sec. 106. (a) In fiscal year 2024, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall collect a nonrefundable inspection fee, which 
     shall be deposited in the ``Offshore Safety and Environmental 
     Enforcement'' account, from the designated operator for 
     facilities subject to inspection under 43 U.S.C. 1348(c).
       (b) Annual fees shall be collected for facilities that are 
     above the waterline, excluding drilling rigs, and are in 
     place at the start of the fiscal year. Fees for fiscal year 
     2024 shall be--
       (1) $10,500 for facilities with no wells, but with 
     processing equipment or gathering lines;
       (2) $17,000 for facilities with 1 to 10 wells, with any 
     combination of active or inactive wells; and
       (3) $31,500 for facilities with more than 10 wells, with 
     any combination of active or inactive wells.
       (c) Fees for drilling rigs shall be assessed for all 
     inspections completed in fiscal year 2024. Fees for fiscal 
     year 2024 shall be--
       (1) $30,500 per inspection for rigs operating in water 
     depths of 500 feet or more; and
       (2) $16,700 per inspection for rigs operating in water 
     depths of less than 500 feet.
       (d) Fees for inspection of well operations conducted via 
     non-rig units as outlined in title 30 CFR 250 subparts D, E, 
     F, and Q shall be assessed for all inspections completed in 
     fiscal year 2024. Fees for fiscal year 2024 shall be--
       (1) $13,260 per inspection for non-rig units operating in 
     water depths of 2,500 feet or more;
       (2) $11,530 per inspection for non-rig units operating in 
     water depths between 500 and 2,499 feet; and
       (3) $4,470 per inspection for non-rig units operating in 
     water depths of less than 500 feet.
       (e) The Secretary shall bill designated operators under 
     subsection (b) quarterly, with payment required within 30 
     days of billing. The Secretary shall bill designated 
     operators under subsection (c) within 30 days of the end of 
     the month in which the inspection occurred, with payment 
     required within 30 days of billing. The Secretary shall bill 
     designated operators under subsection (d) with payment 
     required by the end of the following quarter.

  contracts and agreements for wild horse and burro holding facilities

       Sec. 107. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
     the Secretary of the Interior may enter into multiyear 
     cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations and other 
     appropriate entities, and may enter into multiyear contracts 
     in accordance with the provisions of section 3903 of title 
     41, United States Code (except that the 5-year term 
     restriction in subsection (a) shall not apply), for the long-
     term care and maintenance of excess wild free-roaming horses 
     and burros by such organizations or entities on private land. 
     Such cooperative agreements and contracts may not exceed 10 
     years, subject to renewal at the discretion of the Secretary.

                       mass marking of salmonids

       Sec. 108. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     shall, in carrying out its responsibilities to protect 
     threatened and endangered species of salmon, implement a 
     system of mass marking of salmonid stocks, intended for 
     harvest, that are released from federally operated or 
     federally financed hatcheries including but not limited to 
     fish releases of coho, chinook, and steelhead species. Marked 
     fish must have a visible mark that can be readily identified 
     by commercial and recreational fishers.

[[Page H5255]]

  


              contracts and agreements with indian affairs

       Sec. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     during fiscal year 2024, in carrying out work involving 
     cooperation with State, local, and Tribal governments or any 
     political subdivision thereof, Indian Affairs may record 
     obligations against accounts receivable from any such 
     entities, except that total obligations at the end of the 
     fiscal year shall not exceed total budgetary resources 
     available at the end of the fiscal year.

        department of the interior experienced services program

       Sec. 110. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     relating to Federal grants and cooperative agreements, the 
     Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make grants to, or 
     enter into cooperative agreements with, private nonprofit 
     organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under 
     title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 to utilize the 
     talents of older Americans in programs authorized by other 
     provisions of law administered by the Secretary and 
     consistent with such provisions of law.
       (b) Prior to awarding any grant or agreement under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the agreement 
     would not--
       (1) result in the displacement of individuals currently 
     employed by the Department, including partial displacement 
     through reduction of non-overtime hours, wages, or employment 
     benefits;
       (2) result in the use of an individual under the Department 
     of the Interior Experienced Services Program for a job or 
     function in a case in which a Federal employee is in a layoff 
     status from the same or substantially equivalent job within 
     the Department; or
       (3) affect existing contracts for services.

                          obligation of funds

       Sec. 111. Amounts appropriated by this Act to the 
     Department of the Interior shall be available for obligation 
     and expenditure not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

                         separation of accounts

       Sec. 112. The Secretary of the Interior, in order to 
     implement an orderly transition to separate accounts of the 
     Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education, 
     may transfer funds among and between the successor offices 
     and bureaus affected by the reorganization only in 
     conformance with the reprogramming guidelines described in 
     this Act.

                    payments in lieu of taxes (pilt)

       Sec. 113. Section 6906 of title 31, United States Code, 
     shall be applied by substituting ``fiscal year 2024'' for 
     ``fiscal year 2019''.

                         interagency motor pool

       Sec. 114. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or 
     Federal regulation, federally recognized Indian Tribes or 
     authorized Tribal organizations that receive Tribally-
     Controlled School Grants pursuant to Public Law 100-297 may 
     obtain interagency motor vehicles and related services for 
     performance of any activities carried out under such grants 
     to the same extent as if they were contracting under the 
     Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

                        appraiser pay authority

       Sec. 115. For fiscal year 2024, funds made available in 
     this or any other Act or otherwise made available to the 
     Department of the Interior for the Appraisal and Valuation 
     Services Office may be used by the Secretary of the Interior 
     to establish higher minimum rates of basic pay for employees 
     of the Department of the Interior in the Appraiser (GS-1171) 
     job series at grades 11 through 15 carrying out appraisals of 
     real property and appraisal reviews conducted in support of 
     the Department's realty programs at rates no greater than 15 
     percent above the minimum rates of basic pay normally 
     scheduled, and such higher rates shall be consistent with 
     subsections (e) through (h) of section 5305 of title 5, 
     United States Code.

                              sage-grouse

       Sec. 116. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be used by the Secretary of the Interior 
     pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
     1531 et seq.)--
       (1) to write or issue a proposed or final rule with regard 
     to--
       (A) the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus);
       (B) the Columbia Basin Distinct Population Segment of 
     greater sage-grouse; or
       (C) the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of greater 
     sage-grouse; or
       (2) to implement, administer, or enforce--
       (A) the rule submitted by the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service relating to ``Endangered and Threatened 
     Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the 
     Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-Grouse'' 
     (78 Fed. Reg. 64327; published October 28, 2013);
       (B) the rule submitted by the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service relating to ``Endangered and Threatened 
     Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status for the Bi-State 
     Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-Grouse With 
     Special Rule'' (78 Fed. Reg. 64357; published October 28, 
     2013); or
       (C) the rule submitted by the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service relating to ``Endangered and Threatened 
     Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status for the Bi-State 
     Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-Grouse With 
     Section 4(d) Rule and Designation of Critical Habitat'' (88 
     Fed. Reg. 25613; published April 27, 2023).

                       state conservation grants

       Sec. 117. For expenses necessary to carry out section 
     200305 of title 54, United States Code, the National Park 
     Service may retain up to 7 percent of the State Conservation 
     Grants program to provide to States, the District of 
     Columbia, and insular areas, as matching grants to support 
     State program administrative costs.

                                TITLE II

                    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

                         Science and Technology

       For science and technology, including research and 
     development activities, which shall include research and 
     development activities under the Comprehensive Environmental 
     Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980; necessary 
     expenses for personnel and related costs and travel expenses; 
     procurement of laboratory equipment and supplies; hire, 
     maintenance, and operation of aircraft; and other operating 
     expenses in support of research and development, 
     $560,707,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025: 
     Provided, That of the funds included under this heading, 
     $19,475,000 shall be for Research: National Priorities as 
     specified in the report accompanying this Act.

                 Environmental Programs and Management

       For environmental programs and management, including 
     necessary expenses not otherwise provided for, for personnel 
     and related costs and travel expenses; hire of passenger 
     motor vehicles; hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft; 
     purchase of reprints; library memberships in societies or 
     associations which issue publications to members only or at a 
     price to members lower than to subscribers who are not 
     members; administrative costs of the brownfields program 
     under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields 
     Revitalization Act of 2002; implementation of a coal 
     combustion residual permit program under section 2301 of the 
     Water and Waste Act of 2016; and not to exceed $9,000 for 
     official reception and representation expenses, 
     $2,428,959,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025: 
     Provided further, That of the funds included under this 
     heading--
       (1) $35,000,000 shall be for Environmental Protection: 
     National Priorities as specified in the report accompanying 
     this Act;
       (2) $651,226,000 shall be for Geographic Programs as 
     specified in the report accompanying this Act.
     In addition, $9,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
     for necessary expenses of activities described in section 
     26(b)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 
     2625(b)(1)): Provided, That fees collected pursuant to that 
     section of that Act and deposited in the ``TSCA Service Fee 
     Fund'' as discretionary offsetting receipts in fiscal year 
     2024 shall be retained and used for necessary salaries and 
     expenses in this appropriation and shall remain available 
     until expended: Provided further, That the sum herein 
     appropriated in this paragraph from the general fund for 
     fiscal year 2024 shall be reduced by the amount of 
     discretionary offsetting receipts received during fiscal year 
     2024, so as to result in a final fiscal year 2024 
     appropriation from the general fund estimated at not more 
     than $0: Provided further, That to the extent that amounts 
     realized from such receipts exceed $9,000,000, those amounts 
     in excess of $9,000,000 shall be deposited in the ``TSCA 
     Service Fee Fund'' as discretionary offsetting receipts in 
     fiscal year 2024, shall be retained and used for necessary 
     salaries and expenses in this account, and shall remain 
     available until expended: Provided further, That of the funds 
     included in the first paragraph under this heading, the 
     Chemical Risk Review and Reduction program project shall be 
     allocated for this fiscal year, excluding the amount of any 
     fees appropriated, not less than the amount of appropriations 
     for that program project for fiscal year 2014.

                      Office of Inspector General

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General 
     in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978, $44,030,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2025.

                        Buildings and Facilities

       For construction, repair, improvement, extension, 
     alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of, 
     or for use by, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
     $24,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                     Hazardous Substance Superfund

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses to carry out the Comprehensive 
     Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 
     1980 (CERCLA), including sections 111(c)(3), (c)(5), (c)(6), 
     and (e)(4) (42 U.S.C. 9611), and hire, maintenance, and 
     operation of aircraft, $355,856,000, to remain available 
     until expended, consisting of such sums as are available in 
     the Trust Fund on September 30, 2023, and not otherwise 
     appropriated from the Trust Fund, as authorized by section 
     517(a) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 
     1986 (SARA) and up to $355,856,000 as a payment from general 
     revenues to the Hazardous Substance Superfund for purposes as 
     authorized by section 517(b) of SARA: Provided, That funds 
     appropriated under this heading may be allocated to other 
     Federal agencies in accordance with section 111(a) of CERCLA: 
     Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this 
     heading, $13,847,000 shall be paid to the ``Office of 
     Inspector General'' appropriation to remain

[[Page H5256]]

     available until September 30, 2025, and $31,928,000 shall be 
     paid to the ``Science and Technology'' appropriation to 
     remain available until September 30, 2025.

          Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program

       For necessary expenses to carry out leaking underground 
     storage tank cleanup activities authorized by subtitle I of 
     the Solid Waste Disposal Act, $83,885,000, to remain 
     available until expended, of which $60,691,000 shall be for 
     carrying out leaking underground storage tank cleanup 
     activities authorized by section 9003(h) of the Solid Waste 
     Disposal Act; and $23,194,000 shall be for carrying out the 
     other provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act specified in 
     section 9508(c) of the Internal Revenue Code: Provided, That 
     the Administrator is authorized to use appropriations made 
     available under this heading to implement section 9013 of the 
     Solid Waste Disposal Act to provide financial assistance to 
     federally recognized Indian Tribes for the development and 
     implementation of programs to manage underground storage 
     tanks.

                       Inland Oil Spill Programs

       For expenses necessary to carry out the Environmental 
     Protection Agency's responsibilities under the Oil Pollution 
     Act of 1990, including hire, maintenance, and operation of 
     aircraft, $19,865,000, to be derived from the Oil Spill 
     Liability trust fund, to remain available until expended.

                   State and Tribal Assistance Grants

       For environmental programs and infrastructure assistance, 
     including capitalization grants for State revolving funds and 
     performance partnership grants, $2,583,858,000, to remain 
     available until expended, of which--
       (1) $535,000,000 shall be for making capitalization grants 
     for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds under title VI of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; and of which 
     $460,611,000 shall be for making capitalization grants for 
     the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds under section 1452 
     of the Safe Drinking Water Act: Provided, That $470,139,492 
     of the funds made available for capitalization grants for the 
     Clean Water State Revolving Funds and $410,309,777 of the 
     funds made available for capitalization grants for the 
     Drinking Water State Revolving Funds shall be for the 
     construction of drinking water, wastewater, and storm water 
     infrastructure and for water quality protection in accordance 
     with the terms and conditions specified for such grants in 
     the report accompanying this Act for projects specified for 
     ``STAG--Drinking Water State Revolving Fund'' and ``STAG--
     Clean Water State Revolving Fund'' in the table titled 
     ``Interior and Environment Incorporation of Community Project 
     Funding Items'' included in the report accompanying this Act, 
     and, for purposes of these grants, each grantee shall 
     contribute not less than 20 percent of the cost of the 
     project unless the grantee is approved for a waiver by the 
     Agency: Provided further, That the Administrator is 
     authorized to use up to $1,500,000 of funds made available 
     for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds under this heading 
     under title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1381) to conduct the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey: 
     Provided further, That notwithstanding section 603(d)(7) of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the limitation on 
     the amounts in a State water pollution control revolving fund 
     that may be used by a State to administer the fund shall not 
     apply to amounts included as principal in loans made by such 
     fund in fiscal year 2024 and prior years where such amounts 
     represent costs of administering the fund to the extent that 
     such amounts are or were deemed reasonable by the 
     Administrator, accounted for separately from other assets in 
     the fund, and used for eligible purposes of the fund, 
     including administration: Provided further, That for fiscal 
     year 2024, notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 
     (g)(1), (h), and (l) of section 201 of the Federal Water 
     Pollution Control Act, grants made under title II of such Act 
     for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
     Marianas, the United States Virgin Islands, and the District 
     of Columbia may also be made for the purpose of providing 
     assistance: (1) solely for facility plans, design activities, 
     or plans, specifications, and estimates for any proposed 
     project for the construction of treatment works; and (2) for 
     the construction, repair, or replacement of privately owned 
     treatment works serving one or more principal residences or 
     small commercial establishments: Provided further, That for 
     fiscal year 2024, notwithstanding the provisions of such 
     subsections (g)(1), (h), and (l) of section 201 and section 
     518(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, funds 
     reserved by the Administrator for grants under section 518(c) 
     of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act may also be used 
     to provide assistance: (1) solely for facility plans, design 
     activities, or plans, specifications, and estimates for any 
     proposed project for the construction of treatment works; and 
     (2) for the construction, repair, or replacement of privately 
     owned treatment works serving one or more principal 
     residences or small commercial establishments: Provided 
     further, That for fiscal year 2024, notwithstanding any 
     provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and 
     regulations issued pursuant thereof, up to a total of 
     $2,000,000 of the funds reserved by the Administrator for 
     grants under section 518(c) of such Act may also be used for 
     grants for training, technical assistance, and educational 
     programs relating to the operation and management of the 
     treatment works specified in section 518(c) of such Act: 
     Provided further, That for fiscal year 2024, funds reserved 
     under section 518(c) of such Act shall be available for 
     grants only to Indian Tribes, as defined in section 518(h) of 
     such Act and former Indian reservations in Oklahoma (as 
     determined by the Secretary of the Interior) and Native 
     Villages as defined in Public Law 92-203: Provided further, 
     That for fiscal year 2024, notwithstanding the limitation on 
     amounts in section 518(c) of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act, up to a total of 2 percent of the funds 
     appropriated, or $30,000,000, and notwithstanding the 
     limitation on amounts in section 1452(i) of the Safe Drinking 
     Water Act, up to a total of 2 percent of the funds 
     appropriated, or $20,000,000, for State Revolving Funds under 
     such Acts may be reserved by the Administrator for grants 
     under section 518(c) and section 1452(i) of such Acts: 
     Provided further, That for fiscal year 2024, notwithstanding 
     the amounts specified in section 205(c) of the Federal Water 
     Pollution Control Act, up to 1.5 percent of the aggregate 
     funds appropriated for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund 
     program under the Act less any sums reserved under section 
     518(c) of the Act, may be reserved by the Administrator for 
     grants made under title II of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Marianas, and United States Virgin Islands: Provided 
     further, That for fiscal year 2024, notwithstanding the 
     limitations on amounts specified in section 1452(j) of the 
     Safe Drinking Water Act, up to 1.5 percent of the funds 
     appropriated for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 
     programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act may be reserved by 
     the Administrator for grants made under section 1452(j) of 
     the Safe Drinking Water Act: Provided further, That 10 
     percent of the funds made available under this title to each 
     State for Clean Water State Revolving Fund capitalization 
     grants and 14 percent of the funds made available under this 
     title to each State for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 
     capitalization grants shall be used by the State to provide 
     additional subsidy to eligible recipients in the form of 
     forgiveness of principal, negative interest loans, or grants 
     (or any combination of these), and shall be so used by the 
     State only where such funds are provided as initial financing 
     for an eligible recipient or to buy, refinance, or 
     restructure the debt obligations of eligible recipients only 
     where such debt was incurred on or after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, or where such debt was incurred prior 
     to the date of enactment of this Act if the State, with 
     concurrence from the Administrator, determines that such 
     funds could be used to help address a threat to public health 
     from heightened exposure to lead in drinking water or if a 
     Federal or State emergency declaration has been issued due to 
     a threat to public health from heightened exposure to lead in 
     a municipal drinking water supply before the date of 
     enactment of this Act: Provided further, That in a State in 
     which such an emergency declaration has been issued, the 
     State may use more than 14 percent of the funds made 
     available under this title to the State for Drinking Water 
     State Revolving Fund capitalization grants to provide 
     additional subsidy to eligible recipients: Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding section 1452(o) of the Safe Drinking 
     Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(o)), the Administrator shall 
     reserve up to $12,000,000 of the amounts made available for 
     fiscal year 2024 for making capitalization grants for the 
     Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to pay the costs of 
     monitoring for unregulated contaminants under section 
     1445(a)(2)(C) of such Act;
       (2) $29,000,000 shall be for architectural, engineering, 
     planning, design, construction and related activities in 
     connection with the construction of high priority water and 
     wastewater facilities in the area of the southwestern United 
     States, after consultation with the appropriate commission: 
     Provided, That no funds made available by this Act to address 
     the water, wastewater and other critical infrastructure needs 
     of the colonias in the United States located in the 
     southwestern United States shall be made available to a 
     county or municipal government unless that government has 
     established an enforceable local ordinance, or other zoning 
     rule, which prevents in that jurisdiction the development or 
     construction of any additional colonia areas, or the 
     development within an existing colonia the construction of 
     any new home, business, or other structure which lacks water, 
     wastewater, or other necessary infrastructure;
       (3) $30,558,000 shall be for grants to the State of Alaska 
     to address drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs 
     of rural and Alaska Native Villages: Provided, That of these 
     funds: (A) the State of Alaska shall provide a match of 25 
     percent; (B) no more than 5 percent of the funds may be used 
     for administrative and overhead expenses; and (C) the State 
     of Alaska shall make awards consistent with the Statewide 
     priority list established in conjunction with the Agency and 
     the U.S. Department of Agriculture for all water, sewer, 
     waste disposal, and similar projects carried out by the State 
     of Alaska that are funded under section 221 of the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1301) or the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et 
     seq.) which shall allocate not less than 25 percent of the 
     funds provided for projects in regional hub communities;

[[Page H5257]]

       (4) $80,000,000 shall be to carry out section 104(k) of the 
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
     Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)), including 
     grants, interagency agreements, and associated program 
     support costs: Provided, That at least 10 percent shall be 
     allocated for assistance in persistent poverty counties: 
     Provided further, That for purposes of this section, the term 
     ``persistent poverty counties'' means any county that has had 
     20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over 
     the past 30 years, as measured by the 1993 Small Area Income 
     and Poverty Estimates, the 2000 decennial census, and the 
     most recent Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, or any 
     territory or possession of the United States;
       (5) $105,000,000 shall be for grants under title VII, 
     subtitle G of the Energy Policy Act of 2005;
       (6) $69,927,000 shall be for targeted airshed grants in 
     accordance with the terms and conditions in the report 
     accompanying this Act;
       (7) $23,221,000 shall be for grants under subsections (a) 
     through (j) of section 1459A of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 300j-19a);
       (8) $30,500,000 shall be for grants under section 1464(d) 
     of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-24(d));
       (9) $25,011,000 shall be for grants under section 1459B of 
     the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-19b);
       (10) $7,000,000 shall be for grants under section 1459A(l) 
     of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-19a(l));
       (11) $27,000,000 shall be for grants under section 
     104(b)(8) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1254(b)(8));
       (12) $5,000,000 shall be for grants under section 224 of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1302b);
       (13) $5,000,000 shall be for grants under section 226 of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1302d);
       (14) $3,000,000 shall be for grants under section 227 of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1302e);
       (15) $3,000,000 shall be for grants under section 220 of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1300);
       (16) $50,000,000 shall be for grants under section 221 of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1301);
       (17) $2,000,000 shall be for grants under section 4304(b) 
     of the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (42 U.S.C. 
     300j-19e);
       (18) $3,000,000 shall be for carrying out section 302(a) of 
     the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (33 U.S.C. 4282(a)), of which not 
     more than 2 percent shall be for administrative costs to 
     carry out such section: Provided, That notwithstanding 
     section 302(a) of such Act, the Administrator may also 
     provide grants pursuant to such authority to Intertribal 
     consortia consistent with the requirements in 40 CFR 
     35.504(a), to former Indian reservations in Oklahoma (as 
     determined by the Secretary of the Interior), and Alaska 
     Native Villages as defined in Public Law 92-203;
       (19) $5,000,000 shall be for grants under section 1459F of 
     the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-19g);
       (20) $2,000,000 shall be for carrying out section 2001 of 
     the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (Public Law 
     115-270, 42 U.S.C. 300j-3c note): Provided, That the 
     Administrator may award grants to and enter into contracts 
     with Tribes, Intertribal consortia, public or private 
     agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals, 
     without regard to section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31 and 
     section 6101 of title 41, United States Code, and enter into 
     interagency agreements as appropriate;
       (21) $5,000,000 shall be for grants under section 50217(b) 
     of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (33 U.S.C. 
     1302f(b); Public Law 117-58);
       (22) $5,000,000 shall be for grants under section 124 of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1276); and
       (23) $1,073,030,000 shall be for grants, including 
     associated program support costs, to States, federally 
     recognized Tribes, interstate agencies, Tribal consortia, and 
     air pollution control agencies for multi-media or single 
     media pollution prevention, control and abatement, and 
     related activities, including activities pursuant to the 
     provisions set forth under this heading in Public Law 104-
     134, and for making grants under section 103 of the Clean Air 
     Act for particulate matter monitoring and data collection 
     activities subject to terms and conditions specified by the 
     Administrator, and under section 2301 of the Water and Waste 
     Act of 2016 to assist States in developing and implementing 
     programs for control of coal combustion residuals, of which: 
     $36,340,000 shall be for carrying out section 128 of CERCLA; 
     $1,505,000 shall be for grants to States under section 
     2007(f)(2) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, which shall be in 
     addition to funds appropriated under the heading ``Leaking 
     Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program'' to carry out 
     the provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act specified in 
     section 9508(c) of the Internal Revenue Code other than 
     section 9003(h) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; $18,512,000 
     of the funds available for grants under section 106 of the 
     Federal Water Pollution Control Act shall be for State 
     participation in national- and State-level statistical 
     surveys of water resources and enhancements to State 
     monitoring programs.

      Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account

       For the cost of direct loans and for the cost of guaranteed 
     loans, as authorized by the Water Infrastructure Finance and 
     Innovation Act of 2014, $65,974,000, to remain available 
     until expended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost 
     of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 
     of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, 
     That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations 
     for the principal amount of direct loans, including 
     capitalized interest, and total loan principal, including 
     capitalized interest, any part of which is to be guaranteed, 
     not to exceed $12,500,000,000: Provided further, That of the 
     funds made available under this heading, $5,000,000 shall be 
     used solely for the cost of direct loans and for the cost of 
     guaranteed loans for projects described in section 5026(9) of 
     the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 
     to State infrastructure financing authorities, as authorized 
     by section 5033(e) of such Act: Provided further, That the 
     use of direct loans or loan guarantee authority under this 
     heading for direct loans or commitments to guarantee loans 
     for any project shall be in accordance with the criteria 
     published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2020 (85 FR 
     39189) pursuant to the fourth proviso under the heading 
     ``Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program 
     Account'' in division D of the Further Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94): Provided 
     further, That none of the direct loans or loan guarantee 
     authority made available under this heading shall be 
     available for any project unless the Administrator and the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget have 
     certified in advance in writing that the direct loan or loan 
     guarantee, as applicable, and the project comply with the 
     criteria referenced in the previous proviso: Provided 
     further, That, for the purposes of carrying out the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Director of the 
     Congressional Budget Office may request, and the 
     Administrator shall promptly provide, documentation and 
     information relating to a project identified in a Letter of 
     Interest submitted to the Administrator pursuant to a Notice 
     of Funding Availability for applications for credit 
     assistance under the Water Infrastructure Finance and 
     Innovation Act Program, including with respect to a project 
     that was initiated or completed before the date of enactment 
     of this Act.
       In addition, fees authorized to be collected pursuant to 
     sections 5029 and 5030 of the Water Infrastructure Finance 
     and Innovation Act of 2014 shall be deposited in this 
     account, to remain available until expended.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     direct and guaranteed loan programs, notwithstanding section 
     5033 of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act 
     of 2014, $6,026,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2025.

       Administrative Provisions--Environmental Protection Agency

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For fiscal year 2024, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 6303(1) and 
     6305(1), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency, in carrying out the Agency's function to implement 
     directly Federal environmental programs required or 
     authorized by law in the absence of an acceptable Tribal 
     program, may award cooperative agreements to federally 
     recognized Indian Tribes or Intertribal consortia, if 
     authorized by their member Tribes, to assist the 
     Administrator in implementing Federal environmental programs 
     for Indian Tribes required or authorized by law, except that 
     no such cooperative agreements may be awarded from funds 
     designated for State financial assistance agreements.
       The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is 
     authorized to collect and obligate pesticide registration 
     service fees in accordance with section 33 of the Federal 
     Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136w-
     8), to remain available until expended.
       Notwithstanding section 33(d)(2) of the Federal 
     Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 
     136w-8(d)(2)), the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency may assess fees under section 33 of FIFRA 
     (7 U.S.C. 136w-8) for fiscal year 2024.
       The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is 
     authorized to collect and obligate fees in accordance with 
     section 3024 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 
     6939g) for fiscal year 2024, to remain available until 
     expended.
       The Administrator is authorized to transfer up to 
     $368,000,000 of the funds appropriated for the Great Lakes 
     Restoration Initiative under the heading ``Environmental 
     Programs and Management'' to the head of any Federal 
     department or agency, with the concurrence of such head, to 
     carry out activities that would support the Great Lakes 
     Restoration Initiative and Great Lakes Water Quality 
     Agreement programs, projects, or activities; to enter into an 
     interagency agreement with the head of such Federal 
     department or agency to carry out these activities; and to 
     make grants to governmental entities, nonprofit 
     organizations, institutions, and individuals for planning, 
     research, monitoring, outreach, and implementation in 
     furtherance of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the 
     Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
       The Science and Technology, Environmental Programs and 
     Management, Office of Inspector General, Hazardous Substance 
     Superfund, and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund 
     Program Accounts, are

[[Page H5258]]

     available for the construction, alteration, repair, 
     rehabilitation, and renovation of facilities, provided that 
     the cost does not exceed $300,000 per project.
       For fiscal year 2024, and notwithstanding section 518(f) of 
     the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1377(f)), 
     the Administrator is authorized to use the amounts 
     appropriated for any fiscal year under section 319 of the Act 
     to make grants to Indian Tribes pursuant to sections 319(h) 
     and 518(e) of that Act.
       The Administrator is authorized to use the amounts 
     appropriated under the heading ``Environmental Programs and 
     Management'' for fiscal year 2024 to provide grants to 
     implement the Southeast New England Watershed Restoration 
     Program.
       Notwithstanding the limitations on amounts in section 
     320(i)(2)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, not 
     less than $2,800,000 of the funds made available under this 
     title for the National Estuary Program shall be for making 
     competitive awards described in section 320(g)(4).
       For fiscal year 2024, the Office of Chemical Safety and 
     Pollution Prevention and the Office of Water may, using funds 
     appropriated under the headings ``Environmental Programs and 
     Management'' and ``Science and Technology'', contract 
     directly with individuals or indirectly with institutions or 
     nonprofit organizations, without regard to 41 U.S.C. 5, for 
     the temporary or intermittent personal services of students 
     or recent graduates, who shall be considered employees for 
     the purposes of chapters 57 and 81 of title 5, United States 
     Code, relating to compensation for travel and work injuries, 
     and chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, relating to 
     tort claims, but shall not be considered to be Federal 
     employees for any other purpose: Provided, That amounts used 
     for this purpose by the Office of Chemical Safety and 
     Pollution Prevention and the Office of Water collectively may 
     not exceed $2,000,000.

                               TITLE III

                            RELATED AGENCIES

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

  office of the under secretary for natural resources and environment

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary 
     for Natural Resources and Environment, $1,000,000: Provided, 
     That funds made available by this Act to any agency in the 
     Natural Resources and Environment mission area for salaries 
     and expenses are available to fund up to one administrative 
     support staff for the office.

                             Forest Service

                       forest service operations

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise 
     provided for, $1,069,086,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2027: Provided, That a portion of the funds 
     made available under this heading shall be for the base 
     salary and expenses of employees in the Chief's Office, the 
     Work Environment and Performance Office, the Business 
     Operations Deputy Area, and the Chief Financial Officer's 
     Office to carry out administrative and general management 
     support functions: Provided further, That funds provided 
     under this heading shall be available for the costs of 
     facility maintenance, repairs, and leases for buildings and 
     sites where these administrative, general management and 
     other Forest Service support functions take place; the costs 
     of all utility and telecommunication expenses of the Forest 
     Service, as well as business services; and, for information 
     technology, including cybersecurity requirements: Provided 
     further, That funds provided under this heading may be used 
     for necessary expenses to carry out administrative and 
     general management support functions of the Forest Service 
     not otherwise provided for and necessary for its operation.

                     forest and rangeland research

       For necessary expenses of forest and rangeland research as 
     authorized by law, $275,000,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2027: Provided, That of the funds provided, 
     $32,197,000 is for the forest inventory and analysis program: 
     Provided further, That all authorities for the use of funds, 
     including the use of contracts, grants, and cooperative 
     agreements, available to execute the Forest and Rangeland 
     Research appropriation, are also available in the utilization 
     of these funds for Fire Science Research.

                  state, private, and tribal forestry

       For necessary expenses of cooperating with and providing 
     technical and financial assistance to States, territories, 
     possessions, Tribes, and others, and for forest health 
     management, including for invasive plants, and conducting an 
     international program and trade compliance activities as 
     authorized, $305,198,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2027.

                         national forest system

       For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise 
     provided for, for management, protection, improvement, and 
     utilization of the National Forest System, and for hazardous 
     fuels management on or adjacent to such lands, 
     $1,816,437,000, to remain available through September 30, 
     2027: Provided, That of the funds provided, $32,000,000 shall 
     be deposited in the Collaborative Forest Landscape 
     Restoration Fund for ecological restoration treatments as 
     authorized by section 4003(f) of the Omnibus Public Land 
     Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303(f)): Provided further, 
     That of the funds provided, $41,600,000 shall be for forest 
     products: Provided further, That of the funds provided, 
     $207,000,000 shall be for hazardous fuels management 
     activities, of which not to exceed $20,000,000 may be used to 
     make grants, using any authorities available to the Forest 
     Service under the ``State, Private, and Tribal Forestry'' 
     appropriation, for the purpose of creating incentives for 
     increased use of biomass from National Forest System lands: 
     Provided further, That $20,000,000 may be used by the 
     Secretary of Agriculture to enter into procurement contracts 
     or cooperative agreements or to issue grants for hazardous 
     fuels management activities, and for training or monitoring 
     associated with such hazardous fuels management activities on 
     Federal land, or on non-Federal land if the Secretary 
     determines such activities benefit resources on Federal land: 
     Provided further, That funds made available to implement the 
     Community Forest Restoration Act, Public Law 106-393, title 
     VI, shall be available for use on non-Federal lands in 
     accordance with authorities made available to the Forest 
     Service under the ``State, Private, and Tribal Forestry'' 
     appropriation: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 
     33 of the Bankhead Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1012), the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, in calculating a fee for grazing on 
     a National Grassland, may provide a credit of up to 50 
     percent of the calculated fee to a Grazing Association or 
     direct permittee for a conservation practice approved by the 
     Secretary in advance of the fiscal year in which the cost of 
     the conservation practice is incurred, and that the amount 
     credited shall remain available to the Grazing Association or 
     the direct permittee, as appropriate, in the fiscal year in 
     which the credit is made and each fiscal year thereafter for 
     use on the project for conservation practices approved by the 
     Secretary: Provided further, That funds appropriated to this 
     account shall be available for the base salary and expenses 
     of employees that carry out the functions funded by the 
     ``Capital Improvement and Maintenance'' account, the ``Range 
     Betterment Fund'' account, and the ``Management of National 
     Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses'' account.

                  capital improvement and maintenance

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise 
     provided for, $152,243,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2027, for construction, capital improvement, 
     maintenance, and acquisition of buildings and other 
     facilities and infrastructure; for construction, 
     reconstruction, and decommissioning of roads that are no 
     longer needed, including unauthorized roads that are not part 
     of the transportation system; and for maintenance of forest 
     roads and trails by the Forest Service as authorized by 16 
     U.S.C. 532-538 and 23 U.S.C. 101 and 205: Provided, That 
     $10,000,000 shall be for activities authorized by 16 U.S.C. 
     538(a): Provided further, That funds becoming available in 
     fiscal year 2024 under the Act of March 4, 1913 (16 U.S.C. 
     501) shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury 
     and shall not be available for transfer or obligation for any 
     other purpose unless the funds are appropriated.

         acquisition of lands for national forests special acts

       For acquisition of lands within the exterior boundaries of 
     the Cache, Uinta, and Wasatch National Forests, Utah; the 
     Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada; and the Angeles, San 
     Bernardino, Sequoia, and Cleveland National Forests, 
     California; and the Ozark-St. Francis and Ouachita National 
     Forests, Arkansas; as authorized by law, $664,000, to be 
     derived from forest receipts.

            acquisition of lands to complete land exchanges

       For acquisition of lands, such sums, to be derived from 
     funds deposited by State, county, or municipal governments, 
     public school districts, or other public school authorities, 
     and for authorized expenditures from funds deposited by non-
     Federal parties pursuant to Land Sale and Exchange Acts, 
     pursuant to the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a), to 
     remain available through September 30, 2027, (16 U.S.C. 516-
     617a, 555a; Public Law 96-586; Public Law 76-589, Public Law 
     76-591; and Public Law 78-310).

                         range betterment fund

       For necessary expenses of range rehabilitation, protection, 
     and improvement, 50 percent of all moneys received during the 
     prior fiscal year, as fees for grazing domestic livestock on 
     lands in National Forests in the 16 Western States, pursuant 
     to section 401(b)(1) of Public Law 94-579, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2027, of which not to exceed 
     6 percent shall be available for administrative expenses 
     associated with on-the-ground range rehabilitation, 
     protection, and improvements.

    gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland research

       For expenses authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1643(b), $45,000, to 
     remain available through September 30, 2027, to be derived 
     from the fund established pursuant to the above Act.

        management of national forest lands for subsistence uses

       For necessary expenses of the Forest Service to manage 
     Federal lands in Alaska for subsistence uses under title VIII 
     of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 
     U.S.C. 3111 et seq.), $1,099,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2027.

[[Page H5259]]

  


                        wildland fire management

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses for forest fire presuppression 
     activities on National Forest System lands, for emergency 
     wildland fire suppression on or adjacent to such lands or 
     other lands under fire protection agreement, and for 
     emergency rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest 
     System lands and water, $2,116,956,000, to remain available 
     until expended: Provided, That such funds, including 
     unobligated balances under this heading, are available for 
     repayment of advances from other appropriations accounts 
     previously transferred for such purposes: Provided further, 
     That any unobligated funds appropriated in a previous fiscal 
     year for hazardous fuels management may be transferred to the 
     ``National Forest System'' account: Provided further, That 
     such funds shall be available to reimburse State and other 
     cooperating entities for services provided in response to 
     wildfire and other emergencies or disasters to the extent 
     such reimbursements by the Forest Service for non-fire 
     emergencies are fully repaid by the responsible emergency 
     management agency: Provided further, That funds provided 
     shall be available for support to Federal emergency response: 
     Provided further, That the costs of implementing any 
     cooperative agreement between the Federal Government and any 
     non-Federal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by 
     the affected parties: Provided further, That of the funds 
     provided under this heading, $1,011,000,000 shall be 
     available for wildfire suppression operations, and is 
     provided to meet the terms of section 251(b)(2)(F)(ii)(I) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

              wildfire suppression operations reserve fund

                     (including transfers of funds)

       In addition to the amounts provided under the heading 
     ``Department of Agriculture--Forest Service--Wildland Fire 
     Management'' for wildfire suppression operations, 
     $2,300,000,000, to remain available until transferred, is 
     additional new budget authority specified for purposes of 
     section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided, That such amounts may 
     be transferred to and merged with amounts made available 
     under the headings ``Department of the Interior--Department-
     Wide Programs--Wildland Fire Management'' and ``Department of 
     Agriculture--Forest Service--Wildland Fire Management'' for 
     wildfire suppression operations in the fiscal year in which 
     such amounts are transferred: Provided further, That amounts 
     may be transferred to the ``Wildland Fire Management'' 
     accounts in the Department of the Interior or the Department 
     of Agriculture only upon the notification of the House and 
     Senate Committees on Appropriations that all wildfire 
     suppression operations funds appropriated under that heading 
     in this and prior appropriations Acts to the agency to which 
     the funds will be transferred will be obligated within 30 
     days: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided 
     under this heading is in addition to any other transfer 
     authority provided by law: Provided further, That, in 
     determining whether all wildfire suppression operations funds 
     appropriated under the heading ``Wildland Fire Management'' 
     in this and prior appropriations Acts to either the 
     Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior 
     will be obligated within 30 days pursuant to the preceding 
     proviso, any funds transferred or permitted to be transferred 
     pursuant to any other transfer authority provided by law 
     shall be excluded.

                   communications site administration

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Amounts collected in this fiscal year pursuant to section 
     8705(f)(2) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public 
     Law 115-334), shall be deposited in the special account 
     established by section 8705(f)(1) of such Act, shall be 
     available to cover the costs described in subsection (c)(3) 
     of such section of such Act, and shall remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That such amounts shall be transferred to 
     the ``National Forest System'' account.

               administrative provisions--forest service

                     (including transfers of funds)

       Appropriations to the Forest Service for the current fiscal 
     year shall be available for: (1) purchase of passenger motor 
     vehicles; acquisition of passenger motor vehicles from excess 
     sources, and hire of such vehicles; purchase, lease, 
     operation, maintenance, and acquisition of aircraft to 
     maintain the operable fleet for use in Forest Service 
     wildland fire programs and other Forest Service programs; 
     notwithstanding other provisions of law, existing aircraft 
     being replaced may be sold, with proceeds derived or trade-in 
     value used to offset the purchase price for the replacement 
     aircraft; (2) services pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2225, and not to 
     exceed $100,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; (3) 
     purchase, erection, and alteration of buildings and other 
     public improvements (7 U.S.C. 2250); (4) acquisition of land, 
     waters, and interests therein pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2268a; (5) 
     for expenses pursuant to the Volunteers in the National 
     Forest Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 558a, 558d, and 558a note); (6) 
     the cost of uniforms as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902; and 
     (7) for debt collection contracts in accordance with 31 
     U.S.C. 3718(c).
       Funds made available to the Forest Service in this Act may 
     be transferred between accounts affected by the Forest 
     Service budget restructure outlined in section 435 of 
     division D of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
     2020 (Public Law 116-94): Provided, That any transfer of 
     funds pursuant to this paragraph shall not increase or 
     decrease the funds appropriated to any account in this fiscal 
     year by more than ten percent: Provided further, That such 
     transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer 
     authority provided by law.
       Any appropriations or funds available to the Forest Service 
     may be transferred to the Wildland Fire Management 
     appropriation for forest firefighting, emergency 
     rehabilitation of burned-over or damaged lands or waters 
     under its jurisdiction, and fire preparedness due to severe 
     burning conditions upon the Secretary of Agriculture's 
     notification of the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations that all fire suppression funds appropriated 
     under the heading ``Wildland Fire Management'' will be 
     obligated within 30 days: Provided, That all funds used 
     pursuant to this paragraph must be replenished by a 
     supplemental appropriation which must be requested as 
     promptly as possible.
       Not more than $50,000,000 of funds appropriated to the 
     Forest Service shall be available for expenditure or transfer 
     to the Department of the Interior for wildland fire 
     management, hazardous fuels management, and State fire 
     assistance when such transfers would facilitate and expedite 
     wildland fire management programs and projects.
       Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Forest 
     Service may transfer unobligated balances of discretionary 
     funds appropriated to the Forest Service by this Act to or 
     within the National Forest System Account, or reprogram funds 
     to be used for the purposes of hazardous fuels management and 
     urgent rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest System 
     lands and water: Provided, That such transferred funds shall 
     remain available through September 30, 2027: Provided 
     further, That none of the funds transferred pursuant to this 
     paragraph shall be available for obligation without written 
     notification to and the prior approval of the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
       Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available 
     for assistance to or through the Agency for International 
     Development in connection with forest and rangeland research, 
     technical information, and assistance in foreign countries, 
     and shall be available to support forestry and related 
     natural resource activities outside the United States and its 
     territories and possessions, including technical assistance, 
     education and training, and cooperation with United States 
     government, private sector, and international organizations: 
     Provided, That the Forest Service, acting for the 
     International Program, may sign direct funding agreements 
     with foreign governments and institutions as well as other 
     domestic agencies (including the U.S. Agency for 
     International Development, the Department of State, and the 
     Millennium Challenge Corporation), United States private 
     sector firms, institutions and organizations to provide 
     technical assistance and training programs on forestry and 
     rangeland management: Provided further, That to maximize 
     effectiveness of domestic and international research and 
     cooperation, the International Program may utilize all 
     authorities related to forestry, research, and cooperative 
     assistance regardless of program designations.
       Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available 
     to enter into a cooperative agreement with the section 
     509(a)(3) Supporting Organization, ``Forest Service 
     International Foundation'' to assist the Foundation in 
     meeting administrative, project, and other expenses, and may 
     provide for the Foundation's use of Forest Service personnel 
     and facilities.
       Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available 
     for expenditure or transfer to the Department of the 
     Interior, Bureau of Land Management, for removal, 
     preparation, and adoption of excess wild horses and burros 
     from National Forest System lands, and for the performance of 
     cadastral surveys to designate the boundaries of such lands.
       None of the funds made available to the Forest Service in 
     this Act or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year 
     shall be subject to transfer under the provisions of section 
     702(b) of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 
     (7 U.S.C. 2257), section 442 of Public Law 106-224 (7 U.S.C. 
     7772), or section 10417(b) of Public Law 107-171 (7 U.S.C. 
     8316(b)).
       Not more than $82,000,000 of funds available to the Forest 
     Service shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund of 
     the Department of Agriculture and not more than $14,500,000 
     of funds available to the Forest Service shall be transferred 
     to the Department of Agriculture for Department Reimbursable 
     Programs, commonly referred to as Greenbook charges: 
     Provided, That nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit or 
     limit the use of reimbursable agreements requested by the 
     Forest Service in order to obtain information technology 
     services, including telecommunications and system 
     modifications or enhancements, from the Working Capital Fund 
     of the Department of Agriculture.
       Of the funds available to the Forest Service, up to 
     $5,000,000 shall be available for priority projects within 
     the scope of the approved budget, which shall be carried out 
     by the Youth Conservation Corps and shall be carried out 
     under the authority of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 
     U.S.C. 1721 et seq.).

[[Page H5260]]

       Of the funds available to the Forest Service, $4,000 is 
     available to the Chief of the Forest Service for official 
     reception and representation expenses.
       Pursuant to sections 405(b) and 410(b) of Public Law 101-
     593, of the funds available to the Forest Service, up to 
     $3,000,000 may be advanced in a lump sum to the National 
     Forest Foundation to aid conservation partnership projects in 
     support of the Forest Service mission, without regard to when 
     the Foundation incurs expenses, for projects on or 
     benefitting National Forest System lands or related to Forest 
     Service programs: Provided, That of the Federal funds made 
     available to the Foundation, no more than $300,000 shall be 
     available for administrative expenses: Provided further, That 
     the Foundation shall obtain, by the end of the period of 
     Federal financial assistance, private contributions to match 
     funds made available by the Forest Service on at least a one-
     for-one basis: Provided further, That the Foundation may 
     transfer Federal funds to a Federal or a non-Federal 
     recipient for a project at the same rate that the recipient 
     has obtained the non-Federal matching funds.
       Pursuant to section 2(b)(2) of Public Law 98-244, up to 
     $1,500,000 of the funds available to the Forest Service may 
     be advanced to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in a 
     lump sum to aid cost-share conservation projects, without 
     regard to when expenses are incurred, on or benefitting 
     National Forest System lands or related to Forest Service 
     programs: Provided, That such funds shall be matched on at 
     least a one-for-one basis by the Foundation or its sub-
     recipients: Provided further, That the Foundation may 
     transfer Federal funds to a Federal or non-Federal recipient 
     for a project at the same rate that the recipient has 
     obtained the non-Federal matching funds.
       Funds appropriated to the Forest Service under the National 
     Forest System heading shall be available for the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with other 
     Federal agencies, Tribes, States, local governments, private 
     and nonprofit entities, and educational institutions to 
     support the work of forest or grassland collaboratives on 
     activities benefitting Federal lands and adjacent non-Federal 
     lands, including for technical assistance, administrative 
     functions or costs, and other capacity support needs 
     identified by the Forest Service.
       Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available 
     for interactions with and providing technical assistance to 
     rural communities and natural resource-based businesses for 
     sustainable rural development purposes.
       Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available 
     for payments to counties within the Columbia River Gorge 
     National Scenic Area, pursuant to section 14(c)(1) and (2), 
     and section 16(a)(2) of Public Law 99-663.
       Any funds appropriated to the Forest Service may be used to 
     meet the non-Federal share requirement in section 502(c) of 
     the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3056(c)(2)).
       The Forest Service shall not assess funds for the purpose 
     of performing fire, administrative, and other facilities 
     maintenance and decommissioning.
       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of any 
     appropriations or funds available to the Forest Service, not 
     to exceed $500,000 may be used to reimburse the Office of the 
     General Counsel (OGC), Department of Agriculture, for travel 
     and related expenses incurred as a result of OGC assistance 
     or participation requested by the Forest Service at meetings, 
     training sessions, management reviews, land purchase 
     negotiations, and similar matters unrelated to civil 
     litigation: Provided, That future budget justifications for 
     both the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture 
     should clearly display the sums previously transferred and 
     the sums requested for transfer.
       An eligible individual who is employed in any project 
     funded under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
     U.S.C. 3056 et seq.) and administered by the Forest Service 
     shall be considered to be a Federal employee for purposes of 
     chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code.
       Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available 
     to pay, from a single account, the base salary and expenses 
     of employees who carry out functions funded by other accounts 
     for Enterprise Program, Geospatial Technology and 
     Applications Center, remnant Natural Resource Manager, Job 
     Corps, and National Technology and Development Program.

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                         Indian Health Service

                         indian health services

       For expenses necessary to carry out the Act of August 5, 
     1954 (68 Stat. 674), the Indian Self-Determination and 
     Education Assistance Act, the Indian Health Care Improvement 
     Act, and titles II and III of the Public Health Service Act 
     with respect to the Indian Health Service, $273,556,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2025, except as 
     otherwise provided herein; and shall be in addition to funds 
     previously appropriated under this heading that became 
     available on October 1, 2023, and in addition, 
     $4,901,524,000, which shall become available on October 1, 
     2024, and remain available through September 30, 2026, except 
     as otherwise provided herein; together with payments received 
     during each fiscal year pursuant to sections 231(b) and 233 
     of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 238(b) and 238b), 
     for services furnished by the Indian Health Service: 
     Provided, That funds made available to Tribes and Tribal 
     organizations through contracts, grant agreements, or any 
     other agreements or compacts authorized by the Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 
     5301), shall be deemed to be obligated at the time of the 
     grant or contract award and thereafter shall remain available 
     to the Tribe or Tribal organization without fiscal year 
     limitation: Provided further, That $2,500,000 shall be 
     available for fiscal year 2025 for grants or contracts with 
     public or private institutions to provide alcohol or drug 
     treatment services to Indians, including alcohol 
     detoxification services: Provided further, That $996,755,000 
     shall remain available until expended for fiscal year 2025 
     for Purchased/Referred Care: Provided further, That of the 
     total amount specified in the preceding proviso for 
     Purchased/Referred Care, $54,000,000 shall be for the Indian 
     Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund: Provided further, That 
     $51,000,000 shall remain available until expended for fiscal 
     year 2025 for implementation of the loan repayment program 
     under section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act: 
     Provided further, That $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 shall 
     be for costs related to or resulting from accreditation 
     emergencies, including supplementing activities funded under 
     the heading ``Indian Health Facilities'', of which up to 
     $4,000,000 may be used to supplement amounts otherwise 
     available for Purchased/Referred Care: Provided further, That 
     the amounts collected by the Federal Government as authorized 
     by sections 104 and 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement 
     Act (25 U.S.C. 1613a and 1616a) during the preceding fiscal 
     year for breach of contracts shall be deposited in the Fund 
     authorized by section 108A of that Act (25 U.S.C. 1616a-1) 
     and shall remain available until expended and, 
     notwithstanding section 108A(c) of that Act (25 U.S.C. 1616a-
     1(c)), funds shall be available to make new awards under the 
     loan repayment and scholarship programs under sections 104 
     and 108 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 1613a and 1616a): Provided 
     further, That the amounts made available within this account 
     for the Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Program, for 
     Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Services, for the 
     Domestic Violence Prevention Program, for the Zero Suicide 
     Initiative, for the housing subsidy authority for civilian 
     employees, for Aftercare Pilot Programs at Youth Regional 
     Treatment Centers, for transformation and modernization costs 
     of the Indian Health Service Electronic Health Record system, 
     for national quality and oversight activities, for improving 
     collections from public and private insurance at Indian 
     Health Service and Tribally-operated facilities, for an 
     initiative to treat or reduce the transmission of HIV and 
     HCV, for a maternal health initiative, for the 
     Telebehaviorial Health Center of Excellence, for Alzheimer's 
     activities, for Village Built Clinics, for a produce 
     prescription pilot, and for accreditation emergencies shall 
     be allocated at the discretion of the Director of the Indian 
     Health Service and shall remain available until expended: 
     Provided further, That funds provided in this Act that are 
     available for two fiscal years may be used in their second 
     year of availability for annual contracts and grants that 
     fall within 2 fiscal years, provided the total obligation is 
     recorded in such second year of availability: Provided 
     further, That the amounts collected by the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services under the authority of title IV of 
     the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1613) shall 
     remain available until expended for the purpose of achieving 
     compliance with the applicable conditions and requirements of 
     titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act, except for 
     those related to the planning, design, or construction of new 
     facilities: Provided further, That funding contained herein 
     for scholarship programs under the Indian Health Care 
     Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1613) shall remain available until 
     expended: Provided further, That amounts received by Tribes 
     and Tribal organizations under title IV of the Indian Health 
     Care Improvement Act shall be reported and accounted for and 
     available to the receiving Tribes and Tribal organizations 
     until expended: Provided further, That the Bureau of Indian 
     Affairs may collect from the Indian Health Service, and from 
     Tribes and Tribal organizations operating health facilities 
     pursuant to Public Law 93-638, such individually identifiable 
     health information relating to disabled children as may be 
     necessary for the purpose of carrying out its functions under 
     the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1400 et seq.): Provided further, That of the funds provided 
     for fiscal year 2025, $74,138,000 is for the Indian Health 
     Care Improvement Fund and may be used, as needed, to carry 
     out activities typically funded under the Indian Health 
     Facilities account: Provided further, That none of the funds 
     appropriated by this Act, or any other Act, to the Indian 
     Health Service for the Electronic Health Record system shall 
     be available for obligation or expenditure for the selection 
     or implementation of a new Information Technology 
     infrastructure system, unless the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     are consulted 90 days in advance of such obligation.

                         contract support costs

       For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for 
     contract support costs associated with Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act agreements with 
     the

[[Page H5261]]

     Indian Health Service for fiscal year 2024, such sums as may 
     be necessary: Provided, That notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, no amounts made available under this 
     heading shall be available for transfer to another budget 
     account: Provided further, That amounts obligated but not 
     expended by a Tribe or Tribal organization for contract 
     support costs for such agreements for the current fiscal year 
     shall be applied to contract support costs due for such 
     agreements for subsequent fiscal years.

                       payments for tribal leases

       For payments to Tribes and Tribal organizations for leases 
     pursuant to section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination 
     and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5324(l)) for fiscal 
     year 2024, such sums as may be necessary, which shall be 
     available for obligation through September 30, 2025: 
     Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
     amounts made available under this heading shall be available 
     for transfer to another budget account.

                        indian health facilities

       For construction, repair, maintenance, demolition, 
     improvement, and equipment of health and related auxiliary 
     facilities, including quarters for personnel; preparation of 
     plans, specifications, and drawings; acquisition of sites, 
     purchase and erection of modular buildings, and purchases of 
     trailers; and for provision of domestic and community 
     sanitation facilities for Indians, as authorized by section 7 
     of the Act of August 5, 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2004a), the Indian 
     Self-Determination Act, and the Indian Health Care 
     Improvement Act, and for expenses necessary to carry out such 
     Acts and titles II and III of the Public Health Service Act 
     with respect to environmental health and facilities support 
     activities of the Indian Health Service, $475,209,000, which 
     shall remain available until expended and shall be in 
     addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading 
     that became available on October 1, 2023; and, in addition, 
     $976,699,000, which shall become available on October 1, 
     2024, and remain available until expended: Provided, That 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds 
     appropriated for the planning, design, construction, 
     renovation, or expansion of health facilities for the benefit 
     of an Indian Tribe or Tribes may be used to purchase land on 
     which such facilities will be located: Provided further, That 
     not to exceed $500,000 may be used for fiscal year 2025 by 
     the Indian Health Service to purchase TRANSAM equipment from 
     the Department of Defense for distribution to the Indian 
     Health Service and Tribal facilities: Provided further, That 
     none of the funds appropriated to the Indian Health Service 
     may be used for sanitation facilities construction for new 
     homes funded with grants by the housing programs of the 
     United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

            administrative provisions--indian health service

       Appropriations provided in this Act to the Indian Health 
     Service shall be available for services as authorized by 5 
     U.S.C. 3109 at rates not to exceed the per diem rate 
     equivalent to the maximum rate payable for senior-level 
     positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376; hire of passenger motor 
     vehicles and aircraft; purchase of medical equipment; 
     purchase of reprints; purchase, renovation, and erection of 
     modular buildings and renovation of existing facilities; 
     payments for telephone service in private residences in the 
     field, when authorized under regulations approved by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services; uniforms, or 
     allowances therefor as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902; and 
     for expenses of attendance at meetings that relate to the 
     functions or activities of the Indian Health Service: 
     Provided, That in accordance with the provisions of the 
     Indian Health Care Improvement Act, non-Indian patients may 
     be extended health care at all Tribally administered or 
     Indian Health Service facilities, subject to charges, and the 
     proceeds along with funds recovered under the Federal Medical 
     Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651-2653) shall be credited to 
     the account of the facility providing the service and shall 
     be available without fiscal year limitation: Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding any other law or regulation, 
     funds transferred from the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development to the Indian Health Service shall be 
     administered under Public Law 86-121, the Indian Sanitation 
     Facilities Act and Public Law 93-638: Provided further, That 
     funds appropriated to the Indian Health Service in this Act, 
     except those used for administrative and program direction 
     purposes, shall not be subject to limitations directed at 
     curtailing Federal travel and transportation: Provided 
     further, That none of the funds made available to the Indian 
     Health Service in this Act shall be used for any assessments 
     or charges by the Department of Health and Human Services 
     unless such assessments or charges are identified in the 
     budget justification and provided in this Act, or approved by 
     the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations through the 
     reprogramming process: Provided further, That notwithstanding 
     any other provision of law, funds previously or herein made 
     available to a Tribe or Tribal organization through a 
     contract, grant, or agreement authorized by title I or title 
     V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
     Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), may be deobligated and 
     reobligated to a self-determination contract under title I, 
     or a self-governance agreement under title V of such Act and 
     thereafter shall remain available to the Tribe or Tribal 
     organization without fiscal year limitation: Provided 
     further, That none of the funds made available to the Indian 
     Health Service in this Act shall be used to implement the 
     final rule published in the Federal Register on September 16, 
     1987, by the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     relating to the eligibility for the health care services of 
     the Indian Health Service until the Indian Health Service has 
     submitted a budget request reflecting the increased costs 
     associated with the proposed final rule, and such request has 
     been included in an appropriations Act and enacted into law: 
     Provided further, That with respect to functions transferred 
     by the Indian Health Service to Tribes or Tribal 
     organizations, the Indian Health Service is authorized to 
     provide goods and services to those entities on a 
     reimbursable basis, including payments in advance with 
     subsequent adjustment, and the reimbursements received 
     therefrom, along with the funds received from those entities 
     pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination Act, may be 
     credited to the same or subsequent appropriation account from 
     which the funds were originally derived, with such amounts to 
     remain available until expended: Provided further, That 
     reimbursements for training, technical assistance, or 
     services provided by the Indian Health Service will contain 
     total costs, including direct, administrative, and overhead 
     costs associated with the provision of goods, services, or 
     technical assistance: Provided further, That the Indian 
     Health Service may provide to civilian medical personnel 
     serving in hospitals operated by the Indian Health Service 
     housing allowances equivalent to those that would be provided 
     to members of the Commissioned Corps of the United States 
     Public Health Service serving in similar positions at such 
     hospitals: Provided further, That the appropriation structure 
     for the Indian Health Service may not be altered without 
     advance notification to the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations.

                     National Institutes of Health

          national institute of environmental health sciences

       For necessary expenses for the National Institute of 
     Environmental Health Sciences in carrying out activities set 
     forth in section 311(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental 
     Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 
     9660(a)) and section 126(g) of the Superfund Amendments and 
     Reauthorization Act of 1986, $75,000,000.

            Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

            toxic substances and environmental public health

       For necessary expenses for the Agency for Toxic Substances 
     and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in carrying out activities set 
     forth in sections 104(i) and 111(c)(4) of the Comprehensive 
     Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 
     1980 (CERCLA) and section 3019 of the Solid Waste Disposal 
     Act, $76,000,000: Provided, That notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, in lieu of performing a health assessment 
     under section 104(i)(6) of CERCLA, the Administrator of ATSDR 
     may conduct other appropriate health studies, evaluations, or 
     activities, including, without limitation, biomedical 
     testing, clinical evaluations, medical monitoring, and 
     referral to accredited healthcare providers: Provided 
     further, That in performing any such health assessment or 
     health study, evaluation, or activity, the Administrator of 
     ATSDR shall not be bound by the deadlines in section 
     104(i)(6)(A) of CERCLA: Provided further, That none of the 
     funds appropriated under this heading shall be available for 
     ATSDR to issue in excess of 40 toxicological profiles 
     pursuant to section 104(i) of CERCLA during fiscal year 2024, 
     and existing profiles may be updated as necessary.

                         OTHER RELATED AGENCIES

                   Executive Office of the President

  council on environmental quality and office of environmental quality

       For necessary expenses to continue functions assigned to 
     the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of 
     Environmental Quality pursuant to the National Environmental 
     Policy Act of 1969, the Environmental Quality Improvement Act 
     of 1970, and Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1977, and not to 
     exceed $750 for official reception and representation 
     expenses, $3,750,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section 
     202 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, the 
     Council shall consist of one member, appointed by the 
     President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
     serving as chairman and exercising all powers, functions, and 
     duties of the Council.

             Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses in carrying out activities pursuant 
     to section 112(r)(6) of the Clean Air Act, including hire of 
     passenger vehicles, uniforms or allowances therefor, as 
     authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902, and for services authorized 
     by 5 U.S.C. 3109 but at rates for individuals not to exceed 
     the per diem equivalent to the maximum rate payable for 
     senior level positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376, $12,960,000: 
     Provided, That the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation 
     Board (Board) shall have not more than three career Senior 
     Executive Service positions: Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, the individual 
     appointed to the position

[[Page H5262]]

     of Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency 
     (EPA) shall, by virtue of such appointment, also hold the 
     position of Inspector General of the Board: Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Inspector General of the Board shall utilize personnel of the 
     Office of Inspector General of EPA in performing the duties 
     of the Inspector General of the Board, and shall not appoint 
     any individuals to positions within the Board.

              Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Navajo and Hopi 
     Indian Relocation as authorized by Public Law 93-531, 
     $3,060,000, to remain available until expended, which shall 
     be derived from unobligated balances from prior year 
     appropriations available under this heading: Provided, That 
     funds provided in this or any other appropriations Act are to 
     be used to relocate eligible individuals and groups including 
     evictees from District 6, Hopi-partitioned lands residents, 
     those in significantly substandard housing, and all others 
     certified as eligible and not included in the preceding 
     categories: Provided further, That none of the funds 
     contained in this or any other Act may be used by the Office 
     of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation to evict any single 
     Navajo or Navajo family who, as of November 30, 1985, was 
     physically domiciled on the lands partitioned to the Hopi 
     Tribe unless a new or replacement home is provided for such 
     household: Provided further, That no relocatee will be 
     provided with more than one new or replacement home: Provided 
     further, That the Office shall relocate any certified 
     eligible relocatees who have selected and received an 
     approved homesite on the Navajo reservation or selected a 
     replacement residence off the Navajo reservation or on the 
     land acquired pursuant to section 11 of Public Law 93-531 (88 
     Stat. 1716).

    Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts 
                              Development

                        payment to the institute

       For payment to the Institute of American Indian and Alaska 
     Native Culture and Arts Development, as authorized by part A 
     of title XV of Public Law 99-498 (20 U.S.C. 4411 et seq.), 
     $13,000,000, which shall become available on July 1, 2024, 
     and shall remain available until September 30, 2025.

                        Smithsonian Institution

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Smithsonian Institution, as 
     authorized by law, including research in the fields of art, 
     science, and history; development, preservation, and 
     documentation of the National Collections; presentation of 
     public exhibits and performances; collection, preparation, 
     dissemination, and exchange of information and publications; 
     conduct of education, training, and museum assistance 
     programs; maintenance, alteration, operation, lease 
     agreements of no more than 30 years, and protection of 
     buildings, facilities, and approaches; not to exceed $100,000 
     for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; and purchase, 
     rental, repair, and cleaning of uniforms for employees, 
     $852,215,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, 
     except as otherwise provided herein; of which not to exceed 
     $16,938,000 for the instrumentation program, collections 
     acquisition, exhibition reinstallation, Smithsonian American 
     Women's History Museum, and the repatriation of skeletal 
     remains program shall remain available until expended; and 
     including such funds as may be necessary to support American 
     overseas research centers: Provided, That funds appropriated 
     herein are available for advance payments to independent 
     contractors performing research services or participating in 
     official Smithsonian presentations: Provided further, That 
     the Smithsonian Institution may expend Federal appropriations 
     designated in this Act for lease or rent payments, as rent 
     payable to the Smithsonian Institution, and such rent 
     payments may be deposited into the general trust funds of the 
     Institution to be available as trust funds for expenses 
     associated with the purchase of a portion of the building at 
     600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, to the extent that 
     federally supported activities will be housed there: Provided 
     further, That the use of such amounts in the general trust 
     funds of the Institution for such purpose shall not be 
     construed as Federal debt service for, a Federal guarantee 
     of, a transfer of risk to, or an obligation of the Federal 
     Government: Provided further, That no appropriated funds may 
     be used directly to service debt which is incurred to finance 
     the costs of acquiring a portion of the building at 600 
     Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, or of planning, 
     designing, and constructing improvements to such building: 
     Provided further, That any agreement entered into by the 
     Smithsonian Institution for the sale of its ownership 
     interest, or any portion thereof, in such building so 
     acquired may not take effect until the expiration of a 30 day 
     period which begins on the date on which the Secretary of the 
     Smithsonian submits to the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and Senate, the Committees on 
     House Administration and Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration of the Senate a report, as outlined in the 
     explanatory statement described in section 4 of the Further 
     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94; 133 
     Stat. 2536) on the intended sale.

                           facilities capital

       For necessary expenses of repair, revitalization, and 
     alteration of facilities owned or occupied by the Smithsonian 
     Institution, by contract or otherwise, as authorized by 
     section 2 of the Act of August 22, 1949 (63 Stat. 623), and 
     for construction, including necessary personnel, 
     $107,500,000, to remain available until expended, of which 
     not to exceed $10,000 shall be for services as authorized by 
     5 U.S.C. 3109.

                        National Gallery of Art

                         salaries and expenses

       For the upkeep and operations of the National Gallery of 
     Art, the protection and care of the works of art therein, and 
     administrative expenses incident thereto, as authorized by 
     the Act of March 24, 1937 (50 Stat. 51), as amended by the 
     public resolution of April 13, 1939 (Public Resolution 9, 
     76th Congress), including services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 
     3109; payment in advance when authorized by the treasurer of 
     the Gallery for membership in library, museum, and art 
     associations or societies whose publications or services are 
     available to members only, or to members at a price lower 
     than to the general public; purchase, repair, and cleaning of 
     uniforms for guards, and uniforms, or allowances therefor, 
     for other employees as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-
     5902); purchase or rental of devices and services for 
     protecting buildings and contents thereof, and maintenance, 
     alteration, improvement, and repair of buildings, approaches, 
     and grounds; and purchase of services for restoration and 
     repair of works of art for the National Gallery of Art by 
     contracts made, without advertising, with individuals, firms, 
     or organizations at such rates or prices and under such terms 
     and conditions as the Gallery may deem proper, $160,000,000, 
     to remain available until September 30, 2025.

            repair, restoration and renovation of buildings

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses of repair, restoration, and 
     renovation of buildings, grounds and facilities owned or 
     occupied by the National Gallery of Art, by contract or 
     otherwise, for operating lease agreements of no more than 10 
     years, that address space needs created by the ongoing 
     renovations in the Master Facilities Plan, as authorized, 
     $18,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That such funds may be obligated for design and construction 
     of an off-site art storage facility in partnership with the 
     Smithsonian Institution and may be transferred to the 
     Smithsonian Institution for such purposes: Provided further, 
     That contracts awarded for environmental systems, protection 
     systems, and exterior repair or renovation of buildings of 
     the National Gallery of Art may be negotiated with selected 
     contractors and awarded on the basis of contractor 
     qualifications as well as price.

             John f. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

                       operations and maintenance

       For necessary expenses for the operation, maintenance, and 
     security of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
     Arts, $20,000,000, to remain available until September, 30, 
     2025.

                     capital repair and restoration

       For necessary expenses for capital repair and restoration 
     of the existing features of the building and site of the John 
     F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, $10,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.

            Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary in carrying out the provisions of 
     the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 1356) 
     including hire of passenger vehicles and services as 
     authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, $12,000,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2025.

           National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities

                    National Endowment for the Arts

                       grants and administration

       For necessary expenses to carry out the National Foundation 
     on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, $186,300,000 
     shall be available to the National Endowment for the Arts for 
     the support of projects and productions in the arts, 
     including arts education and public outreach activities, 
     through assistance to organizations and individuals pursuant 
     to section 5 of the Act, for program support, and for 
     administering the functions of the Act, to remain available 
     until expended.

                 National Endowment for the Humanities

                       grants and administration

       For necessary expenses to carry out the National Foundation 
     on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, $186,300,000 to 
     remain available until expended: Provided, That 
     appropriations for carrying out section 10(a)(2) of such Act 
     shall be available for obligation only in such amounts as may 
     be equal to the total amounts of gifts, bequests, devises of 
     money, and other property accepted by the chairman or by 
     grantees of the National Endowment for the Humanities under 
     the provisions of sections 11(a)(2)(B) and 11(a)(3)(B) of 
     such Act during the current and preceding fiscal years for 
     which equal amounts have not previously been appropriated.

                       Administrative Provisions

       None of the funds appropriated to the National Foundation 
     on the Arts and the Humanities may be used to process any 
     grant

[[Page H5263]]

     or contract documents which do not include the text of 18 
     U.S.C. 1913: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated to 
     the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities may be 
     used for official reception and representation expenses: 
     Provided further, That funds from nonappropriated sources may 
     be used as necessary for official reception and 
     representation expenses: Provided further, That the 
     Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts may 
     approve grants of up to $10,000, if in the aggregate the 
     amount of such grants does not exceed 5 percent of the sums 
     appropriated for grantmaking purposes per year: Provided 
     further, That such small grant actions are taken pursuant to 
     the terms of an expressed and direct delegation of authority 
     from the National Council on the Arts to the Chairperson.

                        Commission of Fine Arts

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses of the Commission of Fine Arts under chapter 
     91 of title 40, United States Code, $3,464,000: Provided, 
     That the Commission is authorized to charge fees to cover the 
     full costs of its publications, and such fees shall be 
     credited to this account as an offsetting collection, to 
     remain available until expended without further 
     appropriation: Provided further, That the Commission is 
     authorized to accept gifts, including objects, papers, 
     artwork, drawings and artifacts, that pertain to the history 
     and design of the Nation's Capital or the history and 
     activities of the Commission of Fine Arts, for the purpose of 
     artistic display, study, or education: Provided further, That 
     one-tenth of one percent of the funds provided under this 
     heading may be used for official reception and representation 
     expenses.

               national capital arts and cultural affairs

       For necessary expenses as authorized by Public Law 99-190 
     (20 U.S.C. 956a), $4,750,000: Provided, That the item 
     relating to ``National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs'' in 
     the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act, 1986, as enacted into law by section 
     101(d) of Public Law 99-190 (20 U.S.C. 956a), shall be 
     applied in fiscal year 2024 in the second paragraph by 
     inserting ``, calendar year 2020 excluded'' before the first 
     period.

               Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Advisory Council on Historic 
     Preservation (Public Law 89-665), $8,285,000.

                  National Capital Planning Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the National Capital Planning 
     Commission under chapter 87 of title 40, United States Code, 
     including services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, 
     $8,500,000: Provided, That one-quarter of 1 percent of the 
     funds provided under this heading may be used for official 
     reception and representational expenses associated with 
     hosting international visitors engaged in the planning and 
     physical development of world capitals.

                United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

                       holocaust memorial museum

       For expenses of the Holocaust Memorial Museum, as 
     authorized by Public Law 106-292 (36 U.S.C. 2301-2310), 
     $67,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025, of 
     which $1,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
     2026, for the Museum's equipment replacement program; and of 
     which $4,000,000 for the Museum's repair and rehabilitation 
     program and $1,264,000 for the Museum's outreach initiatives 
     program shall remain available until expended.

                   World War I Centennial Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       Notwithstanding section 9 of the World War I Centennial 
     Commission Act, as authorized by the World War I Centennial 
     Commission Act (Public Law 112-272) and the Carl Levin and 
     Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291), for necessary 
     expenses of the World War I Centennial Commission, 
     $1,500,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That in addition to the authority provided by section 6(g) of 
     such Act, the World War I Commission may accept money, in-
     kind personnel services, contractual support, or any 
     appropriate support from any executive branch agency for 
     activities of the Commission.

              United States Semiquincentennial Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the United States 
     Semiquincentennial Commission to plan and coordinate 
     observances and activities associated with the 250th 
     anniversary of the founding of the United States, as 
     authorized by Public Law 116-282, the technical amendments to 
     Public Law 114-196, $15,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2025.
       

                                TITLE IV

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

                     (including transfers of funds)

                      restriction on use of funds

       Sec. 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     Act shall be available for any activity or the publication or 
     distribution of literature that in any way tends to promote 
     public support or opposition to any legislative proposal on 
     which Congressional action is not complete other than to 
     communicate to Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 
     1913.

                      obligation of appropriations

       Sec. 402. No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
     fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.

                 disclosure of administrative expenses

       Sec. 403. The amount and basis of estimated overhead 
     charges, deductions, reserves, or holdbacks, including 
     working capital fund charges, from programs, projects, 
     activities and subactivities to support government-wide, 
     departmental, agency, or bureau administrative functions or 
     headquarters, regional, or central operations shall be 
     presented in annual budget justifications and subject to 
     approval by the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate. Changes to such estimates 
     shall be presented to the Committees on Appropriations for 
     approval.

                          mining applications

       Sec. 404. (a) Limitation of Funds.--None of the funds 
     appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to this Act 
     shall be obligated or expended to accept or process 
     applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim 
     located under the general mining laws.
       (b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if the 
     Secretary of the Interior determines that, for the claim 
     concerned: (1) a patent application was filed with the 
     Secretary on or before September 30, 1994; and (2) all 
     requirements established under sections 2325 and 2326 of the 
     Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 29 and 30) for vein or lode 
     claims, sections 2329, 2330, 2331, and 2333 of the Revised 
     Statutes (30 U.S.C. 35, 36, and 37) for placer claims, and 
     section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 42) for mill 
     site claims, as the case may be, were fully complied with by 
     the applicant by that date.
       (c) Report.--On September 30, 2025, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall file with the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
     the Senate a report on actions taken by the Department under 
     the plan submitted pursuant to section 314(c) of the 
     Department of the Interior and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208).
       (d) Mineral Examinations.--In order to process patent 
     applications in a timely and responsible manner, upon the 
     request of a patent applicant, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall allow the applicant to fund a qualified third-party 
     contractor to be selected by the Director of the Bureau of 
     Land Management to conduct a mineral examination of the 
     mining claims or mill sites contained in a patent application 
     as set forth in subsection (b). The Bureau of Land Management 
     shall have the sole responsibility to choose and pay the 
     third-party contractor in accordance with the standard 
     procedures employed by the Bureau of Land Management in the 
     retention of third-party contractors.

             contract support costs, prior year limitation

       Sec. 405. Sections 405 and 406 of division F of the 
     Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 
     (Public Law 113-235) shall continue in effect in fiscal year 
     2024.

          contract support costs, fiscal year 2024 limitation

       Sec. 406. Amounts provided by this Act for fiscal year 2024 
     under the headings ``Department of Health and Human Services, 
     Indian Health Service, Contract Support Costs'' and 
     ``Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
     Contract Support Costs'' are the only amounts available for 
     contract support costs arising out of self-determination or 
     self-governance contracts, grants, compacts, or annual 
     funding agreements for fiscal year 2024 with the Bureau of 
     Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian 
     Health Service: Provided, That such amounts provided by this 
     Act are not available for payment of claims for contract 
     support costs for prior years, or for repayments of payments 
     for settlements or judgments awarding contract support costs 
     for prior years.

                        forest management plans

       Sec. 407. The Secretary of Agriculture shall not be 
     considered to be in violation of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the 
     Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
     (16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)) solely because more than 15 years 
     have passed without revision of the plan for a unit of the 
     National Forest System. Nothing in this section exempts the 
     Secretary from any other requirement of the Forest and 
     Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (16 U.S.C. 1600 et 
     seq.) or any other law: Provided, That if the Secretary is 
     not acting expeditiously and in good faith, within the 
     funding available, to revise a plan for a unit of the 
     National Forest System, this section shall be void with 
     respect to such plan and a court of proper jurisdiction may 
     order completion of the plan on an accelerated basis.

                 prohibition within national monuments

       Sec. 408. No funds provided in this Act may be expended to 
     conduct preleasing, leasing and related activities under 
     either the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or the 
     Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) 
     within the boundaries of a National Monument established 
     pursuant to

[[Page H5264]]

     the Act of June 8, 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) as such 
     boundary existed on January 20, 2001, except where such 
     activities are allowed under the Presidential proclamation 
     establishing such monument.

                         limitation on takings

       Sec. 409. Unless otherwise provided herein, no funds 
     appropriated in this Act for the acquisition of lands or 
     interests in lands may be expended for the filing of 
     declarations of taking or complaints in condemnation without 
     the approval of the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations: Provided, That this provision shall not apply 
     to funds appropriated to implement the Everglades National 
     Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989, or to funds 
     appropriated for Federal assistance to the State of Florida 
     to acquire lands for Everglades restoration purposes.

                    prohibition on no-bid contracts

       Sec. 410. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act to executive branch agencies may be 
     used to enter into any Federal contract unless such contract 
     is entered into in accordance with the requirements of 
     Chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, or Chapter 137 of 
     title 10, United States Code, and the Federal Acquisition 
     Regulation, unless--
       (1) Federal law specifically authorizes a contract to be 
     entered into without regard for these requirements, including 
     formula grants for States, or federally recognized Indian 
     Tribes;
       (2) such contract is authorized by the Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-
     638, 25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) or by any other Federal laws 
     that specifically authorize a contract within an Indian Tribe 
     as defined in section 4(e) of that Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)); 
     or
       (3) such contract was awarded prior to the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

                           posting of reports

       Sec. 411. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in 
     this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on 
     the public website of that agency any report required to be 
     submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the 
     determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve 
     the national interest.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
       (1) the public posting of the report compromises national 
     security; or
       (2) the report contains proprietary information.
       (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so 
     only after such report has been made available to the 
     requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less 
     than 45 days.

            national endowment for the arts grant guidelines

       Sec. 412. Of the funds provided to the National Endowment 
     for the Arts--
       (1) The Chairperson shall only award a grant to an 
     individual if such grant is awarded to such individual for a 
     literature fellowship, National Heritage Fellowship, or 
     American Jazz Masters Fellowship.
       (2) The Chairperson shall establish procedures to ensure 
     that no funding provided through a grant, except a grant made 
     to a State or local arts agency, or regional group, may be 
     used to make a grant to any other organization or individual 
     to conduct activity independent of the direct grant 
     recipient. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit payments 
     made in exchange for goods and services.
       (3) No grant shall be used for seasonal support to a group, 
     unless the application is specific to the contents of the 
     season, including identified programs or projects.

           national endowment for the arts program priorities

       Sec. 413. (a) In providing services or awarding financial 
     assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and the 
     Humanities Act of 1965 from funds appropriated under this 
     Act, the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts 
     shall ensure that priority is given to providing services or 
     awarding financial assistance for projects, productions, 
     workshops, or programs that serve underserved populations.
       (b) In this section:
       (1) The term ``underserved population'' means a population 
     of individuals, including urban minorities, who have 
     historically been outside the purview of arts and humanities 
     programs due to factors such as a high incidence of income 
     below the poverty line or to geographic isolation.
       (2) The term ``poverty line'' means the poverty line (as 
     defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised 
     annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community 
     Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) applicable to a 
     family of the size involved.
       (c) In providing services and awarding financial assistance 
     under the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act 
     of 1965 with funds appropriated by this Act, the Chairperson 
     of the National Endowment for the Arts shall ensure that 
     priority is given to providing services or awarding financial 
     assistance for projects, productions, workshops, or programs 
     that will encourage public knowledge, education, 
     understanding, and appreciation of the arts.
       (d) With funds appropriated by this Act to carry out 
     section 5 of the National Foundation on the Arts and 
     Humanities Act of 1965--
       (1) the Chairperson shall establish a grant category for 
     projects, productions, workshops, or programs that are of 
     national impact or availability or are able to tour several 
     States;
       (2) the Chairperson shall not make grants exceeding 15 
     percent, in the aggregate, of such funds to any single State, 
     excluding grants made under the authority of paragraph (1);
       (3) the Chairperson shall report to the Congress annually 
     and by State, on grants awarded by the Chairperson in each 
     grant category under section 5 of such Act; and
       (4) the Chairperson shall encourage the use of grants to 
     improve and support community-based music performance and 
     education.

                  status of balances of appropriations

       Sec. 414. The Department of the Interior, the Environmental 
     Protection Agency, the Forest Service, and the Indian Health 
     Service shall provide the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and Senate quarterly reports on the 
     status of balances of appropriations including all 
     uncommitted, committed, and unobligated funds in each program 
     and activity within 60 days of enactment of this Act.

                      extension of grazing permits

       Sec. 415. The terms and conditions of section 325 of Public 
     Law 108-108 (117 Stat. 1307), regarding grazing permits 
     issued by the Forest Service on any lands not subject to 
     administration under section 402 of the Federal Lands Policy 
     and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1752), shall remain in effect 
     for fiscal year 2024.

                          funding prohibition

       Sec. 416. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used to maintain or establish a computer network 
     unless such network is designed to block access to 
     pornography websites.
       (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds 
     necessary for any Federal, State, Tribal, or local law 
     enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal 
     investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities.

                humane transfer and treatment of animals

       Sec. 417. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land 
     administered by the Bureau of Land Management, or the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land administered 
     by the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Secretary concerned''), may transfer excess wild horses and 
     burros that have been removed from land administered by the 
     Secretary concerned to other Federal, State, and local 
     government agencies for use as work animals.
       (b) The Secretary concerned may make a transfer under 
     subsection (a) immediately on the request of a Federal, 
     State, or local government agency.
       (c) An excess wild horse or burro transferred under 
     subsection (a) shall lose status as a wild free-roaming horse 
     or burro (as defined in section 2 of Public Law 92-195 
     (commonly known as the ``Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros 
     Act'') (16 U.S.C. 1332)).
       (d) A Federal, State, or local government agency receiving 
     an excess wild horse or burro pursuant to subsection (a) 
     shall not--
       (1) destroy the horse or burro in a manner that results in 
     the destruction of the horse or burro into a commercial 
     product;
       (2) sell or otherwise transfer the horse or burro in a 
     manner that results in the destruction of the horse or burro 
     for processing into a commercial product; or
       (3) euthanize the horse or burro, except on the 
     recommendation of a licensed veterinarian in a case of severe 
     injury, illness, or advanced age.
       (e) Amounts appropriated by this Act shall not be available 
     for--
       (1) the destruction of any healthy, unadopted, and wild 
     horse or burro under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 
     concerned (including a contractor); or
       (2) the sale of a wild horse or burro that results in the 
     destruction of the wild horse or burro for processing into a 
     commercial product.

   forest service facility realignment and enhancement authorization 
                               extension

       Sec. 418. Section 503(f) of Public Law 109-54 (16 U.S.C. 
     580d note) shall be applied by substituting ``September 30, 
     2024'' for ``September 30, 2019''.

                     use of american iron and steel

       Sec. 419. (a)(1) None of the funds made available by a 
     State water pollution control revolving fund as authorized by 
     section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
     12) shall be used for a project for the construction, 
     alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public water system 
     or treatment works unless all of the iron and steel products 
     used in the project are produced in the United States.
       (2) In this section, the term ``iron and steel'' products 
     means the following products made primarily of iron or steel: 
     lined or unlined pipes and fittings, manhole covers and other 
     municipal castings, hydrants, tanks, flanges, pipe clamps and 
     restraints, valves, structural steel, reinforced precast 
     concrete, and construction materials.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any case or category 
     of cases in which the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Administrator'') finds that--
       (1) applying subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the 
     public interest;

[[Page H5265]]

       (2) iron and steel products are not produced in the United 
     States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and 
     of a satisfactory quality; or
       (3) inclusion of iron and steel products produced in the 
     United States will increase the cost of the overall project 
     by more than 25 percent.
       (c) If the Administrator receives a request for a waiver 
     under this section, the Administrator shall make available to 
     the public on an informal basis a copy of the request and 
     information available to the Administrator concerning the 
     request, and shall allow for informal public input on the 
     request for at least 15 days prior to making a finding based 
     on the request. The Administrator shall make the request and 
     accompanying information available by electronic means, 
     including on the official public Internet Web site of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency.
       (d) This section shall be applied in a manner consistent 
     with United States obligations under international 
     agreements.
       (e) The Administrator may retain up to 0.25 percent of the 
     funds appropriated in this Act for the Clean and Drinking 
     Water State Revolving Funds for carrying out the provisions 
     described in subsection (a)(1) for management and oversight 
     of the requirements of this section.

local cooperator training agreements and transfers of excess equipment 
                       and supplies for wildfires

       Sec. 420. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to 
     enter into grants and cooperative agreements with volunteer 
     fire departments, rural fire departments, rangeland fire 
     protection associations, and similar organizations to provide 
     for wildland fire training and equipment, including supplies 
     and communication devices. Notwithstanding section 121(c) of 
     title 40, United States Code, or section 521 of title 40, 
     United States Code, the Secretary is further authorized to 
     transfer title to excess Department of the Interior 
     firefighting equipment no longer needed to carry out the 
     functions of the Department's wildland fire management 
     program to such organizations.

                            recreation fees

       Sec. 421. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation 
     Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) shall be applied by 
     substituting ``October 1, 2025'' for ``September 30, 2019''.

                        reprogramming guidelines

       Sec. 422. None of the funds made available in this Act, in 
     this and prior fiscal years, may be reprogrammed without the 
     advance approval of the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations in accordance with the reprogramming 
     procedures contained in the report accompanying this Act.

                           local contractors

       Sec. 423. Section 412 of division E of Public Law 112-74 
     shall be applied by substituting ``fiscal year 2024'' for 
     ``fiscal year 2019''.

            interpretive association authorization extension

       Sec. 424. Section 426 of division G of Public Law 113-76 
     (16 U.S.C. 565a-1 note) shall be applied by substituting 
     ``September 30, 2024'' for ``September 30, 2019''.

             puerto rico schooling authorization extension

       Sec. 425. The authority provided by the 19th unnumbered 
     paragraph under heading ``Administrative Provisions, Forest 
     Service'' in title III of Public Law 109-54, as amended, 
     shall be applied by substituting ``fiscal year 2024'' for 
     ``fiscal year 2019''.

    forest botanical products fee collection authorization extension

       Sec. 426. Section 339 of the Department of the Interior and 
     Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (as enacted into 
     law by Public Law 106-113; 16 U.S.C. 528 note), as amended by 
     section 335(6) of Public Law 108-108 and section 432 of 
     Public Law 113-76, shall be applied by substituting ``fiscal 
     year 2024'' for ``fiscal year 2019''.

                             tribal leases

       Sec. 427. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     in the case of any lease under section 105(l) of the Indian 
     Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
     5324(l)), the initial lease term shall commence no earlier 
     than the date of receipt of the lease proposal.
       (b) The Secretaries of the Interior and Health and Human 
     Services shall, jointly or separately, during fiscal year 
     2024 consult with Tribes and Tribal organizations through 
     public solicitation and other means regarding the 
     requirements for leases under section 105(l) of the Indian 
     Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
     5324(l)) on how to implement a consistent and transparent 
     process for the payment of such leases.

               forest ecosystem health and recovery fund

       Sec. 428. The authority provided under the heading ``Forest 
     Ecosystem Health and Recovery Fund'' in title I of Public Law 
     111-88, as amended by section 117 of division F of Public Law 
     113-235, shall be applied by substituting ``fiscal year 
     2024'' for ``fiscal year 2020'' each place it appears.

     allocation of projects, national parks and public land legacy 
         restoration fund and land and water conservation fund

       Sec. 429. (a)(1) Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary of the Interior shall allocate amounts made 
     available from the National Parks and Public Land Legacy 
     Restoration Fund for fiscal year 2024 pursuant to subsection 
     (c) of section 200402 of title 54, United States Code, and as 
     provided in subsection (e) of such section of such title, to 
     the agencies of the Department of the Interior and the 
     Department of Agriculture specified, in the amounts 
     specified, for the stations and unit names specified, and for 
     the projects and activities specified in the table titled 
     ``Allocation of Funds: National Parks and Public Land Legacy 
     Restoration Fund Fiscal Year 2024'' in the report 
     accompanying this Act.
       (2) Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
     of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, as 
     appropriate, shall allocate amounts made available for 
     expenditure from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for 
     fiscal year 2024 pursuant to subsection (a) of section 200303 
     of title 54, United States Code, to the agencies and accounts 
     specified, in the amounts specified, and for the projects and 
     activities specified in the table titled ``Allocation of 
     Funds: Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2024'' in 
     the report accompanying this Act.
       (b) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (c) of this 
     section, neither the President nor his designee may allocate 
     any amounts that are made available for any fiscal year under 
     subsection (c) of section 200402 of title 54, United States 
     Code, or subsection (a) of section 200303 of title 54, United 
     States Code, other than in amounts and for projects and 
     activities that are allocated by subsections (a)(1) and 
     (a)(2) of this section: Provided, That in any fiscal year, 
     the matter preceding this proviso shall not apply to the 
     allocation of amounts for continuing administration of 
     programs allocated funds from the National Parks and Public 
     Land Legacy Restoration Fund or the Land and Water 
     Conservation Fund, which may be allocated only in amounts 
     that are no more than the allocation for such purposes in 
     subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.
       (c) The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
     Agriculture may reallocate amounts from each agency's 
     ``Contingency Fund'' line in the table titled ``Allocation of 
     Funds: National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund 
     Fiscal Year 2024'' to any project funded by the National 
     Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund within the same 
     agency, from any fiscal year, that experienced a funding 
     deficiency due to unforeseen cost overruns, in accordance 
     with the following requirements--
       (1) ``Contingency Fund'' amounts may only be reallocated if 
     there is a risk to project completion resulting from 
     unforeseen cost overruns;
       (2) ``Contingency Fund'' amounts may only be reallocated 
     for cost of adjustments and changes within the original scope 
     of effort for projects funded by the National Parks and 
     Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund; and
       (3) the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
     Agriculture must provide written notification to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and Senate 30 days before taking any actions authorized by 
     this subsection if the amount reallocated from the 
     ``Contingency Fund'' line for a project is projected to be 10 
     percent or greater than the following, as applicable--
       (A) the amount allocated to that project in the table 
     titled ``Allocation of Funds: National Parks and Public Land 
     Legacy Restoration Fund Fiscal Year 2024'' in the report 
     accompanying this Act; or
       (B) the initial estimate in the most recent report 
     submitted, prior to enactment of this Act, to the Committees 
     on Appropriations pursuant to section 431(e) of division G of 
     the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-
     328).
       (d)(1) Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the 
     President for fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Interior 
     and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate project data sheets for the projects in the 
     ``Submission of Annual List of Projects to Congress'' 
     required by section 200402(h) of title 54, United States 
     Code: Provided, That the ``Submission of Annual List of 
     Projects to Congress'' must include a ``Contingency Fund'' 
     line for each agency within the allocations defined in 
     subsection (e) of section 200402 of title 54, United States 
     Code: Provided further, That in the event amounts allocated 
     by this Act or any prior Act for the National Parks and 
     Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund are no longer needed to 
     complete a specified project, such amounts may be reallocated 
     in such submission to that agency's ``Contingency Fund'' 
     line: Provided further, That any proposals to change the 
     scope of or terminate a previously approved project must be 
     clearly identified in such submission.
       (2)(A) Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the 
     President for fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Interior 
     and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate a list of supplementary allocations for 
     Federal land acquisition and Forest Legacy Projects at the 
     National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
     the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service 
     that are in addition to the ``Submission of Cost Estimates'' 
     required by section 200303(c)(1) of title 54, United States 
     Code, that are prioritized and detailed by account, program, 
     and project, and that total no less than half the full amount 
     allocated to each account for that land management Agency 
     under the allocations submitted under section 200303(c)(1) of 
     title 54, United States

[[Page H5266]]

     Code: Provided, That in the event amounts allocated by this 
     Act or any prior Act pursuant to subsection (a) of section 
     200303 of title 54, United States Code are no longer needed 
     because a project has been completed or can no longer be 
     executed, such amounts must be clearly identified if proposed 
     for reallocation in the annual budget submission.
       (B) The Federal land acquisition and Forest Legacy projects 
     in the ``Submission of Cost Estimates'' required by section 
     200303(c)(1) of title 54, United States Code, and on the list 
     of supplementary allocations required by subparagraph (A) 
     shall be comprised only of projects for which a willing 
     seller has been identified and for which an appraisal or 
     market research has been initiated.
       (C) Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the 
     President for fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Interior 
     and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate project data sheets in the same format and 
     containing the same level of detailed information that is 
     found on such sheets in the Budget Justifications annually 
     submitted by the Department of the Interior with the 
     President's Budget for the projects in the ``Submission of 
     Cost Estimates'' required by section 200303(c)(1) of title 
     54, United States Code, and in the same format and containing 
     the same level of detailed information that is found on such 
     sheets submitted to the Committees pursuant to section 427 of 
     division D of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
     2020 (Public Law 116-94) for the list of supplementary 
     allocations required by subparagraph (A).
       (e) The Department of the Interior and the Department of 
     Agriculture shall provide the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and Senate quarterly reports on 
     the status of balances of projects and activities funded by 
     the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund 
     for amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this 
     section and the status of balances of projects and activities 
     funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund for amounts 
     allocated pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section, 
     including all uncommitted, committed, and unobligated funds, 
     and, for amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of 
     this section, National Parks and Public Land Legacy 
     Restoration Fund amounts reallocated pursuant to subsection 
     (c) of this section.

                  policies relating to biomass energy

       Sec. 430. To support the key role that forests in the 
     United States can play in addressing the energy needs of the 
     United States, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency shall, consistent with their missions, 
     jointly--
       (1) ensure that Federal policy relating to forest 
     bioenergy--
       (A) is consistent across all Federal departments and 
     agencies; and
       (B) recognizes the full benefits of the use of forest 
     biomass for energy, conservation, and responsible forest 
     management; and
       (2) establish clear and simple policies for the use of 
     forest biomass as an energy solution, including policies 
     that--
       (A) reflect the carbon neutrality of forest bioenergy and 
     recognize biomass as a renewable energy source, provided the 
     use of forest biomass for energy production does not cause 
     conversion of forests to non-forest use;
       (B) encourage private investment throughout the forest 
     biomass supply chain, including in--
       (i) working forests;
       (ii) harvesting operations;
       (iii) forest improvement operations;
       (iv) forest bioenergy production;
       (v) wood products manufacturing; or
       (vi) paper manufacturing;
       (C) encourage forest management to improve forest health; 
     and
       (D) recognize State initiatives to produce and use forest 
     biomass.

                       small remote incinerators

       Sec. 431. None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to implement or enforce the regulation issued on 
     March 21, 2011 at 40 CFR part 60 subparts CCCC and DDDD with 
     respect to units in the State of Alaska that are defined as 
     ``small, remote incinerator'' units in those regulations and, 
     until a subsequent regulation is issued, the Administrator 
     shall implement the law and regulations in effect prior to 
     such date.

                        timber sale requirements

       Sec. 432. No timber sale in Alaska's Region 10 shall be 
     advertised if the indicated rate is deficit (defined as the 
     value of the timber is not sufficient to cover all logging 
     and stumpage costs and provide a normal profit and risk 
     allowance under the Forest Service's appraisal process) when 
     appraised using a residual value appraisal. The western red 
     cedar timber from those sales which is surplus to the needs 
     of the domestic processors in Alaska, shall be made available 
     to domestic processors in the contiguous 48 United States at 
     prevailing domestic prices. All additional western red cedar 
     volume not sold to Alaska or contiguous 48 United States 
     domestic processors may be exported to foreign markets at the 
     election of the timber sale holder. All Alaska yellow cedar 
     may be sold at prevailing export prices at the election of 
     the timber sale holder.

 transfer authority to federal highway administration for the national 
             parks and public land legacy restoration fund

       Sec. 433. Funds made available or allocated in this Act to 
     the Department of the Interior or the Department of 
     Agriculture that are subject to the allocations and 
     limitations in 54 U.S.C. 200402(e) and prohibitions in 54 
     U.S.C. 200402(f) may be further allocated or reallocated to 
     the Federal Highway Administration for transportation 
     projects of the covered agencies defined in 54 U.S.C. 
     200401(2).

                      prohibition on use of funds

       Sec. 434. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
     of the funds made available in this Act or any other Act may 
     be used to promulgate or implement any regulation requiring 
     the issuance of permits under title V of the Clean Air Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 7661 et seq.) for carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, 
     water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological 
     processes associated with livestock production.

                 greenhouse gas reporting restrictions

       Sec. 435. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
     of the funds made available in this or any other Act may be 
     used to implement any provision in a rule, if that provision 
     requires mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from 
     manure management systems.

                          funding prohibition

       Sec. 436. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be used to regulate the lead content of 
     ammunition, ammunition components, or fishing tackle under 
     the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) or 
     any other law.

     alaska native regional health entities authorization extension

       Sec. 437. Section 424(a) of title IV of division G of the 
     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76) 
     shall be applied by substituting ``October 1, 2024'' for 
     ``December 24, 2022''.

              rescission of greenhouse gas reduction fund

       Sec. 438. Of the unobligated balances of amounts 
     appropriated or otherwise made available for activities of 
     the Environmental Protection Agency by subsection (a) of 
     section 134 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7434(a)), 
     $7,765,000,000 are permanently rescinded.

         rescission of environmental and climate justice grants

       Sec. 439. Of the unobligated balances of amounts 
     appropriated or otherwise made available for activities of 
     the Environmental Protection Agency by section 138(a) of the 
     Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7438(a)), $1,353,000,000 are hereby 
     permanently rescinded.

      hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal land

       Sec. 440. (a) None of the funds made available by this or 
     any other Act for any fiscal year may be used to prohibit the 
     use of or access to Federal land (as such term is defined in 
     section 3 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 
     U.S.C. 6502)) for hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting 
     if such use or access--
       (1) was not prohibited on such Federal land as of January 
     1, 2013; and
       (2) was conducted in compliance with the resource 
     management plan (as defined in section 101 of such Act (16 
     U.S.C. 6511)) applicable to such Federal land as of January 
     1, 2013.
       (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
     Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture may temporarily 
     close, for a period not to exceed 30 days, Federal land 
     managed by the Secretary to hunting, fishing, or recreational 
     shooting if the Secretary determines that the temporary 
     closure is necessary to accommodate a special event or for 
     public safety reasons. The Secretary may extend a temporary 
     closure for one additional 90-day period only if the 
     Secretary determines the extension is necessary because of 
     extraordinary weather conditions or for public safety 
     reasons.
       (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting 
     the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the several 
     States to manage, control, or regulate fish and resident 
     wildlife under State law or regulations.

                      waters of the united states

       Sec. 441. The rule submitted by the Department of the Army, 
     Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the 
     Environmental Protection Agency relating to ``Revised 
     Definition of `Waters of the United States' '' (88 Fed. Reg. 
     3004 (January 18, 2023)) shall have no force or effect.

                               limitation

       Sec. 442. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be obligated to enforce Public Land 
     Order 7917 (88 Fed. Reg. 6308 (January 31, 2023)).

                             mineral leases

       Sec. 443. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and 
     not subject to further judicial review, not later than 30 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act the Secretary of 
     the Interior shall reinstate the hardrock mineral leases in 
     the Superior National Forest in the State of Minnesota issued 
     in 2019 and identified as MNES-01352 and MNES-01353.

             use of mining claims for ancillary activities

       Sec. 444. Section 10101 of the Omnibus Budget 
     Reconciliation Act of 1993 (30 U.S.C. 28f) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

[[Page H5267]]

       ``(e) Security of Tenure.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) In general.--A claimant shall have the right to use, 
     occupy, and conduct operations on public land, with or 
     without the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit, if--
       ``(i) such claimant makes a timely payment of the location 
     fee required by section 10102 and the claim maintenance fee 
     required by subsection (a); or
       ``(ii) in the case of a claimant who qualifies for a waiver 
     under subsection (d), such claimant makes a timely payment of 
     the location fee and complies with the required assessment 
     work under the general mining laws.
       ``(B) Operations defined.--For the purposes of this 
     paragraph, the term `operations' means--
       ``(i) any activity or work carried out in connection with 
     prospecting, exploration, processing, discovery and 
     assessment, development, or extraction with respect to a 
     locatable mineral;
       ``(ii) the reclamation of any disturbed areas; and
       ``(iii) any other reasonably incident uses, whether on a 
     mining claim or not, including the construction and 
     maintenance of facilities, roads, transmission lines, 
     pipelines, and any other necessary infrastructure or means of 
     access on public land for support facilities.
       ``(2) Fulfillment of federal land policy and management 
     act.--A claimant that fulfills the requirements of this 
     section and section 10102 shall be deemed to satisfy the 
     requirements of any provision of the Federal Land Policy and 
     Management Act that requires the payment of fair market value 
     to the United States for use of public lands and resources 
     relating to use of such lands and resources authorized by the 
     general mining laws.
       ``(3) Savings clause.--Nothing in this subsection may be 
     construed to diminish the rights of entry, use, and 
     occupancy, or any other right, of a claimant under the 
     general mining laws.''.

              charles m. russell national wildlife refuge

       Sec. 445. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be used by the Secretary of the Interior to 
     facilitate or allow for the introduction of American bison 
     (Bison bison) on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife 
     Refuge (as originally established in Executive Order 7509, 
     renamed in Public Land Order 2951, and redesignated in Public 
     Land Order 5635).

                               cottonwood

       Sec. 446. No later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
     of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue the 
     final rule entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and 
     Plants; Regulations for Interagency Cooperation'' (86 Fed. 
     Reg. 2373 (January 12, 2021)).

                         social cost of carbon

       Sec. 447. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to consider or incorporate the social cost of 
     carbon--
       (1) as part of any cost-benefit analysis required or 
     performed pursuant to--
       (A) any law;
       (B) Executive Order 13990 (86 Fed. Reg. 7037; relating to 
     protecting public health and the environment and restoring 
     science to tackle the climate crisis);
       (C) Executive Order 14094 (88 Fed. Reg. 21879; relating to 
     modernizing regulatory review);
       (D) the Presidential Memorandum entitled ``Modernizing 
     Regulatory Review'' issued by the President on January 20, 
     2021;
       (E) any revisions to Office of Management and Budget 
     Circular A-4 proposed or finalized under Executive Order 
     14094; or
       (F) ``Technical Support Document: Social Cost of Carbon, 
     Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Interim Estimates under Executive 
     Order 13990,'' published under the Interagency Working Group 
     on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, in February of 2021;
       (2) in any rulemaking;
       (3) in the issuance of any guidance;
       (4) in taking any other agency action; or
       (5) as a justification for any rulemaking, guidance 
     document, or agency action.

                         lesser prairie-chicken

       Sec. 448. None of the funds made available in this or any 
     other Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce 
     the rule entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and 
     Plants; Lesser Prairie-Chicken; Threatened Status With 
     Section 4(d) Rule for the Northern Distinct Population 
     Segment and Endangered Status for the Southern Distinct 
     Population Segment'' (87 Fed. Reg. 72674 (November 25, 
     2022)).

                                ecogrief

       Sec. 449. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be obligated or expended to carry out the 
     program for Federal employees at the Department of the 
     Interior entitled ``Acknowledging Ecogrief and Developing 
     Resistance'' or any counseling sessions, workshop, or any 
     other meeting pertaining to ecological grief, ecogrief, or 
     eco-resilience.

                 north cascades ecosystem grizzly bear

       Sec. 450. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be obligated or expended to prepare an environmental impact 
     statement for, or to implement, administer, or enforce, the 
     North Cascades Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan (87 
     Fed. Reg. 68190).

                              water rights

       Sec. 451. None of the funds made available in this or any 
     other Act may be obligated to require or request, as a 
     condition of the issuance, renewal, or extension of any 
     Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management permit, lease, 
     allotment, easement, or other land use and occupancy, 
     arrangement, the transfer, or relinquishment of any water 
     right, in whole, or in part, granted under State law.

                               gray wolf

       Sec. 452. Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall reissue the final rule entitled ``Endangered and 
     Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis 
     lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife'' 
     (85 Fed. Reg. 69778 (November 3, 2020)).

                             cost recovery

       Sec. 453. (a) Any regulation promulgated by the Secretary 
     of the Interior to establish fees to recover the costs of 
     processing an application for a special recreation permit or 
     monitoring an authorization under a special recreation permit 
     for competitive or organized group or event use shall include 
     an exemption providing that fee may not be recovered for not 
     less than the first 100 hours of work necessary in any 1 year 
     to process the application or monitor the authorization.
       (b) Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
     this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall revise 
     section 2932.31(e) of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     to be consistent with subsection (a) of this section.

                  executive order funding prohibition

       Sec. 454. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, apply, enforce, or carry out Executive Order 
     13985 of January 20, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 7009, relating to 
     advancing racial equity and support for underserved 
     communities through the Federal Government), Executive Order 
     14035 of June 25, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 34593, relating to 
     diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the 
     Federal workforce), or Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 
     2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 10825, relating to further advancing 
     racial equity and support for underserved communities through 
     the Federal Government).

                               limitation

       Sec. 455. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to carry out any program, project, or activity that 
     promotes or advances Critical Race Theory or any concept 
     associated with Critical Race Theory.

                       wuhan institute limitation

       Sec. 456. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be made available to support, directly or indirectly, the 
     Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any laboratory owned or 
     controlled by the governments of the People's Republic of 
     China, the Republic of Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran, 
     the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian 
     Federation, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under the 
     regime of Nicolas Maduro Moros, or any other country 
     determined by the Secretary of State to be a foreign 
     adversary.

                        northern long-eared bat

       Sec. 457. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement the final rule ``Endangered and 
     Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for 
     Northern Long-Eared Bat'' (87 Fed. Reg. 73488 (November 30, 
     2020)).

  exemption to coastal barrier restrictions for shoreline borrow sites

       Sec. 458. Section 6 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 3505) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(e) Borrow Site.--Section 5 shall not apply to 
     expenditures or financial assistance relating to the use of 
     funds to use a borrow site located within the System if such 
     site has been in use as a borrow site by a coastal storm risk 
     management project for a period of more than 15 years.''.

                        smithsonian institution

       Sec. 459. None of the funds made available by this Act 
     shall be obligated for the planning, design, or construction 
     of the National Museum of the American Latino or the 
     operation of the Molina Family Latino Gallery.

                              gao analysis

       Sec. 460. Notwithstanding any provision of law, none of the 
     funds made available by this Act may be obligated or expended 
     for the purpose of pre-leasing, leasing, or the conveyance of 
     leases for onshore wind energy activities in Idaho, unless or 
     until the Comptroller General of the United States completes 
     a report identifying potential adverse effects of wind energy 
     development including with respect to, wildlife, cultural 
     resources, transportation, hunting, wetlands and the 
     connected surface and ground waters.

                               pesticides

       Sec. 461. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be obligated or expended to issue or adopt any 
     guidance or any policy, take any regulatory action, or 
     approve any labeling or change to such labeling that is 
     inconsistent with or in any respect different from the 
     conclusion of--
       (a) a human health assessment performed pursuant to the 
     Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 
     136 et seq.); or

[[Page H5268]]

       (b) a carcinogenicity classification for a pesticide.

                               steam rule

       Sec. 462. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be obligated to finalize, administer, or 
     enforce the proposed rule titled ``Supplemental Effluent 
     Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric 
     Power Generating Point Source Category'' published on March 
     29, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 18824).

                                 waiver

       Sec. 463. None of the funds made available by this Act or 
     any other Act may be used to approve a waiver submitted to 
     the Environmental Protection Agency by the State of 
     California, pursuant to section 209(e) of the Clean Air Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 7543(e)), for the State of California's amendments 
     to its rule titled ``Small Off-Road Engine Regulations: 
     Transition to Zero Emissions''.

                              5-year plan

       Sec. 464. Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
     Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``subsections (c) and (d) of this section, 
     shall prepare and periodically revise,'' and inserting ``this 
     section, shall issue every five years'';
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Each five-year program shall include at least two 
     Gulf of Mexico region-wide lease sales per year.''.
       (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``domestic energy 
     security,'' after ``between'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (f) through (i) as 
     subsections (h) through (k), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
       ``(f) Five-Year Program for 2023-2028.--The Secretary shall 
     issue the five-year oil and gas leasing program for 2023 
     through 2028 and issue the Record of Decision on the Final 
     Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement by not later than 
     60 days of enactment of this Act.
       ``(g) Subsequent Leasing Programs.--
       ``(1) In General.--Not later than 36 months after 
     conducting the first lease sale under an oil and gas leasing 
     program prepared pursuant to this section, the Secretary 
     shall begin preparing the subsequent oil and gas leasing 
     program under this section.
       ``(2) Requirement.--Each subsequent oil and gas leasing 
     program under this section shall be approved by not later 
     than 180 days before the expiration of the previous oil and 
     gas leasing program.''.

                              transparency

       Sec. 465. (a) Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     reissue and implement Order No. 3368 ``Promoting Transparency 
     and Accountability in Consent Decrees and Settlement 
     Agreements'' dated September 11, 2018.
       (b) None of the funds made available by this Act shall be 
     available to rescind the Order reissued under subsection (a), 
     reissue, enforce, administer, or implement Order No. 3408 
     ``Rescission of Secretary's Order 3368'' dated June 17, 2022, 
     or to issue, enforce, administer, or implement any 
     substantially similar order.

                               limitation

       Sec. 466. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement, administer, or enforce Public Land 
     Order No. 7921 (relating to the withdrawal of public land for 
     satellite calibration in Railroad Valley; Nye County, 
     Nevada), published by the Bureau of Land Management in the 
     Federal Register on April 27, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 25682).

                                 ozone

       Sec. 467. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be made available to implement, administer, or 
     enforce the final rule titled ``Federal `Good Neighbor Plan' 
     for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards'' 
     published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the 
     Federal Register on June 5, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 36654).

                             offshore wind

       Sec. 468. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act 
     may be obligated or expended for the purpose of pre-leasing, 
     leasing, or the conveyance of leases for offshore wind energy 
     activity in the Florida administrative boundary until the 
     Comptroller General of the United States submits, to the 
     appropriate Congressional Committees, a study regarding the 
     potential impact of offshore wind development and associated 
     infrastructure in the Florida administrative boundary on 
     military readiness and training, marine environment and 
     ecology, tourism, and other uses of the Outer Continental 
     Shelf.
       (b) In this section, the term ``administrative boundary'' 
     means the offshore administrative boundary for a State 
     depicted in ``Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 
     Administrative Boundaries Extending from the Submerged Lands 
     Act Boundary seaward to the Limit of the United States Outer 
     Continental Shelf'' published January 3, 2006 (71 Fed. Reg. 
     127).
       (c) In this section, the term ``appropriate Congressional 
     Committees'' means the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on 
     Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

                           record of decision

       Sec. 469. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not 
     later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall issue a new Record of Decision for the Caldwell Canyon 
     Mine project that addresses the deficiencies identified by 
     the United States District Court for the District of Idaho in 
     its decisions and orders issued in Center for Biological 
     Diversity, et al. v. United States Bureau of Land Management, 
     et al. (Case Number 4:21-CV-00182-BLW) on January 24, 2023, 
     and June 2, 2023.

                    epa office of inspector general

       Sec. 470. Beginning on October 1, 2023, of the amounts made 
     available to the Environmental Protection Agency under each 
     of sections 60101, 60102, 60104, 60105, 60106, 60107, 60108, 
     60109, 60110, 60111, 60112, 60113, 60115, 60116, and 60201 of 
     Public Law 117-169, two-tenths of one percent of such amounts 
     shall be transferred to the Office of the Inspector General 
     of the Environmental Protection Agency for oversight of 
     funding provided to the Environmental Protection Agency by 
     such Public Law: Provided, That amounts so transferred shall 
     be derived from the unobligated balances of amounts under 
     each such section.

              grand staircase-escalante national monument

       Sec. 471. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for management of the Grand Staircase-Escalante 
     National Monument except in compliance with the Record of 
     Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Grand 
     Staircase-Escalante National Monument, dated February 2020.

                      offshore oil and gas leasing

       Sec. 472. (a) The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct 
     all lease sales described in the 2017-2022 Outer Continental 
     Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (November 
     2016) that have not been conducted as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act by not later than September 30, 2024.
       (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except 
     within areas subject to existing oil and gas leasing 
     moratoria beginning in fiscal year 2024, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall annually conduct a minimum of 2 region-wide 
     oil and gas lease sales in the following planning areas of 
     the Gulf of Mexico region, as described in the 2017-2022 
     Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final 
     Program (November 2016):
       (1) The Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
       (2) The Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
       (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning 
     in fiscal year 2024, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     annually conduct a minimum of 2 region-wide oil and gas lease 
     sales in the Alaska region of the Outer Continental Shelf, as 
     described in the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and 
     Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (November 2016).
       (d) In conducting lease sales under subsections (b) and 
     (c), the Secretary of the Interior shall--
       (1) issue such leases in accordance with the Outer 
     Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1332 et seq.); and
       (2) include in each such lease sale all unleased areas that 
     are not subject to a moratorium as of the date of the lease 
     sale.

                      onshore oil and gas leasing

       Sec. 473. (a)(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     immediately resume quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales 
     in compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et 
     seq.).
       (2) The Secretary of the Interior shall ensure--
       (A) that any oil and gas lease sale pursuant to paragraph 
     (1) is conducted immediately on completion of all applicable 
     scoping, public comment, and environmental analysis 
     requirements under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et 
     seq.) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
     U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
       (B) that the processes described in subparagraph (A) are 
     conducted in a timely manner to ensure compliance with 
     subsection (b)(1).
       (3) Section 17(b)(1)(A) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
     U.S.C. 226(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``Eligible lands 
     comprise all lands subject to leasing under this Act and not 
     excluded from leasing by a statutory or regulatory 
     prohibition. Available lands are those lands that have been 
     designated as open for leasing under a land use plan 
     developed under section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
     Management Act of 1976 and that have been nominated for 
     leasing through the submission of an expression of interest, 
     are subject to drainage in the absence of leasing, or are 
     otherwise designated as available pursuant to regulations 
     adopted by the Secretary.'' after ``sales are necessary.''.
       (b)(1) In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
     U.S.C. 181 et seq.), each fiscal year, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall conduct a minimum of four oil and gas lease 
     sales in each of the following States:
       (A) Wyoming.
       (B) New Mexico.
       (C) Colorado.
       (D) Utah.
       (E) Montana.
       (F) North Dakota.
       (G) Oklahoma.
       (H) Nevada.
       (I) Alaska.
       (J) Any other State in which there is land available for 
     oil and gas leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
     181 et seq.) or any other mineral leasing law.

[[Page H5269]]

       (2) In conducting a lease sale under paragraph (1) in a 
     State described in that paragraph, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall offer all parcels nominated and eligible 
     pursuant to the requirements of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
     U.S.C. 181 et seq.) for oil and gas exploration, development, 
     and production under the resource management plan in effect 
     for the State.
       (3) The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a 
     replacement sale during the same fiscal year if--
       (A) a lease sale under paragraph (1) is canceled, delayed, 
     or deferred, including for a lack of eligible parcels; or
       (B) during a lease sale under paragraph (1) the percentage 
     of acreage that does not receive a bid is equal to or greater 
     than 25 percent of the acreage offered.
       (4) Not later than 30 days after a sale required under this 
     subsection is canceled, delayed, deferred, or otherwise 
     missed the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate a report that states what 
     sale was missed and why it was missed.

          rescission of council on environmental quality funds

       Sec. 474. Of the unobligated balances of amounts 
     appropriated or otherwise made available for activities of 
     the Council on Environmental Quality under sections 60401 and 
     60402 of Public Law 117-169 (commonly known as the 
     ``Inflation Reduction Act of 2022'') as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act are rescinded.

             rescission of department of the interior funds

       Sec. 475. Of the unobligated balances of amounts 
     appropriated or otherwise made available under section 50224 
     of Public Law 117-169 (commonly known as the ``Inflation 
     Reduction Act of 2022'') as of the date of the enactment of 
     this Act are rescinded.

                             official flags

       Sec. 476. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be obligated or expended to fly or display a flag over a 
     facility of a Department or agency funded by this Act other 
     than the flag of the United States; the flag of a State, 
     insular area, or the District of Columbia; the flag of a 
     Federally recognized Tribal entity; the official flag of the 
     Secretary of the Interior; the official flag of a U.S. 
     Department or agency; or the POW/MIA flag.

                          effect on other law

       Sec. 477. Nothing in this Act, or any amendments made by 
     this Act, shall affect--
       (a) the Presidential memorandum titled ``Memorandum on 
     Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer 
     Continental Shelf From Leasing Disposition'' and dated 
     September 8, 2020;
       (b) the Presidential memorandum titled ``Memorandum on 
     Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer 
     Continental Shelf From Leasing Disposition'' and dated 
     September 25, 2020;
       (c) the Presidential memorandum titled ``Memorandum on 
     Withdrawal of Certain Areas off the Atlantic Coast on the 
     Outer Continental Shelf From Leasing Disposition'' and dated 
     December 20, 2016; or
       (d) the ban on oil and gas development in the Great Lakes 
     described in section 386 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
     U.S.C. 15941).

          vehicle reservation system at glacier national park

       Sec. 478. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the operation or implementation of the vehicle 
     reservation system at Glacier National Park.

         prohibition on funding for secretarial order no. 3410

       Sec. 479. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Secretary of the Interior to implement or 
     execute Secretarial Order No. 3410 (regarding Restoration of 
     American Bison and the Prairie Grasslands) or any appendix to 
     that Order, dated March 3, 2023.

                               limitation

       Sec. 480. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule 
     titled ``National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air 
     Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam 
     Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology 
     Review'' and published April 24, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 24854).

                       lead ammunition and tackle

       Sec. 481. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act 
     may be used to prohibit the use of lead ammunition or tackle 
     on Federal land or water that is made available for hunting 
     or fishing activities or to issue regulations relating to the 
     level of lead in ammunition or tackle to be used on Federal 
     land or water, unless--
       (1) the Secretary of the Interior determines that a decline 
     in wildlife population on the specific unit of Federal land 
     or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition 
     or tackle, based on field data from the specific unit of 
     Federal land or water; and
       (2) the prohibition or regulation, as applicable, is--
       (A) consistent with--
       (i) the law of the State in which the specific unit of 
     Federal land or water is located; or
       (ii) an applicable policy of the fish and wildlife 
     department of the State in which the specific unit of Federal 
     land or water is located; or
       (B) approved by the fish and wildlife department of the 
     State in which the specific unit of Federal land or water is 
     located.
       (b) In any case in which the Secretary of the Interior 
     determines under subsection (a) that there is a wildlife 
     population decline on a specific unit of Federal land or 
     water that warrants a prohibition on or regulation relating 
     to the level of lead in ammunition or tackle, the Secretary 
     shall include in a Federal Register notice an explanation of 
     how the prohibition or regulation, as applicable, meets the 
     requirements of this section.

                               limitation

       Sec. 482. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     proposed rule titled ``New Source Performance Standards for 
     Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and 
     Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; 
     Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From 
     Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and 
     Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule'' published by the 
     Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on 
     May 23, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 33240).

                               limitation

       Sec. 483. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 7 of 
     title 1, United States Code, section 1738C of title 28, 
     United States Code, or any other provision of law, none of 
     the funds provided by this Act, or previous appropriations 
     Acts, shall be used in whole or in part to take any 
     discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially, 
     on the basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance 
     with a sincerely held religious belief, or moral conviction, 
     that marriage is, or should be recognized as, a union of one 
     man and one woman.
       (b) Discriminatory Action Defined.--As used in subsection 
     (a), a discriminatory action means any action taken by the 
     Federal Government to--
       (1) alter in any way the Federal tax treatment of, or cause 
     any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny, 
     delay, or revoke an exemption from taxation under section 
     50l(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of, any person 
     referred to in subsection (a);
       (2) disallow a deduction for Federal tax purposes of any 
     charitable contribution made to or by such person;
       (3) withhold, reduce the amount or funding for, exclude, 
     terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any Federal 
     grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, 
     guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification, 
     accreditation, employment, or other similar position or 
     status from or to such person;
       (4) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make 
     unavailable or deny, any entitlement or benefit under a 
     Federal benefit program, including admission to, equal 
     treatment in, or eligibility for a degree from an educational 
     program, from or to such person; or
       (5) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make 
     unavailable or deny access or an entitlement to Federal 
     property, facilities, educational institutions, speech fora 
     (including traditional, limited, and nonpublic fora), or 
     charitable fundraising campaigns from or to such person.
       (c) Accreditation; Licensure; Certification.--The Federal 
     Government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified 
     for purposes of Federal law any person that would be 
     accredited, licensed, or certified, respectively, for such 
     purposes but for a determination against such person wholly 
     or partially on the basis that the person speaks, or acts, in 
     accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral 
     conviction described in subsection (a).

                               limitation

       Sec. 484. None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise 
     made available to the Smithsonian Institution by this Act may 
     be made available for partnerships or activities associated 
     with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, including any 
     use of facilities by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade 
     Offices.

                               limitation

       Sec. 485. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     proposed rule titled ``National Emission Standards for 
     Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards 
     for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology 
     Review'' published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 
     the Federal Register on April 13, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 22790) 
     or the proposed interim registration review decision and 
     draft risk assessment addendum for ethylene oxide described 
     in the notice titled ``Pesticide Registration Review; 
     Proposed Interim Decision and Draft Risk Assessment Addendum 
     for Ethylene Oxide; Notice of Availability'' published by the 
     Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on 
     April 13, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 22447) unless the Commissioner 
     of Food and Drugs certifies that finalization, 
     implementation, administration, or enforcement of such rule, 
     decision, or addendum for ethylene oxide will not adversely 
     impact the availability of sterile medical products in the 
     United States.

                               limitation

       Sec. 486. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement a final

[[Page H5270]]

     rule listing the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard as endangered or 
     threatened pursuant to ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 
     and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the Dunes Sagebrush 
     Lizard'' (88 Fed. Reg. 42661 (July 3, 2023)).

                               limitation

       Sec. 487. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     decisions proposed in the notice titled ``Pesticide 
     Registration Review; Proposed Interim Decisions for the 
     Rodenticides; Notice of Availability'' published by the 
     Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on 
     November 29, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 73297).

                               limitation

       Sec. 488. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be made available to finalize, implement, administer, or 
     enforce the proposed rule titled ``Multi-Pollutant Emissions 
     Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and 
     Medium-Duty Vehicles'' and published May 5, 2023 (88 Fed. 
     Reg. 29184), or any substantially similar rule.

                               limitation

       Sec. 489. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be made available to finalize, implement, administer, or 
     enforce the proposed rule titled ``Greenhouse Gas Emissions 
     Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3'' and published 
     April 27, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 25926), or any substantially 
     similar rule.

                 funding limitation regarding blm rule

       Sec. 490. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be obligated or expended to--
       (1) develop, finalize, or issue a final rule with respect 
     to the proposed rule entitled ``Conservation and Landscape 
     Health'' published by the Bureau of Land Management in the 
     Federal Register on April 3, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 19583); or
       (2) implement, administer, or enforce such proposed rule or 
     any substantially similar rule.

               greater yellowstone ecosystem grizzly bear

       Sec. 491. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     reissue the final rule entitled ``Endangered and Threatened 
     Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Greater Yellowstone 
     Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List 
     of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife'' (82 Fed. Reg. 30502 
     (June 30, 2017)), without regard to any other provision of 
     law that applies to the issuance of that final rule.
       (b) The reissuance of the final rule described in 
     subsection (a) (including this section) shall not be subject 
     to judicial review.

                     big cypress national preserve

       Sec. 492. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
     Director of the National Park Service, shall prepare an 
     environmental impact statement under the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
     prior to approving an operations permit, as described in 36 
     Code of Federal Regulations, subpart B Sec. Sec. 9.80 through 
     9.90, for the purpose of conducting or proposing to conduct 
     non-federal oil or gas operations within the Big Cypress 
     National Preserve.

                       spending reduction account

       Sec. 493. $0
       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of the Interior, 
     Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024''.
  The CHAIR. All points of order against provisions in the bill are 
waived.
  No amendment to the bill shall be in order except those printed in 
part A of House Report 118-261, amendments en bloc described in section 
3 of House Resolution 838, and pro forma amendments described in 
section 4 of this resolution.
  Each amendment printed in part A of the report shall be considered 
only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a 
Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be 
debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment except as provided by section 4 of House Resolution 838, and 
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question.
  It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on 
Appropriations or her designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting 
of amendments printed in part A of the report not earlier disposed of. 
Amendments en bloc shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 
20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective 
designees, shall not be subject to amendment, except as provided by 
section 4 of House Resolution 838, and shall not be subject to a demand 
for division of the question.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective 
designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for 
the purpose of debate.

                              {time}  1145


        Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Mr. Simpson of Idaho

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 838, I offer 
amendments en bloc.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
  Amendments en bloc No. 1 consisting of amendment Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 
31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 
54, 55, 56, 57, 69, and 105 printed in part A of House Report 118-261, 
offered by Mr. Simpson of Idaho:


           AMENDMENT NO. 3 OFFERED BY MR. BUCHANAN OF FLORIDA

       Page 8, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,150,000)''.
       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,150,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 4 OFFERED BY MR. MOLINARO OF NEW YORK

       Page 8, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.


         AMENDMENT NO. 5 OFFERED BY MS. ADAMS OF NORTH CAROLINA

       Page 13, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $3,000,000) (increased by $3,000,000)''.


             AMENDMENT NO. 6 OFFERED BY MR. CASTRO OF TEXAS

       Page 13, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


           AMENDMENT NO. 7 OFFERED BY MR. LAWLER OF NEW YORK

       Page 13, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


           AMENDMENT NO. 8 OFFERED BY MR. NEGUSE OF COLORADO

       Page 13, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $266,124,000) (reduced by $266,124,000)''.


     AMENDMENT NO. 9 OFFERED BY MS. NORTON OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

       Page 13, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (decreased by $1,000,000)''.


         AMENDMENT NO. 10 OFFERED BY MR. GARBARINO OF NEW YORK

       Page 14, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $15,000,000) (increased by $15,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 11 offered by mr. lawler of new york

       Page 14, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 12 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 14, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 13 offered by mr. espaillat of new york

       Page 14, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 14 offered by ms. jackson lee of texas

       Page 14, line 17, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $3,000,000) (increased by $3,000,000)''.


            amendment no. 17 offered by mr. barr of kentucky

       Page 19, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 18 offered by mr. buchanan of florida

       Page 19, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,500,000)''.
       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,500,000)''.


          amendment no. 20 offered by ms. boebert of colorado

       Page 27, line 22, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $1,500,000)''.
       Page 28, line 10, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $1,500,000)''.
       Page 68, line 6, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(decreased by $1,750,000)''.


        amendment no. 22 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 132, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.


      amendment no. 23 offered by ms. kamlager-dove of california

       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $3,000,000)(increased by $3,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 24 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 30, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $4,000,000)''.
       Page 68, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $4,000,000)''.
       Page 68, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $4,000,000)''.

[[Page H5271]]

  



           amendment no. 25 offered by mr. neguse of colorado

       Page 40, line 19 insert ``(reduced by $4,000,000)''.
       Page 46, line 8 after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 97, line 8, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 26 offered by mr. norcross of new jersey

       Page 40, line 19 after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)(decreased by $2,000,000)''.


       amendment no. 27 offered by ms. plaskett of virgin islands

       Page 40, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $12,500,000)''.
       Page 42, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $12,500,000)''.
       Page 42, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $12,500,000)''.


           amendment no. 29 offered by mr. neguse of colorado

       Page 46, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $575,000,000) (increased by $575,000,000)''.


            amendment no. 30 offered by mrs. castro of texas

       Page 51, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)(increased by $5,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 31 offered by mr. connolly of virginia

       Page 67, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


           AMENDMENT NO. 32 OFFERED BY MR. MASSIE OF KENTUCKY

       Page 67, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


      AMENDMENT NO. 34 OFFERED BY MS. BLUNT ROCHESTER OF DELAWARE

       Page 68, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $3,000,000) (reduced by $3,000,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 36 OFFERED BY MS. BOEBERT OF COLORADO

       Page 68, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 97, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.


            AMENDMENT NO. 37 OFFERED BY MR. FEENSTRA OF IOWA

       Page 68, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1) (reduced by $1)''.


           AMENDMENT NO. 40 OFFERED BY MR. NEGUSE OF COLORADO

       Page 68, line 6, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $12,000,000)''.
       Page 68, line 6, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $12,000,000)''.


           AMENDMENT NO. 42 OFFERED BY MR. LAWLER OF NEW YORK

       Page 70, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


         AMENDMENT NO. 43 OFFERED BY MR. DAVID SCOTT OF GEORGIA

       Page 72, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


             AMENDMENT NO. 44 OFFERED BY MRS. SYKES OF OHIO

       Page 72, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,769,351,000) (reduced by 
     $1,769,351,000)''.
       Page 72, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,103,861,000) (reduced by 
     $1,103,861,000)''.
       Page 72, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $665,490,000) (reduced by $665,490,000)''.


           amendment no. 45 offered by mr. neguse of colorado

       Page 72, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $100,000,000)(reduced by $100,000,000)''.
       Page 72, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $100,000,000)(reduced by $100,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 46 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 72, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


             amendment no. 47 offered by mr. moylan of guam

       Page 76, line 8, strike ``1.5'' and insert ``2''.


          amendment no. 48 offered by mr. peters of california

       Page 78, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 49 offered by mrs. dingell of michigan

       Page 79, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $20,000,000)(decreased by $20,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 50 offered by ms. lee of pennsylvania

       Page 80, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $6,500,000) (reduced by $6,500,000)''.


        amendment no. 51 offered by mrs. trahan of massachusetts

       Page 81, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $230,000,000) (reduced by $230,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 52 offered by ms. perez of washington

       Page 84, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 53 offered by mr. neguse of colorado

       Page 90, line 23, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 92, line 17, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.


            amendment no. 54 offered by mr. barr of kentucky

       Page 91, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 55 offered by mr. neguse of colorado

       Page 92, line 17, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $409,843,000)(reduced by $409,843,000)''.


         amendment no. 56 offered by mr. panetta of california

       Page 92, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 57 offefred by mr. yakym of indiana

       Page 120, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


             amendment no. 69 offered by mr. moore of utah

       Page 193, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  For ``United States Geological Survey'' to 
     implement the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin 
     States Assessment and Monitoring Program, there is hereby 
     appropriated, and the amount otherwise provided by this Act 
     for ``Departmental Offices--Office of the Secretary--
     departmental operations - (including transfer of funds)'' is 
     hereby reduced by, $5,000,000.


             amendment no. 105 offered by mr. moore of utah

       At the end of the bill (before the spending reduction 
     account), insert the following:
       Sec. ___. (a) For ``Department of the Interior--Office of 
     the Secretary--Departmental Operations - (including transfer 
     of funds)'' for carrying out section 4 of the Modernizing 
     Access to Our Public Land Act (Public Law 117-114), there is 
     hereby appropriated, and the amount otherwise provided for by 
     this Act for ``Department of the Interior--Office of the 
     Secretary--Departmental Operations - (including transfer of 
     funds)'' is hereby reduced by, $5,500,000.
       (b) For ``Department of Agriculture--Forest Service--Forest 
     Service Operations - (including transfer of funds)'' for 
     carrying out section 4 of the Modernizing Access to Our 
     Public Land Act (Public Law 117-114), there is hereby 
     appropriated, and the amount otherwise provided for by this 
     Act for ``Department of the Interior--Office of the 
     Secretary--Departmental Operations - (including transfer of 
     funds)'' is hereby reduced by, $5,500,000.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman from Idaho 
(Mr. Simpson) and the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree) each will 
control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, this bipartisan en bloc amendment was 
developed in coordination with the minority. It contains 
noncontroversial amendments addressing important issues at the agencies 
funded in this bill that have been agreed to by both sides.
  It provides support for the Department of the Interior's efforts to 
identify critical minerals in the United States. It highlights the 
importance of the rural water technical assistance grants, as well as 
the clean water and drinking water State revolving funds. It emphasizes 
support for the Federal wildland firefighters and Bureau of Indian 
Affairs road construction. Finally, it includes additional support for 
research into harmful algal blooms and provides assistance to the 
territories.
  Mr. Chair, I support the adoption of this en bloc, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise to support this en bloc amendment, 
which includes several noncontroversial amendments that we support.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers on this amendment, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the 
gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
  The en bloc amendments were agreed to.


                Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Griffith

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed in 
part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. 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 H5272]]


  

       Page 2, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $74,232,000)''.
       Page 2, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $74,232,000)''.
       Page 193, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $74,232,000)''.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Griffith) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak to amendment No. 1, in favor 
thereof.
  Mr. Chair, this is an amendment that will take the Wild Horse and 
Burro Program back to the 2019 levels, or about $80.5 million. In just 
4 years, this program has gone up 46 percent.
  Now, I have always had some questions about this program anyway 
because what we do, Mr. Chairman, is we rent land or lease Federal land 
that the Bureau of Land Management has to farmers who bring their 
cattle in. That is perfectly fine. I am fully supportive of that, but 
because the wild horses reproduce at such a fast rate, the horses were 
eating up the grass before the cattle could get to it. Because of that, 
we came up with this program back in the 1970s. The original idea was 
that the program would have these wild horses captured and adopted, and 
there are some adopted.
  In fact, we do some birth control measures. Historically, less than 1 
percent has been used for birth control, but this year, we are hoping 
it goes up a little bit higher. That being said, a 46 percent rise in 
the cost of this program seems to be awfully high.
  Further, what do we do with all those horses that don't get adopted 
or that don't get the proper birth control shot, usually from a 
helicopter? We take them and ship them to farms and house them for the 
rest of their lives. Basically, what we have set up is a very expensive 
retirement home for wild horses and wild burros, and we are on the 
hook.
  I know people love the wild stallions, and it makes people 
reminiscent of the old West, but I remind them that the horses that 
exist today are non-native to North America. They were introduced as 
the Spanish first came in and other European settlers arrived on the 
two continents, North America and South America.
  I have to question, with the debt that this country has and the 
severe needs we have in other parts of this Nation, on the border, and 
around the world, why are we increasing spending on retirement homes 
for wild burros and horses about 46 percent over 4 years?
  It just takes the program back. It does not eliminate it. It takes it 
back to the 2019 levels and starts to put an end to it.
  Mr. Chair, I know you are already aware of this, but at $2 a horse in 
long-term care, $2 a horse per night, there are a lot of other things 
we could do with that money.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Idaho is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment to 
decrease funding for the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and 
Burro Program.
  I understand the gentleman's frustration. Many of us have been 
addressing this for a number of years, trying to find the right 
solution. We haven't found it yet. They used to take these horses to 
slaughter. You can't do that anymore. The public won't accept it, and 
frankly, neither will I.
  In the West, continuing the Wild Horse and Burro Program at sustained 
levels is vital to controlling the population. Even with the funding 
provided, BLM will not be able to manage and curb the exponentially 
increasing number in the herds.
  Failing to manage wild herds in the West would have devastating 
effects on rangelands and all the animals that depend on them. 
Therefore, I must oppose the gentleman's amendment.
  Living in the West, I have seen this problem and what it does to 
rangelands. If there is a better solution rather than just cutting 
funding, let's hear what that better solution is because, believe me, 
this committee has been working hard to try to find what to do about it 
because we don't want to see these populations grow either, but it is a 
reality that we have to deal with. That is why it has increased funding 
in this bill.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chair, I understand the idea is to control the 
population, but what we are doing is not controlling the population. 
What we are doing is putting them into retirement homes that the 
American taxpayer is paying for.
  I am glad to be able to present this amendment today, and I 
appreciate the opportunity to do that. I thank the Rules Committee for 
the opportunity to do it because the American people have to take a 
good hard look at this.
  Is this what we ought to be doing? Should we be creating retirement 
homes for 60,000 wild horses when we are having a hard enough time 
having folks in retirement homes who are human beings?
  In the State of Virginia, we had a recent survey that showed that 41 
percent of our facilities are not taking in new people because they 
don't have the staffing levels. Maybe we should be spending this money 
on taking care of human beings instead of taking care of wild horses.
  We have to figure out another way to control the population. If 
putting them in retirement homes is appropriate, then I would be 
surprised if most Americans knew how much money we were spending. We 
spent $154 million this year on these retirement homes for wild horses 
and burros. I don't think the American people understand or realize 
this. I get that they want the horses taken care of, but it costs an 
awful lot of money.
  Mr. Chairman, I think we need to do something, and I think the Bureau 
of Land Management needs to come up with another idea. If all we do is 
continue to increase their funding 46 percent over 4 years, they have 
no incentive to come up with another idea.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, drastically reducing funding for the Wild 
Horse and Burro Program would have a devastating effect on our Western 
lands and the work we have done to manage the herd. For these reasons, 
I must oppose this amendment.

  I thank the gentleman for bringing up the issue. It is an issue, but 
cutting funding is not the way to solve the problem. If people have 
better ways of managing this or additional ways of managing this, I 
encourage them to come forward because we are willing to listen to all 
alternatives on what we can do.
  As I said, we used to slaughter them. We used to send them to Mexico 
for slaughter and stuff. We can't do that anymore because of the optics 
of it and everything else.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chair, it is prohibited by law.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, we are looking at sterilization of some of 
those and the success or not success rate of what we are doing, but I 
guess the expert on this whole issue was the former Congressman from 
Utah (Mr. Stewart). He worked on this continuously, trying to address 
it, and he has since retired. That was a great loss to all of us, but 
this is a perplexing problem.
  Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for bringing the amendment up and 
discussing it, but I must oppose this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Griffith).
  The amendment was rejected.


                 Amendment No. 2 Offered by Ms. Hageman

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed in 
part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. HAGEMAN. 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 2, line 21, insert ``(reduced by $590,322,500)'' after 
     the dollar amount.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman from 
Wyoming (Ms. Hageman) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wyoming.

[[Page H5273]]

  

  Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Chairman, today, I rise in support of my amendment 
that cuts funding for the Bureau of Land Management by 50 percent.
  The mission of the BLM is to sustain the health, diversity, and 
productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and 
future generations. Unfortunately, the BLM isn't living up to its 
stated purpose, and it has lost its way.
  It is becoming harder and harder for each new generation to use and 
enjoy our public lands because the BLM is locked in on its goal to lock 
out land users, including recreationists, livestock grazers, and energy 
producers.
  Earlier this year, the BLM proposed the so-called landscape health 
rule, which seeks to replace productive activities under the BLM's 
multiple-use framework by creating an additional use, so-called 
conservation leases, a designation never approved by Congress.
  The current framework already balances conservation with other uses. 
Creating an entirely new use under the umbrella of conservation is 
simply a means to eliminate other uses and bar anyone from even setting 
foot on these lands.
  Now, I am grateful that this act also includes a section that 
prevents funding from going toward the implementation of this proposed 
rule, but that is not enough. We must also address the BLM's overall 
agenda to lock us out of our Federal lands. My amendment does just 
that, and I request my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Donalds). The gentleman from Idaho is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I understand the frustration that the 
gentlewoman expresses in her statement, but I must rise in opposition 
to this amendment.
  The Bureau of Land Management's funding level is already $255.4 
million, or 18 percent below the FY23 enacted level. A drastic 50 
percent cut to already decreased levels leaves me concerned that this 
would put the agency in a position where they cannot carry out critical 
activities to address their most pressing issues in Western States, 
particularly in Wyoming, Idaho, and other States.
  The growing backlog for grazing, energy, and mineral activity 
permits; population problems with wild horses and burros that were just 
debated on the last amendment; and the increasing demand for increased 
recreational access to our public lands cause me deep concern when you 
want to cut the BLM by an additional 50 percent.
  Mr. Chair, I must oppose this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I thank the chair of this committee for 
opposing the amendment.
  As far as I am concerned, this amendment is extreme. It will not gain 
bipartisan support and become law.
  The draconian cuts proposed in this bill violate the agreement 
reached by former Speaker McCarthy and President Biden that were 
memorialized in statute in Public Law 118-5, the Fiscal Responsibility 
Act of 2023.
  We would not be teetering on the brink of government shutdown if my 
Republican colleagues would hold up their end of the bargain.
  As to this amendment, with the West reeling from the historic 
megadrought, the worst in 1,200 years, why would any of my colleagues 
want to hamstring the Bureau of Land Management from protecting our 
public lands for the American public and future generations?
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1200

  Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Chair, The BLM has recently launched an attack on 
3.6 million acres in Wyoming through its proposed draft Rock Springs 
Resource Management Plan, or RMP. Through their preferred alternative, 
they are trying to lock out land users by designating 1.8 million acres 
as areas of critical environmental concern, which essentially prevents 
us from accessing and using these lands, particularly as it relates to 
recreation, livestock grazing, energy production and mineral 
extraction.
  The Rock Springs Draft RMP is entirely biased, unscientific, violates 
FLPMA and NEPA, and is an abuse of BLM's authority. We can mine, we can 
drill, we can graze, and we can recreate on Federal lands while also 
conserving our important natural resources and wildlife, and, in fact, 
we have been doing so for literally decades.
  Come to Wyoming and see how we have managed these resources. We have 
a beautiful State, abundant wildlife, clean water, and clean air. We 
are also one of the largest energy producers in the United States. 
Conservation and protection go hand-in-hand with grazing and energy 
development.
  The BLM's preferred alternative for the Rock Springs RMP does not 
strike the proper balance between conservation and development. It 
would ravage Wyoming's and the Nation's economy and ultimately destroy 
opportunities to use the land in a productive, profitable, and 
effective way.
  The BLM has turned into an arm of the radical environmental 
organizations running this administration, is aggressively exceeding 
its authorization, and ignoring its very purpose for existence.
  I encourage adoption of my amendment so that we can begin to right 
this ship.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Chair, the BLM is attacking not only the State of 
Wyoming's economy, but the economic well-being and security of every 
American. It continues to pursue these failed policies that force us to 
depend on importing our food and our energy, while also stifling 
competition for companies that operate on public lands.
  Examples of these aggressive actions include: Leading out on 
President Biden's war on oil and gas, as well as his war on coal;
  Crippling conservation efforts by eliminating uses that improve the 
environment;
  Preventing local and State and multigenerational input as to what the 
most appropriate uses and management of land are, while also pursuing 
policies that impact the value and quality of our property resources;
  Holding projects on Federal lands hostage to environmental 
litigation, and then selling out to the demands of environmental groups 
that are gaining traction in the fight against local control.
  The BLM has perfected the sue-and-settle model, and all of us are 
suffering the consequences.
  There are so many other examples of the BLM attacking the State of 
Wyoming, as well as the economic well-being of every citizen in the 
United States.
  Mr. Chairman, today, my State faces an onslaught of proposals from 
the Bureau of Land Management and other Federal agencies as they pursue 
the terribly destructive Green New Deal. Cutting the BLM's budget as 
proposed in amendment No. 2 is one step forward in addressing those 
attacks.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Chair, the system that we have with the BLM is no 
longer sustainable, and most States across the West are struggling as a 
result. My colleagues in the House and Senate are wholly opposed to 
reining in the executive state, so I have no choice but to try to slash 
this agency's budget to try to rein in what they have been doing.
  The fact is that the Federal Government's ever-growing presence in 
the West and its adversarial nature to our way of life is undermining 
our prosperity. In short, the BLM doesn't work for us anymore, it 
doesn't work for the people of Wyoming, and it doesn't protect our 
natural resources. It is time that we do something about it, recognize 
where the problem lies, and slash the budget.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I would suggest that if the gentlewoman 
has a problem with the Rock Springs area, that the gentlewoman address 
that specifically, but this cuts 50 percent of the BLM across the 
board. That

[[Page H5274]]

means it is going to substantially impact Idaho, and guess what? We get 
along pretty well with the BLM in Idaho.
  If you cut this 50 percent, you are going to have tough times getting 
grazing permits. We have minerals in what is called the phosphate patch 
in Idaho that the BLM has to deal with.
  Our general problem is when the decisions that are made in Idaho, 
both by the BLM or the Forest Service or their other agencies, and 
those decisions come to Washington, then you have a problem. That is 
where the problem exists.
  This would cut 50 percent of, actually, the BLM across the country. 
That is the problem I have with this, especially when we have already 
made an 18 percent reduction in their budget in this bill.
  I understand where the gentlewoman is coming from. Wyoming might have 
a special problem, and an amendment should be addressed to deal with 
that instead of the BLM in general.
  I would oppose this amendment, and I hope my colleagues would vote 
``no'' on it.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. HAGEMAN. 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 Wyoming 
will be postponed.


                Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Collins

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 15 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. COLLINS. 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 16, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert (increased 
     by ``$3,750,000'').
       Page 120, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert 
     (decreased by ``$3,750,000'').

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Collins) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chair, the job description of a Member of Congress 
is real short. It is to take care of your constituents and have 
oversight of the Federal Government.
  This amendment deals with the oversight portion. It is oversight of 
an unauthorized Federal agency, of which we have over 1,200 
unauthorized agencies. An unauthorized agency is one that was simply 
not approved by Congress.
  In this case, the agency was approved through the executive branch to 
help with overseeing the implementation of NEPA back during the Nixon 
administration. Since then, it has become one of the rogue, woke, 
climate control warriors for the Biden administration, pushing rules 
and regulations. As a matter of fact, the budget for this unauthorized 
agency was around $3.75 million. It happened to grow during the 
Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act to over $62 million.
  Now, the Council on Environmental Quality is just one of a long list 
of unauthorized agencies in this Federal Government.
  During recent oversight hearings, on four occasions, Director Brenda 
Mallory was requested to come and testify. Now, she only showed up one 
time. During that time, she decided that she would refuse to answer 
questions. She didn't have to answer our questions on any subject.
  Let me make that even clearer. She wasn't refusing to answer my 
questions or the committee's questions. She was refusing to answer to 
the American people, the very taxpayers that foot the bill for that 
agency. You see, they have gotten to where, like other agencies, like 
the one that was just mentioned, they feel they don't have to answer to 
us. They don't have to answer to the American people. They are beyond 
that. It is beneath them to have to explain what they do.
  This amendment does one simple thing. $3.75 million is their annual 
budget. It simply takes that from this woke, climate-change-warrior-
style agency, and it moves it over to the national parks to their 
construction fund, and what that does is that is going to help, Mr. 
Chairman, with the backlog of deferred maintenance that is in the 
national parks.
  The national parks are running a deferred maintenance because of 
Members from the other side of the aisle using their funds on the 
national parks for pet projects.
  Mr. Chair, I urge the passage of this amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment completely eliminates the 
Council on Environmental Quality. This important office is responsible 
for coordinating the Federal Government's efforts to improve, preserve, 
and protect Americans' public health and the environment. These are 
very important tasks.
  It also works to ensure that environmental reviews for infrastructure 
projects and Federal actions are thorough, efficient, and reflect the 
input of the public and local communities.
  This proposed amendment would hobble the office and result in 
significant delays to infrastructure projects across the country at 
exactly the wrong time.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, this is a prime example of another rogue, 
unauthorized agency out there that is implementing rules and 
regulations for which they were not set up. It also is an agency that 
was issued $62 million through the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act. 
Therefore, they have plenty of cash over there. This simply takes $3.75 
million and moves it over to help with the deferred maintenance in the 
national parks.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho 
(Mr. Simpson), the committee chairman.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  While I understand the concerns from my colleagues about the CEQ's 
actions under this administration related to the environmental review 
process and other issues, I believe that the CEQ has a valuable role to 
play in leading the efforts to strike a balance in ensuring our 
environment is protected while also promoting economic development and 
job growth.
  It is important to have an agency lead coordinated efforts across the 
administration on issues such as conservation and preservation of our 
natural resources. I would say this, though: Republicans like what CEQ 
did under the previous administration. They actually liked what they 
were doing. The way to change policies of an agency is by voting in a 
different administration, and next year, we will have that opportunity 
to see how the American people feel.
  I would point out that we rescinded those funds that were given to 
CEQ in this bill also, so they don't have all those funds that are left 
there, and we have actually reduced the funding. I rise in opposition 
to the amendment, while I understand the gentleman's concern under this 
administration.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman has the only time remaining. The 
gentleman from Georgia yielded back his time.
  Does the gentleman from Georgia ask unanimous consent to reclaim his 
time?
  Mr. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I believe that $62.5 million was given to 
this agency in the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed into law. 
Any bill that is out there that rescinds that money has not been 
signed. Therefore, it is still there.
  I am simply saying, take the $3.75 million, which is our duty as 
Members of Congress to have oversight, especially over an agency that 
was never

[[Page H5275]]

authorized by Congress. I don't care which administration it is. Wrong 
is wrong. This agency is not authorized by this body. Therefore, I am 
asking for the funds to be moved over to the national parks for their 
deferred maintenance. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, once again, this is a terribly misguided 
amendment to completely defund and eliminate the Council on 
Environmental Quality. I appreciate the remarks by the chair that, 
while in different administrations, we may feel differently about the 
kinds of decisions or the tactic taken, but we understand the 
importance of this particular agency, and defunding it would be 
absolutely the wrong move.
  I appreciate the gentleman who sponsored this amendment, his desire 
to fund the national parks, and we have a way to do that. Just go 
against the cuts that are made in this bill, vote against the Interior 
Appropriations bill, and we will make sure that, in a future iteration 
of this bill, we fully fund the national parks. I appreciate his 
understanding the importance of making sure that funding is available.
  As to this amendment, this is a bad amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.

                              {time}  1215

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. PINGREE. 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 Wyoming 
will be postponed.


               Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mr. DeSaulnier

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 16 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. DeSAULNIER. 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 section 447.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. DeSaulnier) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chair, the social cost of carbon is an important 
tool that allows us to put economic value on the cost of greenhouse gas 
emissions to society as emissions continue to grow.
  As we inch closer to the tipping point for being able to reverse the 
impacts of climate change, the social cost of carbon is even more 
important for us to know. This kind of analysis is used to evaluate 
policy proposals and helps to take into account the nonmonetary costs 
of carbon emissions, like its impact on pollution, drought, public 
health, and more.
  As a real-world example, a social cost of carbon analysis can help 
more accurately measure the price of oil by taking into account the 
health and environmental impacts of emissions from oil refineries on 
nearby communities.
  By correctly valuing the damage of each additional ton of carbon 
dioxide emissions, we can see the real costs or benefits of raising or 
decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Using the social cost of carbon 
now will not only provide massive financial savings in the future for 
individuals, businesses, and the government, but it will also help to 
better evaluate the significant public health impacts of climate 
change.
  In the district I represent and the rest of the San Francisco Bay 
Area, we are continually hit by the impacts of climate-fueled wildfires 
and drought, among other disasters, as we have seen in the past year 
alone. The area I represent is a heavy fossil fuel-impacted area with 
five oil refineries. My district is the headquarters of the second-
largest American petroleum company, Chevron.
  We have a lot of economic importance in this community, but we are 
also at the forefront of transitioning, making sure that we are 
analytical and peer-reviewed in those objective reviews, including 
cost-benefits, so we make the right decisions in this transition. This 
is why this is important.
  These disasters that we have been impacted by--direct and indirect 
impacts on public health, including physical injury, mental health 
impacts, and making chronic illnesses even worse--put extra burdens on 
individual families in the medical system locally, at the State level, 
and nationally. This only highlights the need to use all the tools 
available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but in a thoughtful way by 
having the best analysis possible.
  By knowing the true value of certain investments and policy action, 
and objective criteria, we can make more informed decisions on how our 
actions today will impact future generations.
  Addressing climate change takes a whole-of-government approach. 
Having been a former board member of the California Air Resources 
Board, and having served under two Republican Governors and one 
Democratic Governor when we did these kinds of analyses that were 
bipartisan, I know firsthand the importance of correctly evaluating the 
reduction of emissions from all angles.
  At that time, both Republicans and Democrats in California valued 
legitimate cost-benefit analysis. The board had to consider this by a 
State statute, which was signed by Ronald Reagan when he signed the 
California Clean Air Act, and consider all of these consequences.
  Unfortunately, the bill in front of us today prohibits the Federal 
Government from doing just this kind of carbon analysis on a cost-
benefit basis. This is just another misguided, partisan effort, 
unfortunately, to dismantle our work to address, in a thoughtful way, 
climate change that will continue to be detrimental to all communities, 
industries, and businesses.
  My amendment would strike this prohibition and continue to allow for 
agencies to use the social cost of carbon in a cost-benefit way as one 
tool in the larger decisionmaking process.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Idaho is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment to 
strike the provision in the bill prohibiting the use of the social 
costs of carbon.
  The social cost of carbon attempts to monetize the impacts of 
greenhouse gas emissions. What it really means is that it is an easy 
way to increase the cost of a project or of anything that will produce 
emissions, like driving a car, to justify regulations or halt the 
activity because the costs outweigh the benefits.
  This is even more problematic because this monetary value has 
fluctuated wildly in past decades from $1 to $190 per metric ton. This 
fluctuation tells me that the methodology and metrics are fuzzy at best 
and seriously flawed at worst and have lacked transparency.
  All of this is especially concerning given the social cost of carbon 
is used to issue job-killing regulations and halt energy and 
infrastructure projects in the United States while the world's largest 
polluters are not being held accountable.
  Mr. Chairman, for these reasons, I oppose this amendment, and I urge 
my colleagues to do the same.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chair, I unexpectedly and respectfully disagree 
with my friend and colleague.
  As in all cost-benefits, it takes time to make them more effective. 
In California, we are doing that as part of the tradition of the 
California EPA and CARB. We work closely with the Federal agencies, and 
then everyone benefits from it, whatever their position on energy and 
the effect of climate.
  As I said, as somebody who has been involved with the fossil fuel 
industry and wants to make sure that there is a correct transition, and 
as someone who views the impact of carbon very seriously and thinks we 
are in a very difficult time, these kinds of cost-benefits, if done 
right, help the argument.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H5276]]

  

  Mr. SIMPSON. 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. DeSaulnier).
  The amendment was rejected.


                 Amendment No. 19 Offered by Mr. Perry

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 19 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. PERRY. 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 21, line 11, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $28,000,000)''.
       Page 21, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $28,000,000)''.
       Page 193, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by ($28,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, ineffective, unreliable, and dangerous. That is 
what we are here to talk about on this amendment. This amendment 
strikes the $28 million in this bill to the Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management renewable energy program that promotes the administration's 
reckless goal of creating 30 gigawatts of offshore wind production by 
2030.
  The promotion of the rapid expansion of offshore wind is particularly 
misguided considering offshore wind's high levelized cost, the 
significant lack of reliability, the impact on flight safety and 
national defense, and the threat to endangered ocean wildlife from 
offshore wind activity.
  Offshore wind is one of the most expensive energy sources available. 
The Energy Information Administration estimates the levelized cost of 
energy for offshore wind at $136.51 per megawatt hour, which is three 
times as much as even onshore wind, which is still way more expensive 
than the traditional forms of energy that are clean and that we rely on 
to turn these very lights on in this Chamber.
  The heavy reliance on offshore wind is a contributing factor to the 
United Kingdom having one of the highest electricity prices in the 
world.
  In addition to being expensive, wind power is notoriously unreliable. 
Intermittency is a fact of life for wind power and one that cannot be 
overcome or ignored. More simply put, if the wind stops blowing, the 
power goes out. You don't have a backup because we are shutting down 
all the backups across this country.
  One of the significant contributors to the European energy crisis in 
2021 and 2022 is a flatlining of offshore wind production. Investing 
Federal resources in this expensive and unreliable technology is 
economically ill-advised and unaffordable as we are $33 trillion in 
debt.
  Beyond the economic problems with offshore wind, these projects 
actively threaten national security, maritime safety, and flight 
safety.
  The Department of Defense has identified most of the eastern Atlantic 
Coast as a wind exclusion zone for defense and defense training, 
including active and currently leased wind farm areas. The DOD, the 
people we rely on to keep us safe, said, no, they don't want this.
  The interagency Wind Turbine Radar Interference Mitigation Working 
Group has raised concerns that these offshore wind farms will create 
radar interference that will impede air traffic control, homeland 
security, national defense, and weather forecasting.
  Despite these concerns and the grave implications of radar 
interference on the military and the maritime and aviation industries, 
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has recklessly pursued these 
offshore wind projects without addressing any of these issues. The 
Bureau's renewable energy program is recklessly green-lighting wind 
energy projects without accounting for any of the concerns I just 
raised.
  Congress must end the funding for this misguided program and protect 
American taxpayers from the funding of this, again, ineffective, 
unreliable, and dangerous form of energy.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Idaho is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management manages 
the development of energy and mineral resources of the Outer 
Continental Shelf along our Nation's coastlines. I understand the 
intent of the gentleman's amendment is to eliminate the Office of 
Renewable Energy Programs of BOEM.
  I will first note the base bill already cuts funding for the 
renewable energy account by nearly $15 million, or almost 35 percent, 
so about a third of it is gone in our base bill.
  I am also concerned that completely eliminating funding runs counter 
to an all-of-the-above energy approach that is necessary to ensure a 
mix of affordable and reliable energy sources for our constituents and 
businesses, and to reduce our dependence on foreign countries, some 
adversaries, for our energy.
  Additionally, I have heard from some in our Conference about their 
support for offshore renewable activities, which would not move forward 
without this BOEM office.
  Mr. Chair, I must, therefore, oppose this amendment, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew), someone on the front lines 
who is dealing with this and energy bills with his bosses, his 
constituents.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for 
yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this very important 
issue.
  Mr. Chairman, it would be hard to find a district that has been more 
of a petri dish for the experiments of the Office of Renewable Energy 
Programs at BOEM than mine. I live it every single day.
  Before I go on and talk about this, just from the heart, the projects 
that are coming up--fortunately, one of them, Orsted, some of you may 
have heard of it, has now left--have received billions of dollars of 
funding from the State and Federal Government. They, themselves, admit 
it would reduce our tourism industry, but they minimized it. The 
company itself said it would reduce it by approximately $1.1 billion 
only. It would kill our fishing industry.

                              {time}  1230

  It would really create very serious situations in our national 
defense and our national security. It would increase utility rates, 
again, according to the company itself, so it is probably much worse 
than the amount I previously stated; two to three to four times as much 
as we currently pay. It is a plan that would rely upon foreign 
countries to supply our energy. How stupid is that.
  It has been a painful process. Thank God we won the first step when 
this huge, multinational, Danish company decided they couldn't take it 
anymore. We had a movement in south Jersey at our shore. Our shore 
counts. We have a beautiful, clean, pristine environment. It was an 
organic movement. It was the people. We had rallies. I myself produced 
5,000 signs saying: Stop wind turbines. Renew and keep our beautiful 
shore.
  This is from the heart. This was a bad plan that would industrialize 
the areas that they are focused upon and would cost a great deal of 
money.
  Mr. Chair, it would be hard to find a district that has been more of 
a petri dish for the experiments of the Office of Renewable Energy at 
BOEM than mine.
  In South Jersey, the industrialization of our shorelines at the hands 
of foreign offshore wind companies has been a top priority for BOEM and 
the Biden Administration.
  Lies, lack of accurate information, and poor community engagement 
were rampant as offshore wind companies and their friends in the 
federal government tried to force these projects forward.
  Well, I am happy to say that as of this week, much of the South 
Jersey coastline has been liberated from this threat.
  But the Office of Renewable Energy's goals are clear: they want to 
force this President's Green New Deal agenda forward by any means 
necessary.
  So, in a time of exceedingly high fuel prices and inflation, it is 
unconscionable to continue to send tens of millions of taxpayer dollars 
to an office whose priorities will only exacerbate these problems.

[[Page H5277]]

  We must direct our resources towards tangible priorities, not 
partisan ideologies.
  I hope all of my colleagues will join us in voting for this 
amendment.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. 
Pingree).
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, let's just remember, we are here to protect 
the welfare of the American public, and we cannot close our eyes to the 
impacts of climate change: the drought, the flooding, the severe 
storms, the wildfire events that we are experiencing. Climate change 
has reached a crisis point, and we have to take bold action to avoid a 
major irreversible catastrophe. That means we have to invest in 
renewable energy.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are proposing this 
amendment that would focus all of BOEM's resources on conventional 
energy. If my colleague from New Jersey wants to talk about the tragedy 
of what could happen to our States--I represent Maine, and we care 
about our beautiful coastline. We are worried about offshore oil 
drilling and the fishermen's impact, the potential impact on tourism of 
an oil spill, all of the things we have seen happen in other places.
  We want to invest in the renewable and wind industry. To say it would 
reduce our tourism industry down to zero is ludicrous. To say it would 
do this to our fishing industry without careful management would be 
ridiculous.
  I have been to visit the countries of Norway and Denmark. I have 
talked to the people from Scotland about their offshore wind projects. 
It hasn't eliminated tourism or reduced their fishing industry. This is 
misinformation made up because people want to stick to their dependence 
on oil and gas and the things that we have to eliminate.
  I oppose this amendment. It has nothing good about it. We should not 
reduce the funding from the renewable energy programs, and we should 
continue in the way that we are.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, as I said, I oppose this amendment. It is 
contrary to what we on this side of the aisle have been preaching for a 
number of years, and that is the all-of-the-above energy program. It is 
going to take nuclear. It is going to take coal. It is going to take 
oil. It is going to take, yes, wind and solar. That is going to be a 
part of the mix. That is just the reality.
  We don't mean that every mile of offshore area ought to be available 
for wind towers in the ocean, but there are some places that are. I 
would oppose cutting the BOEM renewable energy office completely, and I 
would urge my colleagues to vote against 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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mr. Clyde

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 21 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. CLYDE. 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 40, line 19, insert ``(decreased by $15,000)'' after 
     the dollar amount.
       Page 40, line 21, insert ``(decreased by $15,000)'' after 
     the dollar amount.
       Page 193, line 4, insert ``(increased by $15,000)'' after 
     the dollar amount.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment, and I urge 
my colleagues to support it, which would eliminate funds for official 
receptions within the Department of the Interior.
  Our national debt is quickly approaching $34 trillion, and yet 
wasteful and unnecessary spending is still rampant in our Federal 
Government. The American taxpayers deserve to know that their hard-
earned money is being spent responsibly and conservatively, but the 
underlying bill still includes thousands of taxpayer dollars for 
government operations that are neither relevant nor essential for the 
success of our Nation in the Department of the Interior.
  One such account is the receptions and representation expense 
account, which provides funds for hosting cocktail receptions and 
catering for Department of the Interior events. Our Department of the 
Interior should not be holding such events as the Department's actions 
simultaneously jeopardize our Nation's energy security.
  For example, earlier this year, the Department of the Interior 
announced its plans to withdraw millions of acres within the National 
Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, as well as efforts to cancel the lawfully 
awarded leases to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export 
Authority within the nonwilderness coastal plain that were issued in 
early 2021, as required by law. It is ridiculous that the Biden 
administration is penalizing Alaska's right to produce more oil but 
allows Iran to produce more of its oil while Iranian-sponsored 
terrorists wage war on Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East.
  It is abundantly clear that the Biden administration--in this case, 
the Department of the Interior--needs to reevaluate its priorities and 
put America first. These individuals should not be rewarded with 
taxpayer funds to pay for cocktail receptions while advocating against 
American security amidst a dire debt crisis.
  When it comes to budgeting, every little bit counts. We need to 
clawback all wasteful spending and unnecessary spending to get our 
fiscal house in order.
  Mr. Chair, for this reason, I urge my colleagues to support my 
amendment to this bill, which eliminates this frivolous use of funds, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this is another partisan amendment that 
wastes more time on a bill that should go nowhere. Cutting $15,000 and 
taking away the Cabinet Secretary's ability to host Tribal members and 
other important dignitaries is just petty.
  At a time when we are seeing record numbers of historic storms and 
climate events, this is what my colleagues across the aisle have chosen 
to care about?
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, eliminating official reception funds is not a 
new or novel idea. We should be fiscally responsible with every 
solitary dollar that we spend. We eliminated almost a half a million 
dollars of official reception funds in the Commerce-Justice-Science 
appropriation. Of that half million, $284,000 was in the FBI, $36,000 
was in the ATF, and $50,000 in the Office of the United States 
Attorney, among other amounts.
  This is only $15,000, not a huge amount of money, but every dollar 
counts. We must be fiscally responsible in every area, especially 
regarding money spent on cocktail receptions.
  Who can forget the picture of the GSA official, Jeffrey Neely, 
pictured in the hot tub with a wine glass in Las Vegas. That was a 
complete abuse of funds.
  This is $15,000 that will be going to the funding reduction account. 
We will be saving $15,000. We do not need a reception fund in the 
Department of the Interior for them to do their job better.
  Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment, and 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. 28 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 28 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. BOEBERT. 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 46, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 46, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 68, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $5,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman

[[Page H5278]]

from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that 
redirects $5 million from government bureaucracy to hazardous fuels 
reduction activities within the Bureau of Land Management to prevent 
catastrophic wildfires and save lives.
  The year I was elected to office, Colorado suffered the worst fire 
season in Colorado history with the three largest recorded wildfires we 
have ever had. Hundreds of homes were destroyed and evacuated as 
Coloradans endured more than 100 days of fire.
  The Cameron Peak fire burned more than 208,000 acres and more than 
460 structures to the tune of $6 million in property losses. The East 
Troublesome fire, on the border of my district, killed two people.
  Coloradans also suffered severe health issues resulting from 
significant smoke from these fires. Wildfire smoke causes serious 
disorders including eye and respiratory tract infections, reduction of 
lung function, bronchitis, exacerbation of asthma, and even premature 
death.
  Catastrophic wildfires also cause significant damage to the 
environment. A few years ago, NASA concluded that one catastrophic 
wildfire can emit more carbon emissions in just a few days than all 
vehicle emissions in an entire State over the course of an entire year.
  Decades of mismanagement have left our Nation's Federal lands 
vulnerable to insects and disease and ripe for a catastrophic 
wildfires. The good news is that there is finally significant 
bipartisan support throughout the country to prevent wildfires, and the 
Forest Service is seeking to treat 20 million acres of national forests 
and grasslands and 30 million acres of State, local, Tribal, and 
private lands over the next 10 years.
  However, we need to do more, as Federal agencies have stated that 
more than 1 billion acres throughout the country are currently at risk 
of catastrophic wildfires. Our Federal lands are overgrown and poorly 
managed, making them more susceptible to wildfire, disease, and bark 
beetle attacks.
  There are Federal lands in Colorado and in the West where we once had 
50 to 100 trees per acre but now we see 500 to 1,000 trees per acre. 
This is a massive overgrowth in our forests that we need to manage. 
There are also 6 billion standing dead trees in the Western United 
States. Some people call that a problem. I call it a tinderbox waiting 
to ignite.
  Fuel treatments are effective, and Federal agencies have made clear 
that ``over 90 percent of fuel treatments are effective in changing 
fire behavior and/or helping with control of the wildfire.''
  Let's put the lives of the American people first and take significant 
action to benefit our environment by passing my hazardous fuels 
reduction amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my commonsense amendment, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I want to be clear. I fully support hazardous 
fuels reduction activities at the BLM. I am so sorry for the wildfires 
that have occurred in Colorado and in so many other States across our 
Nation.
  I come from the most forested State in the Nation, the State of 
Maine. We know how important good forest management is. We know how 
important this is, but I absolutely do not support the offset.
  The EPA has already been cut by 39 percent, and further cuts to its 
core programs will only embolden polluters and weaken the safety of our 
water and air.
  We could easily fund both things, the EPA and forest management at 
the Forest Service, if the majority had produced their bills at levels 
that were agreed upon and passed into law in the Fiscal Responsibility 
Act.
  If my colleagues across the aisle are serious about managing 
hazardous fuels at BLM, it would have been fully funded in the base 
bill.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I don't think that this is something that 
should be opposed. Redirecting $5 million from government bureaucracies 
to hazardous fuels reduction activities is very common sense. We are to 
be good stewards of our land, and part of that is being proactive 
rather than reactive.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my 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 (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 33 will 
not be offered.

                              {time}  1245


                Amendment No. 35 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 35 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. BOEBERT. 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 68, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $3,000,000)''.
       Page 132, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment that redirects 
$5 million from government bureaucracy to active forest management 
activities at the U.S. Forest Service to prevent catastrophic wildfires 
and save lives.
  Each year in the United States, about 65,000 wildfires burn more than 
10 million acres. Wildfires kill people and destroy everything they 
own, including their homes and sentimental family heirlooms that can 
never be replaced. Some of the stories of loss I have heard from people 
in my district are truly heartbreaking.
  Our forests are overgrown and poorly managed, making them more 
susceptible to catastrophic wildfires. We can reduce the size and 
severity of wildfires through active forest management, which will also 
protect our watersheds and municipal water supplies. A healthy forest 
means healthy watersheds.
  According to the Colorado State Forest Service, more than 24.4 
million acres of Colorado forestland impact Colorado's water supply, 
where 80 percent of the State's population relies on those forested 
watersheds for municipal water supplies.
  Healthy forests act as a natural water filter and storage system and 
are critical to maintaining healthy watersheds. In the United States, 
forests are a source of drinking water for over 180 million people.
  Historically, wildfire suppression has consumed more than 50 percent 
of the Forest Service's budget. The Forest Service only harvested 3.2 
billion board feet in 2020 compared to over 10 billion board feet in 
1990.
  The current flawed approach causes us to spend billions of dollars on 
the back end to suppress fire, neglecting fire prevention and putting 
our communities at increasing risk of catastrophic fires.
  The Forest Service's own fuel treatment effectiveness database 
reports that over 90 percent of the fuel treatments were effective in 
changing fire behavior and/or helping with control of wildfire.
  Wildfires are also getting more intense, and we are seeing more crown 
fires that burn hotter and cause increased ecological damage to soil 
and watersheds. Unfortunately, Federal agencies have failed to 
recognize this correlation and timber harvests being down nearly 80 
percent over the past 30 years.
  This also negatively impacts education and local communities as, 
historically, 25 percent of the receipts from timber harvests went 
toward schools and important infrastructure projects for the 
communities that we all serve and love.
  Let's pass my active forest management amendment that will help 
prevent catastrophic wildfires and save lives.

[[Page H5279]]

  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense 
amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I want to address some of the same concerns 
about this amendment as I did in the previous amendment.
  To be clear, I fully support active forest management at the Forest 
Service. I feel very bad about the wildfires that have occurred in 
Colorado and so many other States across our country. I can't imagine 
the devastation to a family who loses their home or a community that 
finds the entire community leveled by a forest fire.
  I am also very aware of the importance of managing our forests, 
whether it is the timber sales or the great benefit we get from well-
maintained forests. I come from the most forested State in the Nation. 
Sustainable forest products and our wood products industry are 
extremely important, and managing those forests is extremely important.
  Mr. Chair, I cannot support this offset. The EPA has already been cut 
by 39 percent. Further cuts to its core program will only embolden 
polluters and weaken the safety of our water and air.
  We can easily fund both things, the EPA and forest management at the 
Forest Service, if only the majority had produced a bill at the level 
that was agreed upon and passed into law by the Fiscal Responsibility 
Act. If my colleagues across the aisle are serious about active forest 
management at the Forest Service, it would have been fully funded in 
the base bill.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. 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 (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 38 will 
not be offered.


               Amendment No. 39 Offered by Mr. McCormick

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 39 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. McCORMICK. 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 68, line 6, after the dollar amount insert ``(reduced 
     by $17,000,000)''.
       Page 69, line 20, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. McCormick) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, I offer amendment No. 39 to H.R. 4821, the 
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for 
2024.
  Amendment No. 39 will reduce funding for the Environmental Protection 
Agency Environmental Programs and Management account by $17 million. My 
amendment will then reallocate $10 million for increased oversight of 
the EPA. It will also provide for spending cuts to the EPA of $2 
million.
  The EPA's role is to protect human health and the environment through 
research and development. Yet, it seems it is often more focused on 
burdensome bureaucratic red tape than on the American people and its 
businesses.
  Stringent EPA regulations burden businesses with compliance costs, 
leading to job losses, higher prices for the customer, and reduced 
economic competitiveness, particularly in industries such as 
manufacturing, energy, and agriculture.
  For example, in my own district, re-pavement of a key road has been 
delayed for 18 months at the cost of nearly $750 million. These roads 
are heavily trafficked and in desperate need of repair.
  This delay is due to EPA's requirement of an extensive environmental 
impact study, even though the road was paved over a decade ago and this 
is a simple re-pavement project to revitalize the community. This is a 
ridiculous delay of the inevitable.
  The EPA needs to begin prioritizing these communities over the 
bureaucratic overreach with overbearing regulations.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 39, which 
would decrease the EPA's overall funding account and reallocate a 
portion of these funds to increase oversight, transparency, and 
accountability.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, to be clear, I fully support all oversight 
efforts and believe the mission of the inspectors general across 
government is vital, but I disagree with the offset and the treatment 
of the EPA in this bill generally.
  In the base bill, the EPA is cut by nearly 40 percent. Every single 
account is cut except for the Office of the Inspector General. Quite 
frankly, the inspector general's office does pretty well under this 
bill.
  Cutting every single program at the EPA and seeking to increase 
funding for only one office, which happens to be the oversight office, 
is a clear attempt by the majority to politicize the inspector general, 
and that is unacceptable.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, I reiterate that my amendment reduces 
funding for the overbearing EPA, increases funding of EPA oversight, 
and cuts spending by $2 million.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support 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 Georgia (Mr. McCormick).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 41 will 
not be offered.


               Amendment No. 58 Offered by Mr. Westerman

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 58 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. 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 120, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,750,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chair, I will start by thanking the chair of the subcommittee for 
the great work that they did on this bill and for working with us on so 
many issues. I have one little adjustment I would make that would make 
the bill even better.
  I rise in support of my amendment, which would reduce funding for the 
Council on Environmental Quality from the 2023 level of $3,750,000 to 
its currently authorized level of $1 million for fiscal year 2024.
  While I do, again, appreciate the Appropriations Committee's efforts 
to reduce funding for this account by $926,000 from fiscal year 2023 
levels, as well as rescind the $62.5 million of funds made available to 
CEQ by the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, it is my belief that 
Congress must go further to hold CEQ accountable for their actions.
  I am deeply concerned by CEQ's lack of accountability to 
congressional oversight and their unwillingness to answer basic 
questions or even answer a letter in a timely manner. Congressional 
hearings and letters of inquiry are important tools that elected 
Representatives use to engage directly with administration officials to 
conduct oversight on policy objectives, openly debate legislation, and 
spotlight waste, fraud, and abuse occurring in government. These 
officials have an obligation to be responsive to Congress, engage in 
the oversight process, and be accountable to the American people.
  However, on three separate occasions just this year, CEQ Chair Brenda 
Mallory has refused to testify before the

[[Page H5280]]

Committee on Natural Resources. In addition, Chair Mallory's staff, in 
written emails from just a few months ago, actually questioned the 
precedent and need for congressional oversight hearings.
  CEQ has also failed to respond to basic document production letters, 
most recently missing yet another deadline on Monday, October 31, for a 
second request for the production of documents.
  I will note for the record that we are not the only committee 
experiencing frustration with CEQ, and the specific issues we have been 
seeking answers on since June--well, let's just say that we are not 
alone in this endeavor. This type of behavior from political appointees 
in the executive branch is unacceptable and must not be allowed to 
continue.
  Mr. Chairman, I come before you today to provide solutions. Working 
hand in hand with the Appropriations Committee and through the 
appropriations process, Republicans and Democrats alike should support 
a reduction in funding to agencies and agency heads that refuse to 
comply with congressional oversight.
  One of the hearings where Chair Mallory refused to appear focused on 
CEQ's proposed changes to NEPA. These proposed changes have far-
reaching impacts and affect countless stakeholders, which would make 
one think that oversight and transparency would be a high priority for 
CEQ.
  To make matters worse, the changes CEQ is proposing to NEPA stand to 
increase permitting timelines for all kinds of projects, including 
energy and infrastructure, and ignore significant changes to the NEPA 
statute made in the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act.
  Some of my colleagues here today might be concerned about the level 
of funding that is provided by my amendment to CEQ for staffing at the 
$1 million level. However, the Council is well equipped to function on 
a much smaller budget, as they have the authority under statute not 
only to work with outside NGOs but also to detail employees across 
government to their staff without impacting their budget.
  To further emphasize this point, CEQ's governing statute actually 
encourages the Council to work with public organizations, meaning 
Federal, State, and local governments, as well as nonprofits, to save 
money on employees. So why don't we adhere to what the law says?
  To recap, my amendment holds up Congress' end of the bargain by 
providing CEQ with its authorized amount for operations of $1 million 
for fiscal year 2024 and not $1 more.
  Should the Council wish to discuss this matter with Congress, it 
would be my suggestion that Chair Mallory and her staff become more 
responsive to our questions and requests for routine oversight.
  My amendment would send a clear message to the administration that 
disregard for congressional oversight and the American people is 
unacceptable.
  Mr. Chair, for this reason, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I am pretty sure this is deja vu all over 
again. I think we have already had an amendment to cut or eliminate the 
Council on Environmental Quality. This one does it by cutting 36 
percent.
  This office is responsible for coordinating the Federal Government's 
efforts to improve, preserve, and protect Americans' public health and 
environment. It also works to ensure that environmental reviews for 
infrastructure projects and Federal actions are thorough, efficient, 
and reflect the input of the public and local communities.

                              {time}  1300

  This amendment would hobble the office and result in significant 
delays to the very important infrastructure projects going on all 
across this country.
  We have debated this once already. This was a bad amendment then. It 
is a bad amendment now. I oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I would say the only thing 
slowing down and providing blockades for projects across the country is 
CEQ and the influence they are having across other organizations. They 
are unresponsive to Congress. We should stand up for our Article I 
rights as Members of Congress, cut their funding, and make them more 
responsive.
  Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to support 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 Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 59 Offered by Mr. Perry

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 59 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. PERRY. 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 120, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $3,750,000)''.
       Page 193, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $3,750,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, while I like the last amendment, I have got 
another good one.
  This amendment strikes all funding, $3.75 million, for the Council on 
Environmental Quality. The Council on Environmental Quality was created 
by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to advance 
environmental policies and to meet requirements under NEPA.
  The Biden administration has weaponized this CEQ with developing 
policies on climate change, environmental justice, and Federal 
sustainability, all while creating more paperwork under NEPA that the 
previous administration tried to reverse.
  Mr. Chairman, these policies are what is holding America back. 
Onerous NEPA requirements and State-level laws like those in California 
are holding back countless programs and construction projects around 
the country. They are also part of the Democrat apparatus that aims to 
shift America's way of life by meeting unscientific emission goals.
  The Federal Government is supposed to do a lot of things. It doesn't 
do many of them well, but it doesn't need to tell us how to cook our 
food. Yet, as written by the Department of Energy's own estimates for 
their gas stove rule, only 4 percent of gas stovetops available in the 
market today meet the new standard, essentially forcing Americans to 
choose electric stovetops.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is back again. I think it 
is still deja vu all over again because this is now the third time we 
have taken up this amendment. It is to, once again, eliminate the 
Council on Environmental Quality. We have a pending roll call on that 
very exact question.
  It just seems to me we have plenty to do around here. We have plenty 
to do and are having a very busy day. We will have a very busy day 
tomorrow, and we have very ambitious goals on the part of the majority 
to pass through a lot of appropriations bills.
  Why in the world would we have three of the same amendments?
  I appreciate that different people wanted to give different 
perspectives on it, but couldn't they all have spoken on the same 
amendment?
  I also would just say that a lot of my colleagues on this side of the 
aisle had amendments that were eliminated and that weren't given a 
chance to speak on the floor.
  If the majority had just gone from three to one of these amendments, 
they could have used the time for two more of my colleagues' amendments 
and we could have had a little more Democratic debate, perhaps on 
reinstating funding for the National Museum of the American Latino. 
There were a lot

[[Page H5281]]

of good things we would like to see discussed under this bill.
  Why in the world did the majority have to have us discuss this a 
third time?
  Mr. Chairman, I do want you to know I have my talking points. I can 
say exactly the same things about why it is very arbitrary to eliminate 
the Council on Environmental Quality, why the office is important in 
establishing the Federal Government's efforts to improve, preserve, and 
protect Americans' public health and environment, also to ensure that 
environmental reviews for infrastructure projects and Federal actions 
are thorough, efficient, and reflect the input of the public and local 
communities, and I know you appreciate hearing that from me three 
times.
  Nevertheless, it just seems to me that if we were managing this floor 
in a way that really made the best use of all our colleagues' time we 
would either give a few more amendments to the Democratic minority or 
we would just do this once, have one roll call, and give the majority 
all a chance to speak on that particular bill and voice their opinion.
  It is still a bad amendment. We will still oppose this amendment, and 
we shouldn't be doing this at this particular time.
  Once again, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her thoughts on 
it.
  Why are there three?
  We want to give the minority three opportunities to do the right 
thing. Oftentimes Members vote, and then they think, oh, boy. They hear 
from their constituents and say that I wish I didn't vote that way.
  We want to make sure that the minority knows that this agency does 
not need to exist.
  By the way, of all the things, again, that the Federal Government 
needs to do, it does not need to be doing this. The States are doing an 
adequate job. As a matter of fact, they are doing an awesome job and in 
some places it is too awesome of a job.
  Take California. It is losing population for the first time in 
history because they are doing too awesome of a job of being tyrannical 
towards their citizens with policies just like this.
  We want the minority to have the opportunity. We want the minority to 
know that this is a pressing issue. We want the minority to know that 
we are not giving up on it and that we are going to keep coming back 
until we end this boondoggle. Finally, we want to remind everybody--in 
case no one else knows it--we are $33 trillion in debt and in the next 
18 months we will probably be $36 trillion in debt.
  Mr. Chairman, if you can't afford electricity, groceries, or 
gasoline, your credit card payments are maxed out, and you can't afford 
to buy a new car, the reason is because this Congress, this 
institution, and this town refuses to stop the spending that is causing 
all of your high prices.
  This is the place to stop the spending.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption, 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 question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. PINGREE. 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 Pennsylvania 
will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 60 Offered by Mr. Perry

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 60 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. PERRY. 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 129, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $186,300,000)''.
       Page 193, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $186,300,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, my amendment strikes $186.3 million in 
funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. According to its 
website, the NEA is the largest funder of the arts and arts education 
in communities nationwide.
  Now, this is all well and good. I am sure all of us here can 
appreciate the arts. Certainly, I attend my daughters' concerts. We 
have pictures hanging up in our home and pictures hanging up in my 
office. We bought them. We pay for our daughters' instruments. We pay 
for their instruction in music. We go to the plays, and we pay. 
However, again, we are $33 trillion in debt. We are heading for $36 
trillion in the next 18 months.
  According to a recent report by Giving USA 2023, in 2022, giving to 
the arts, culture, and humanities is estimated at over $24 billion. The 
funding in this bill is a drop in the bucket compared to those private-
sector contributions. Yet, it is still important to an America that is 
careening towards bankruptcy.
  Furthermore, there have been many debates about objectionable art 
funded by NEA grants including lewd or controversial topics. Our 
citizens, our bosses, and our constituents shouldn't have to be forced 
to pay for these things that they find objectionable. One current 
example is the NEA's current focus on equity, which only divides 
Americans using identity politics.
  One way to completely avoid that debate is to stop subsidizing any of 
these projects.
  The NEA also operates several programs that, quite frankly, shouldn't 
exist, including the Art in Architecture program which commissions art 
for Federal buildings, and the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program 
which subsidizes the insurance of art exhibitions, both domestic and 
international, including private collections.
  It is not enough that we pay for it here, we have to spend the money 
internationally, including private collections. This is our Federal 
Government. These are our Federal tax dollars of which we are borrowing 
right now to pay this bill. We just don't have the money for these 
programs.
  I don't have anything against Americans creating wonderful art or 
enjoying wonderful art. I am one of them.
  The question is: Should our taxpayers be paying for it?
  I don't think that they should.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I am just so sad that we have to debate 
this amendment to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the 
Arts.
  The NEA is the Federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens 
the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans--
that is all Americans--with diverse opportunities for arts 
participation.
  With the very small $186.3 million in this bill, the small but mighty 
agency supports arts organizations and artists in every congressional 
district in the country, and these investments yield enormous economic 
benefits.
  My colleague on the other side of the aisle says that he pays for his 
own arts. He makes sure that his family has the arts opportunities and 
that his children's art is paid for.
  However, every community does not have the funding to pay for their 
own arts. Not every community can afford arts and music in their 
schools. They can't afford these opportunities. Yes, there is private-
sector funding, but private-sector funding goes to where the private 
sector wants it to be spent. It doesn't make sure that in rural States 
like mine that small towns can take advantage of this and that small 
arts organizations can have these opportunities.
  A 2021 analysis done by the Department of Commerce and the NEA found 
that arts and cultural industries add over $1 trillion to the U.S. 
economy, support nearly 5 million jobs, and account for 4.4 percent of 
the GDP--4.4 percent.

[[Page H5282]]

  In what other sector wouldn't we make a lousy $186 million investment 
in something that was going to add 4.4 percent to our GDP?
  These guys would be all over it if it was auto manufacturing or chips 
or something else.
  The arts have an incredible value as a positive tool for economic 
development, education, and community building. Defunding this 
important agency would cause catastrophic harm. It is a terrible idea.
  Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, the question really should be: Is this a 
Federal requirement? Is this a Federal responsibility?
  I agree with the gentlewoman on a whole host of things she said about 
the economic impact of the arts and the humanities.
  The question is: Should the Federal Government be doing it?
  If there is a return on investment, and I agree there is, apparently, 
it is worthy because in 2022 private industry and private contributions 
were $24 billion. That is awesome. We ought to encourage that.
  Now, maybe $186 million is a drop in the bucket in this bill, and I 
suspect it is. Where I come from, $186 million is a heck of a lot of 
money. It is a heck of a lot of money.
  Mr. Chairman, if you watch the one millions, the two millions, the 
five millions, the 100 millions, the 186 millions, then maybe sometimes 
you can get to the fact that this year we are spending $2.2 trillion 
more than we are taking in at the Federal level--$2.2 trillion.
  Mr. Chairman, you have to start somewhere, and you start with the 
ones, the tens, the twenties, the hundreds, and the hundred millions. 
That is where you start.

  This is not a Federal responsibility. It should be done by local and 
State if they want to do it. The Federal Government cannot sustain it 
and should not sustain it.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. 
Simpson), who is the chair of the committee.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment which seeks to 
eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. While I 
support the gentleman's spending, this bill already significantly 
reduces funding including the NEA. The bill also requires--and this is 
what is important to me, frankly--that the NEA allocate at least 40 
percent of its grant funding to State and local communities.
  Now, the gentleman mentioned the $24 billion that was given privately 
to the arts throughout the country. The problem is none of that $24 
billion goes to support an arts organization in Jerome, Idaho; or in 
Shelley, Idaho; or in Sandpoint, Idaho.
  What I emphasize every time I talk to the director of the National 
Endowment for the Arts is that I am concerned about the arts in rural 
communities. I have gone out to communities throughout my district and 
met with these arts councils about what they do. Their funding is 
completely reliant--maybe completely is too broad a word--but 
substantially reliant on the grants that they get from the National 
Endowment for the Arts.
  Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment.

                              {time}  1315

  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, to close, I appreciate the words of Mr. 
Simpson, and I appreciate his acknowledgment that it is the rural 
communities, whether in his State of Idaho or my State of Maine, where 
there are so many communities that don't have the benefit of the 
private funding, they don't have the benefit of wealthy parents who can 
maybe afford to pay for their children's music and arts education. 
These are communities that desperately depend on this money.
  I also want to say that while there is a lot of economic growth going 
on in the arts industry, that it is a huge contributor, that many of 
these venues--particularly the small ones--were the first to have to 
close their doors during the pandemic and the last to open, and many 
haven't recovered.
  Many people who work in the arts industry, many artists themselves 
are still struggling to get back on their feet. That just makes this 
funding even more critically important.
  This is a great way to make sure that everyone in America has the 
great educational benefit that all young people should have in arts and 
music and developing that level of creativity and curiosity and the so 
many wonderful educational benefits that we know come from having that 
education in the arts. This makes sure that it is available to 
everybody.
  We are already facing a cut in this bill. We are going from $207 
million--which was never enough; it ought to be at least a dollar per 
person--down to $186 million. This cut has already been taken. We don't 
need to do any more. Certainly, eliminating it would be a travesty.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose 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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. PERRY. 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 Pennsylvania 
will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 61 Offered by Mr. Perry

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 61 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. PERRY. 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 129, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $186,300,000)''.
       Page 193, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $186,300,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, this amendment strikes $186.3 million in 
funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities. I will say, yet 
again, since people in Washington don't seem to care, we are over $33 
trillion in debt. We are going to add another $3 trillion here in about 
less than 2 years.
  Let's take a look at the types of projects we are funding through the 
NEH grants:
  $60,000 to study the labor of interpreters in U.N. field missions;
  $500,000 to renovate 5,800 square feet of gallery space in the 
Adirondack Museum to meet ``contemporary museum standards'';
  Over $330,000 for compact cabinetry and fixtures for a museum in 
Richmond, Virginia;
  Almost $150,000 to build a comics and social justice curriculum at 
San Diego State University.
  I have a kinship with San Diego. I have been to Richmond; I like it. 
I am sure the gallery in the Adirondacks and the museum there are very 
nice, but these are State and local projects. This is not a Federal 
requirement.
  The gentleman from Idaho talked about the small towns and communities 
I am sure he represents and hopes that the arts and the humanities are 
there. I hope for the same thing in the little town that I come from, 
Dillsburg, a rural community that just held the farmers fair, where 
children, including my daughters, entered their arts stuff to be 
judged. There was no Federal grant to my kids or any kids in Dillsburg, 
York, Hershey, Upper Dauphin, or Carlisle.
  We all want things for our communities, and we want somebody else to 
pay for them. It has to end somewhere, and this is a place where we can 
start. Someone has to be responsible. Nobody is saying we shouldn't 
have the arts and humanities. I am also not saying that some of these 
aren't worthwhile projects. I am just saying that our constituents' tax 
dollars shouldn't be subsidizing them.
  If a State or locality wants to fund a local museum renovation or 
curriculum at a State university, that is between them and their 
taxpayers.

[[Page H5283]]

  Mr. Chair, I urge support for my amendment, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Idaho is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which 
seeks to eliminate all funding for the National Endowment for the 
Humanities.
  While I understand the gentleman's intent to reduce spending--
something that I agree with--the reality is that is exactly what we 
have been doing in these bills.
  I have seen firsthand the impact that the NEH dollars have had in my 
district. In fact, I contribute annually to the Idaho Endowment for the 
Humanities. NEA grants allow rural communities, including veterans and 
students, to have access to historical, cultural, and educational 
resources that wouldn't otherwise be available to them.
  What I have seen that works--and, again, I have been around to a lot 
of the different grants that are received--they are preserving our 
history. That is exactly what they are doing. I support their efforts, 
and, therefore, I object to this amendment and hope my colleagues will 
oppose it.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, let's talk about some other projects. I know 
the good gentleman from Idaho talked about we are reducing spending, we 
continue to reduce spending, and we try to do that.
  Mr. Chairman, we are going broke saving money around this town. We 
keep on talking about reducing spending, but somehow--I don't know how 
it is--when I watch that clock one of my colleagues wears on his lapel, 
the numbers on the national debt clock continue to get larger. I showed 
the national debt clock to my daughter one time, and she said, ``What 
is that?'' I pulled it up online, and I showed it to her. She stared at 
it, and she said, Well, it never stops.
  Mr. Chairman, it doesn't stop. We are going broke saving money.
  Here are some more projects:
  $60,000 to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts and 
content into humanities general education courses at Thomas Edison 
State University in Trenton, New Jersey; a wonderful place;
  Over $360,000 for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the 
University of Central Oklahoma;
  $215,000 to California State University for 25 middle and high school 
English teachers to study climate futurism, which is storytelling that 
uses climate science as a catalyst to imagine possible climate futures.
  Now, the President has just asked for a supplemental of over $100 
billion for wars in Ukraine, Israel, and to process more illegal 
migrants across our border. We don't have money for that. We are going 
to borrow money for that, and we are going to borrow money for this.
  Mr. Chairman, there is a lot of worthwhile things in the world that 
we want to be a part of, that we want to pay for. We just don't have 
the money. We just don't have the money. I would ask that we quit 
saving money and going broke and pass this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I would just say that I am very disappointed 
that the gentleman doesn't agree with us that we ought to reduce 
spending because that is what these bills have been doing. Anybody who 
suggests we are going to stop the debt clock overnight is living in a 
fantasy world, but we are actually reducing spending.
  The Appropriations Committee is the only committee in this Congress 
that is actually reducing spending. They are tough choices, but we have 
been making those tough choices. I wish the rest of Congress would 
also.
  Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time is remaining?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Idaho has 3\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I would just reiterate that I oppose this 
amendment that would defund the National Endowment for the Humanities. 
I thank the chair for his eloquent remarks about the importance of it 
in Idaho.
  Idaho and Maine have a lot in common. Our potatoes are so much 
better, but other than that, we really could see eye to eye on so many 
issues. Sorry, I am sure their potatoes are perfectly fine.
  This misguided amendment would significantly hinder support for high-
quality projects and programs that reach every single State and 
territory and benefit millions of Americans.
  NEH is a very unique source of funding for a wide range of local, 
nonprofit institutions and organizations across the country. This money 
goes to our States and our local organizations. These grants strengthen 
teaching and learning in the schools and colleges. They facilitate 
research and original scholarship, provide opportunities for lifelong 
learning, preserve and provide access to cultural and educational 
resources, and strengthen the institutional base of the humanities.
  My colleague on the other side of the aisle who proposed this 
amendment says he doesn't really see the value of it and goes about to 
disregard some of the programs that are being funded through this. The 
fact is that sometimes we need to use literature, history, or the arts 
to talk about difficult topics. You may not think it is important for 
us to talk about climate change but, in fact, millions of young people, 
in fact millions of people in this country, are very worried about that 
and want to talk about it and think about how we can come with very 
diverse ideas to a solution that works for all of us.
  The same with our diversity and equity issues. These are tough 
topics, and my colleague on the other side of the aisle would just have 
them eliminated, sweep them under the rug. Yet, we have the opportunity 
to use our great literature and the history of this country and the 
lessons that we have learned to have those conversations.
  I don't know what planet this amendment comes from; someplace where 
these issues aren't important. Here they are very important. These 
programs are used by American veterans, by American senior citizens, 
and young people in our schools. They are so widely used in large and 
small communities, and they are good investments in our communities. 
These awards stimulate significant participation and commitment by 
local and private partners. They generate more money to do exactly what 
we are doing, so we should be doing more for the NEH, not less.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this misguided amendment.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, 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 question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. PERRY. 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 Pennsylvania 
will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 62 Offered by Mr. Rouzer

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 62 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. ROUZER. 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 172, strike lines 1 through 11 and insert the 
     following:


 exemption to coastal barrier restrictions for shoreline borrow sources

       Sec. 458. Section 6 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 3505) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(e) Borrow Source.--Section 5 shall not apply to Federal 
     expenditures or financial assistance for the use of a borrow 
     source located within the System if such borrow source, or a 
     portion thereof, has been used as a borrow source by a 
     coastal storm risk management project at least once prior to 
     December 31, 2008.''.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.

[[Page H5284]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
  Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, this amendment simply makes a technical 
change to the underlying language suggested by the Army Corps of 
Engineers and the Natural Resources Committee. To be specific of what 
those changes are, it takes the word ``borrow site'' and changes it to 
``borrow source,'' and then takes the phrase ``for a period of more 
than 15 years'' and replaces it with ``at least once prior to December 
31, 2008.''
  There literally is no change to the substance of the underlying text. 
This is just an accommodation of the request of the Army Corps of 
Engineers.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 63 Offered by Mr. Nehls

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 63 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. NEHLS. 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 192, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the National Park Service to place any limitation 
     on the number of air tours at national parks.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Nehls) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Speaker, my amendment prohibits the National Park 
Service from placing any limitation on the number of air tours at our 
Nation's parks. There are over 45,000 commercial scenic air tours over 
our national parks every year. These air tour operators provide that 
breathtaking experience for visitors that should remain, if not even 
increase.
  I have been following this issue for quite some time now, and I don't 
think people really fully understand what is going on here. Two decades 
ago, Congress passed the National Park Air Tourism Act which required 
the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration to 
work together to develop air tourism management plans for any park that 
had 50 or more annual air tours over its landscape.

                              {time}  1330

  After 20 years of bickering and bureaucratic incompetence, 
jurisdictional fights between Federal agencies, and the actions of what 
we would see in a kindergarten, neither the National Park Service nor 
the FAA had completed their congressional mandate.
  An effort was spearheaded by radical environmentalists whose sole 
goal is to end air tours because they think noise ruins the experience 
of visitors and the animals who live there.
  As a result of these efforts, in 2019, a court ordered that any park 
hosting 50 or more sightseeing air tours a year develop a management 
plan by August 2022. Twenty-four parks are named in the resulting court 
order, and some of these parks developed plans that will drastically 
reduce the number of air tours or outright ban them.
  This is completely nuts. Did they depose an elk or a moose or a trout 
and find that these air tours offend them? Give me a break.
  These air tours are not reserved for the millionaire and billionaire 
class, as some of my colleagues like to pretend. They are utilized by 
families, the disabled, the elderly, and middle-class Americans.
  I will also point out that the level of noise from our air tours is 
decreasing every year with technological advances and investments from 
our air tour operators, not to mention many of the flights fly at an 
altitude that people on the ground wouldn't even notice.
  If there are any Democratic staffers or Members listening to this 
right now, I would like them to answer this question. We hear a lot of 
talk about fairness, equity, and civil rights, but if we reduce or 
phase out air tours, then what is your plan for the disabled or the 
elderly? How are they supposed to traverse these landscapes? Where is 
the fairness there?
  Air tour operators offer a crucial alternative for individuals who 
cannot easily walk the often treacherous terrain of our national parks. 
I understand some of these more radical environmentalists believe these 
flights disrupt the natural landscape and experience because of noise, 
but what about the families that have children who are disabled or 
those who want grandma and grandpa to participate in that family 
vacation? Who is advocating for them? Where is the sympathy for them? 
And who the hell are we to deny them that experience?
  Let's do the right thing and save our air tours and ensure access for 
our elderly and the disabled by supporting my amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Idaho is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, first, let me say that I am not totally 
opposed to what the gentleman is trying to do. I think these air tours 
are important, but I think it is wrong to say they can't place any 
limitations on them.
  The gentleman raises the point that they have been trying to address 
this for a number of years, and so far, they haven't been able to do 
it. I think that they need to be able to do that, and the Park Service 
ought to be able to look at the number of air tours.
  I am not opposed to air tours. I think they are a great thing. I have 
taken a few of them. The reality is that completely eliminating the 
Park Service's ability to make reasonable limitations on these, I 
think, is the wrong way to go. It goes too far, but I understand what 
the gentleman is trying to say and what he is trying to do. I just 
don't think we can go this far.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Gosar).
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, these tours are very important. In fact, the 
gentleman from Texas talked about the technology. In the Grand Canyon, 
they have this quiet technology where you can barely hear them on the 
ground.
  There are limitations on these tours already in many of the parks. 
The problem here is the bureaucracy can't help the private sector. I 
love the gentleman's aspect about no limitations because that is going 
to make it happen. It is going to make it happen because they are going 
to try to put limitations on them.
  This makes sure that everybody has the opportunity to experience 
these. On top of that, air tours require no ground-based infrastructure 
at the park, which expands accessibility without the need for roads, 
trails, signs, bathrooms, garbage cans, or other services. These are 
important.
  They also generate a sizable amount of money because every tour 
generates some kind of fee back to the Federal Government. At $34 
trillion and growing, I think we could all use a little bit of that 
extra money.
  If you look at it from the eyes of a businessman and allowing these 
air tours to help out, you are going to find out that America is 
singing ``Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah'' all day long, seeing the beautiful 
landscapes.
  Mr. Chair, I join with my friend from Texas and say please vote for 
this amendment.
  Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Chair, I couldn't agree more with my colleague from 
Arizona.
  The only ones against this, it appears, are the environmentalists 
because I haven't talked to a moose or an elk or a trout that has found 
these tours offensive.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls).
  The amendment was agreed to.


          Amendment No. 64 Offered by Mr. Graves of Louisiana

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 64 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. 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 193, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to promulgate new

[[Page H5285]]

     rules that the Administrator of the Office of Information and 
     Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget 
     finds has resulted in or is likely to result in--
       (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or 
     more;
       (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, 
     individual industries, Federal, State, or local government 
     agencies, or geographic regions; or
       (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, 
     investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of 
     United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based 
     enterprises in domestic and export markets.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, since the Biden administration 
took office, in just the first 2 years, they implemented or imposed 
costs on the American public exceeding $300 billion.
  Mr. Chairman, when I was in school, I learned there were three 
branches of government. There was the judicial branch, executive 
branch, and legislative branch. Apparently, there is a fourth branch of 
government, and it is the bureaucrats. It is this entity out there that 
is writing rules, writing regulations, and imposing costs on American 
families--I will say it again--to the tune of over $300 billion in just 
the first 2 years of this administration.
  What does that look like at home? It looks like regulations that are 
killing small businesses. The U.S. Census Bureau has quantified that 
one in every four households in America has had to choose among costs 
like groceries, utility bills, gasoline for their cars, or medical 
costs.
  These are false choices, Mr. Chairman. American families shouldn't 
have to choose among costs like that. These are necessities. Again, we 
shouldn't have to choose between groceries, utility costs, and things 
like rent and a mortgage.
  The average American family is paying 40 percent more right now for 
energy costs like gasoline and utility bills because of the policies of 
this administration.
  What our amendment does is it simply restores the role of Congress, 
the role of Representatives. It says that any new regulation that is 
estimated or quantified to cost in excess of $100 billion cannot move 
forward without actual action by the Congress.
  Mr. Chairman, I think that this is a commonsense amendment. I think 
it is consistent with what the Founders intended the role of their 
Representatives to be. It is consistent with what the Founders intended 
as the role of the legislative branch of Congress, that we have a role 
in ensuring that regulations being carried out are consistent with 
congressional intent and that we are not going to go out there and 
impose taxes, fees, or bureaucratic red tape on American families when 
they can afford it the least right now.
  The Ways and Means Committee has estimated that 17.4 percent is the 
percent that inflation has gone up under this administration, the 
additional cost being placed on American families. We cannot allow this 
mysterious fourth branch of government that has no accountability to 
continue to impose costs on American families.
  Again, this restores the role of the branch of government that we all 
are here to represent. It restores the functionality of Congress.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment is one more controversial 
poison pill rider that sadly shows that the extreme Republicans are not 
interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law.
  In 2012, before the Bush tax cuts, the Congressional Budget Office 
showed revenues exceeding primary spending for the next 65 years and 
that debt as a percent of GDP would decline indefinitely.
  Since then, tax cut extensions and the Trump tax cuts have added $10 
trillion to the debt to date, and their cost will increase enough over 
time to account for the entire long-term growth in debt ratio. 
Remember, those benefits are disproportionately enjoyed by the wealthy.
  If we want to truly protect the American taxpayer, we should be 
marking up bills at the levels agreed to between the President and 
Speaker McCarthy and signed into law in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 
rather than bringing the government to the verge of a shutdown and now 
marking up bills that just don't just break the deal but obliterate it 
and cut crucial domestic investments.
  Let's get serious about passing bills that can gain bipartisan 
support and become law.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful 
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentlewoman's 
comments. Unfortunately, those comments aren't really relevant to this 
amendment.
  Let's be clear on what this amendment does. It prevents agencies from 
imposing regulations that exceed a compliance cost of $100 million or 
more.
  If the gentlewoman is concerned about spending and debts and 
deficits, I share those concerns with her. As a matter of fact, as a 
result of this administration's legislation like the CHIPS Act, IRA, 
ARP, and the infrastructure bill, an additional $10 trillion in 
spending has been incurred as a result of their reckless and 
irresponsible actions.
  Mr. Chair, what that translates to is that 50 cents of every dollar 
we are going to borrow over the next 10 years is going to go to pay 
interest on the debt. Over the next 10 years, we are going to spend $10 
trillion on interest payments on the debt.
  Mr. Chairman, you represent areas in Ohio. I represent areas of 
Louisiana. We have representation here for Idaho and Maine. We have 
constituents that have real needs. We are flushing money down the 
toilet by putting $10 trillion just toward interest payments.
  This helps to improve the efficiency of the Federal Government. It is 
complementary to the deregulatory agenda that we saw under the previous 
administration.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of 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 Louisiana (Mr. Graves).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 65 Offered by Ms. Hageman

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 65 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. HAGEMAN. 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 193, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact 
     Statement for the Rock Springs RMP Revision, Wyoming, 
     referred to in the notice of availability titled ``Notice of 
     Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and 
     Environmental Impact Statement for the Rock Springs RMP 
     Revision, Wyoming'' published by the Bureau of Land 
     Management on August 18, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 56654).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wyoming.
  Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Chair, today, I rise in support of my amendment, 
which prohibits the BLM from finalizing its draft Rock Springs resource 
management plan, the purpose of which is to severely restrict livestock 
grazing, mining, energy development, recreation, and other activities 
on 3.6 million acres of land in southwestern Wyoming.
  The BLM is required to update its resource management plans 
approximately every 10 years. The Rock Springs field office began the 
process of updating its own plan in 2011 in accordance with FLPMA.
  The proposed RMP contains four alternatives for the planning area, 
including alternative A, which keeps the current management plan in 
place; the BLM's preferred plan, alternative B,

[[Page H5286]]

which would have tremendous negative consequences for Wyoming and the 
Nation as a whole; alternative C, which severely restricts recreational 
activities; and alternative D, which provides a better balance between 
various uses but still substantially impacts the activities of key 
contributors to Wyoming's economy, such as our trona mining and 
existing oil and gas operations.
  Contrary to the very purpose of the BLM, it has chosen the most 
restrictive, the most draconian, and the least scientifically 
defensible plan--the one that Wyomingites are the most opposed to--as 
its preference, that being alternative B.
  In total, under BLM's preferred alternative B, about 2.5 million 
acres would not be available for new rights-of-way. This would be an 
increase of more than 480 percent in acreage off-limits to important 
things like power lines, pipelines, and maintaining roads.
  The draft RMP restricts the use of vehicles on millions of acres of 
land, restricts recreation, cuts livestock grazing, destroys our trona 
industry, and severely restricts our ability to explore for and produce 
oil, gas, and coal.
  BLM's alternative B is a nonstarter and will have severe impacts on 
the economy of not only Wyoming but the Nation. It will impact our food 
supply.
  It is for these reasons that I have introduced my amendment to defund 
the BLM's efforts to finalize or implement the RMP as a whole.
  Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this important 
amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1345

  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New Mexico is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Chair, the Republicans' Interior 
Appropriations bill attacks our environment and the opportunity for our 
prosperity in communities that have historically been left behind. This 
bill stands in stark contrast to Democratic values and priorities.
  Last Congress, the Democratic House, Senate, and President recognized 
that for too long rural communities have lost jobs, people, and 
economic vibrancy.
  As someone from and representing rural communities, changing this 
trajectory is my purpose and my passion in Congress. It is also my duty 
to bring rural voices to this Chamber, especially at times when 
Republicans' extreme bills will hurt our precious rural communities.
  I know many of my colleagues in this room are also concerned about 
the rural communities where they live, yet rather than investing in 
places of promise, Republicans are using their appropriation bills to 
undermine that promise.
  Indeed, their Interior-Environment bill cuts programs from the 
Inflation Reduction Act, our landmark law that we passed last year that 
marked the largest climate investment in U.S. history. They want to cut 
that Act by $9.4 billion. This includes slashing the EPA's Greenhouse 
Gas Reduction Fund by $7.8 billion.
  That fund allows us to address the climate crisis while investing in 
jobs and capital improvements in rural America and other communities 
across the country that have been left behind. This program is an 
opportunity to remedy decades of underinvestment and to protect our 
beautiful lands, our beautiful environment, for generations.
  I hear my Republican colleagues talk a lot about energy independence, 
yet they attack the programs that would actually help us achieve energy 
independence, true energy independence, not relying on foreign oil and 
Russia and others who would control the prices that we pay at home. We 
also know that pollution especially hurts the same communities that we 
fail to invest in, communities that are often places where Latinos and 
other people of color live.
  This bill does not attack that pollution. Instead, it cuts $1.4 
billion needed to address environmental health impacts. It tells those 
communities that they are not a priority. It tells them that we are not 
going to make things right for their health or for the environment. 
What is worse is that this bill cuts funding for the environmental 
agencies and council that work to protect our environment and public 
health, because health is directly tied to environmental pollution.
  Last Congress, Democrats made historic investments in rural America's 
infrastructure, the most investments since the New Deal and the rural 
electrification program. In contrast, in the extreme Interior bill, 
Republicans would roll back all that progress. We can't face the 
climate crisis on a 1991 EPA budget, which is what this bill would do.
  For these reasons, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to 
recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I 
would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill.
  My amendment would strike the four provisions of the bill that cut 
programs for the Inflation Reduction Act, including the $7.8 billion 
cuts from EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. It would also cut $1.4 
billion to the Environmental and Climate Justice Grants--I would make 
sure that those were not cut; all remaining funding from the Council on 
Environmental Quality for environmental and climate data collection and 
``efficient and effective;'' and all remaining funding for the National 
Park System for deferred maintenance.
  We know our parks need the care that they deserve. They are America's 
promise, and we are ignoring them and letting them deteriorate.
  Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record the text of my amendment.

       Ms. Leger Fernandez moves to recommit the bill H.R. 4821 to 
     the Committee on Appropriations with the following amendment:
       Strike sections 438, 439, 474, and 475.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for 
the motion to recommit.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Chairman, none of the responses from my colleague on 
the other side had anything to do with the amendment before us, so I am 
going to proceed with the statistics related to this particular RMP.
  The RMP severely restricts vehicle access, including 4,500 miles of 
routes to all uses, while removing an additional 10,000 miles of routes 
from the transportation network.
  This draft RMP designates 1.8 million acres out of 3.6 million acres 
as areas of critical environmental concern without any congressional 
input whatsoever.
  Perhaps what is most disheartening and disturbing and illegal about 
this RMP is the fact that it has ignored not only stakeholder input 
over the past 12 years, but the input and analysis undertaken and 
completed by the BLM personnel in the Rock Springs district's office.
  The administration has proven time and again that its primary agenda 
is to push forward with the radical Green New Deal, as we just heard 
from my colleague on the other side, and that it views the opinions of 
unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., over the citizens of this 
country, and that it does not care whether its actions actually work in 
the real world or cause severe damage.
  In addition to the fact that alternative B is just plain bad on its 
face, it was also adopted in violation of FLPMA and NEPA. According to 
a former BLM engineer who worked in the Rock Springs field office on 
this very RMP, most of the research and work went into studying and 
pursuing alternative D. What does that mean? The most controversial 
alternative, the alternative that the BLM is now seeking to impose on 
Wyoming, was never adequately evaluated.
  Alternative C, which includes heavy recreational restrictions, also 
had little time and little review. The lack of planning and analysis 
and input related to alternative B exposes the fact that this is a 
political decision that is not based on the real-life situation in the 
Rock Springs district, but more related to the idea of blocking any 
access to our natural resources for the things that we have 
historically used them for.
  Mr. Chair, we have historically balanced our energy development, land 
use recreation, wildlife management, and grazing, and we have done it 
well. Come to Wyoming. It is a beautiful State. We have been able to 
balance all of these interests and, in the process,

[[Page H5287]]

become the largest producer of trona in the United States, raised 
hundreds of thousands of head of cattle and sheep, and produced massive 
amounts of coal and oil and gas to power this country, all the while 
protecting our habitat, our air quality, our water quality, and our 
very way of life.
  I am proud of Wyoming producers, ranchers, and recreationists and 
what they have created, and we cannot allow BLM to destroy it.
  It was said the other day by a reporter that this BLM RMP takes the 
public off public lands. I couldn't have said it better.
  Mr. Chairman, we have seen this kind of thing happen across the 
interior West, including with the Bears Ears designation in Utah, and 
others in Colorado and Arizona. We need to put a stop to this effort to 
block our access, use, and management of our resources.
  I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, which would prevent any 
funds from going towards implementing this monstrosity of a plan.
  Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support 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 Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).
  The amendment was agreed to.


              Amendment No. 66 Offered by Mrs. Harshbarger

  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Fallon). It is now in order to consider 
amendment No. 66 printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mrs. HARSHBARGER. 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 193, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  None of the funds made available by this Act 
     shall be available for the United States Board on Geographic 
     Names.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Tennessee.
  Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Chairman, the Democrats have been hard at work 
revising American history, from the removal of statues to renaming 
military bases. They truly believe they can and should erase the 
history and progress we have made since our Nation was founded for 
their own political benefit.
  When Secretary Haaland took over as Secretary of the Interior, she 
immediately made a point to politicize the Board on Geographic Names 
through deeming the word ``squaw'' as derogatory. This would entail 
removing any word containing squaw from any geographic landmark or 
unincorporated town, resulting in the town of Squawberry in Tennessee's 
First District to be renamed as Partridgeberry.
  I am standing here to argue that the Federal Government has no 
business renaming towns and erasing our history. This is blatant 
government overreach, and we should not allow our government to 
continue to force our revisionist history upon my constituents or 
anybody else's constituents.
  I don't believe the Founding Fathers viewed historical revision as a 
key function of our government. Changing the name of small towns 
throughout America, such as Squawberry, is entirely unnecessary.
  When historical revisionists are given an inch, they will take a 
mile. How long will it be until the Department of the Interior decides 
to remove the mission of Washington or Jefferson from geographic 
landmarks? I don't trust this administration to act in good faith. They 
have politicized vast swaths of the government, and the Board on 
Geographic Names is yet just another victim of those seeking to use our 
government and its agencies as tools to further their own agenda.
  For these reasons, I believe we must prohibit the funding on the 
Board on Geographic Names and put an end to this woke revisionist 
policy being forced upon the American public.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit all funds to 
the United States Board on Geographic Names. The U.S. Board on 
Geographic Names is a Federal body created in 1890 and established in 
its present form by public law in 1947 to maintain uniform geographic 
name usage throughout the Federal Government. The Board is comprised of 
representatives of Federal agencies concerned with geographic 
information, population, ecology, and management of public lands.
  In this age of geographic information systems, the internet, and 
homeland defense, geographic names data are even more important. The 
Board works with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, and more 
than 50 nations have some type of national names authority.
  My Republican colleagues should be focused on creating bills that 
will garner bipartisan support and become law, not prohibiting funding 
for a board that helps surveyors, mapmakers, and scientists, and serves 
the Federal Government and the public as a central authority to which 
name problems, name inquiries, name changes, and new name proposals can 
be directed.
  I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Chairman, I go back to my original statement. 
The Federal Government has no business renaming towns and erasing our 
history. That should be left to local and State entities to decide.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I am not an authority on this, but my 
understanding is that the Federal Government could not rename a town in 
a State. The Federal Government has authority on public lands on names 
that are related to public property.
  I am very pleased that we have Secretary Deb Haaland as the Secretary 
of Interior right now, and I respect the fact that we have someone, for 
the first time ever, who is a member of a Tribe. Secretary Haaland has 
made a statement that using the word ``squaw'' is offensive to Native 
American Tribes, and I fully agree with her, and many people in my own 
State agree with her and have changed those names, but, in this 
particular case, I don't believe that the Department of the Interior 
can arbitrarily rename a town in any State in the Nation.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. PINGREE. 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 Tennessee 
will be postponed.


                Amendment No. 67 Offered by Mr. LaMalfa

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 67 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. LaMALFA. 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 193, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the establishment or modification of a national 
     monument in Colusa County, California, under chapter 3203 of 
     title 54, United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
     ``Antiquities Act of 1906'').

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. LaMalfa) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

                              {time}  1400

  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chair, in 1906, the Antiquities Act was passed by 
Congress to give the President authority to declare our national 
monuments were historical landmarks and structures. But this act 
required that declaration be confined to the smallest possible area to 
do a given job. In 2023, we see the original intent of this bill has 
become almost unrecognizable.
  Much like Congress has experienced and the American people have 
experienced with the Clean Water Act and

[[Page H5288]]

the definition of the waters of the United States, the executive branch 
has continually run wild with the authority Congress at one time had 
granted it.
  While the Clean Water Act was used by both the Obama and Biden 
administration in an attempt to put all water under the jurisdiction of 
bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., so too has the Antiquities Act been 
used to take vast tracks of land, especially in the Western United 
States, out of consideration for economic development and responsible 
land management, such as for fire.
  Some of the early drafts of the Antiquities Act even mentioned a 
total limitation of any monuments to 640 acres. A limitation on 
monument size, 640 acres was the original draft. That is only one 
square mile.
  By contrast, in August President Biden designated new lands to the 
Grand Canyon totaling nearly 1 million acres. That would be 
approximately 1,500 square miles.
  When President Teddy Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act into law, 
he did so believing it would allow the U.S. to honor its history and 
protect public lands. All good things.
  Today, when word of a new national monument reaches an area, such as 
my area in northern California, my constituents in Colusa County didn't 
react with hope or an appreciation of history in this particular 
instance. Instead, they reacted with anger, frustration, or even fear 
of what it will mean for lands in their areas.
  For example, will the Federal Government still perform necessary 
forest and land management? That is an issue we deal with continuously. 
As we saw in my district in 2021, we had a 1-million-acre fire known as 
the Dixie fire due to lack of forest service management on Federal 
land.
  And another question would be: Can we still allow for recreation on 
these lands?
  Mr. Chairman, this body has allowed the executive branch to take too 
much of our authority away from Congress. The abuse of the Antiquities 
Act is just the latest in a long line of white flags Congress has flown 
against the President.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the use of any 
Federal funds to establish or modify any national monuments under the 
Antiquities Act within Colusa County, California. Now, I am very sorry 
that my colleague on the other side of the aisle feels this way. I 
appreciate being able to serve on the Agriculture Committee with him. 
We often have areas on agreement, but on this, we disagree.
  The Antiquities Act provides the President with the authority to 
designate national monuments in order to protect the objects of 
historic or scientific interest. This amendment inappropriately 
restricts the President's ability to declare a national monument in 
specific parts of the country. Both Republican and Democratic 
Presidents have used this authority to increase the protection of 
special Federal lands.
  In our State, we are particularly pleased that a previous President 
declared the Katahdin Woods and Waters as a national monument. And we 
are very glad about the way it has been managed and the fact that it is 
an important resource to our State. This bill would go against 100 
years of American tradition to protect the Nation's cultural and 
natural resources. The Antiquities Act represents an important 
achievement in the progress of conservation and preservation efforts in 
the United States. Congress should not stand in the way of these 
achievements.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the thoughts by my good 
colleague from Maine, and I appreciate her.
  In this particular case, we are limiting, relative to the whole 
country, a small area. This affects several thousand acres, not the 
entire country. The President's whole powers are in one county in my 
district, Colusa County in northern California. They have asked not to 
be included in this monument because it would limit their ability to do 
important things, such as manage the land for fire danger or 
recreation. It is really rather sparse land in that area. It is good 
for deer hunting.
  So what is it you really need a monument for? If you are going to do 
extensive things like mining, drilling, putting in pipelines or power 
lines, you already have to get permits for those. And it takes the 
mines we are going to need in this country if we are going to electrify 
everything, they take 20 years to get a mine made. But that is not even 
proposed in this area. It is simply to have a little autonomy in the 
area.
  Now, when it wasn't affecting Colusa County, the locals there weren't 
particularly against the moment as it didn't affect their county. After 
an additional portion got drawn in, they said, Well, wait a minute. 
This is our county. We already have difficulty in this rural county 
with revenue and being able to do the things we need to do in a rural 
economy, in an agriculture economy or what little tourism they can get 
out that way too, they are having that option taken away from them.
  With the monument, you basically can't do anything on the land, 
including in many cases, mechanized forest firefighting. You have to go 
out with hand tools in some of these areas. And so, it just means the 
fire gets bigger. It just means less options for locals.
  I thought the Antiquities Act was supposed to be preserving things 
for the people's enjoyment, not completely cutting them off. That is 
why we are so strongly opposed to this being added to Colusa County in 
this instance here.
  With that, I still oppose. I appreciate being able to work over on 
the other side with Senator Padilla's office on this conversation in 
moving forward to say, Let us have our autonomy in our areas of 
northern California where we don't think a monument works for us in 
order to manage the land as needed.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).
  The amendment was agreed to.


              Amendment No. 68 Offered by Ms. Malliotakis.

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 68 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. 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 193, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the National Park Service to enact the terms of 
     NPS Lease#L-GATE912-2023, as executed on September 15, 2023.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from New York (Ms. Malliotakis) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Chair, my amendment would prohibit any funding 
from being used by the National Park Service to enact the terms of the 
lease to house migrants at Floyd Bennett Field in the Gateway National 
Recreation Area in Brooklyn, New York, where our Mayor Eric Adams, has 
setup a tent city for over 2,000 migrants with little supervision. 
Turning our Federal parks into encampments for un-vetted migrants from 
all over the world is unsafe, and it is unfair to the surrounding 
communities and the taxpayers being forced to foot the bill.
  There have already been dozens of arrests at existing shelters in New 
York City, stabbings, DUIs, and other horrific incidents. And it is 
wrong that our mayor continues to misinterpret New York City's right to 
shelter decree, which was intended for homeless New Yorkers, not 
citizens of other countries.
  Today, as a matter a fact, there is a group of big city Democrat 
mayors here in Washington, including Mayor Adams, scheduled to meet 
with the White House for what I assume is a request for more money to 
add more shelters and more encampments through our cities.
  Mr. Chairman, President Biden and congressional Democrats in Congress

[[Page H5289]]

have no intention to stop the flow of migrants at our border. And 
Congress cannot and will not continue to fund this insanity.
  I urge my colleagues to support my amendment since the Senate refuses 
to pass our H.R. 2 bill, which would provide border security and stop 
this unsustainable and unsafe flow.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would block New York City from 
completing the terms of its lease agreement with the National Park 
Service, and it offers no solution for those seeking refuge.
  This amendment would put up yet another obstacle for the residents of 
New York City as they try to address this unique challenge.
  We should be looking for ways to help both residents of the city and 
the migrants as they navigate the often complicated and lengthy 
immigration process.
  I know a little something about this challenge the cities are facing 
because while I don't represent New York City, I represent Portland, 
Maine, and other cities in Maine that have had a large influx of 
asylees coming to our State. Now, we are a very welcoming State, but we 
have some of the same challenges with finding sufficient housing for 
people while they are navigating this difficult process of asylum 
seeking.
  Now let's just remember, we are a welcoming nation. Asylum seekers 
are coming from war-torn countries, from political challenges, and the 
process of seeking asylum can take a very long time. In my State, we 
have some of the same challenges trying to find sufficient housing.
  I want to say that we can't forget the fact that, again, we are a 
welcoming nation. We are a welcoming State, and we are a nation of 
immigrants.
  I don't know about my colleague across the aisle, but I am very 
fortunate that my grandfather had the opportunity to come to this 
country. And that allowed my family to be a part of the American Dream.
  So many of the people who are coming here today are leaving, as I 
said, difficult political situations, war-torn nations, with real 
challenges to get here. Our immigration process is lengthy. They are, 
for the most part, legal asylum seekers. They need to go through a long 
court process.
  If, in fact, she really wanted to do something that would 
significantly change the amount of time that people have to be in 
shelters or in housing, perhaps--I know it is on another bill--she 
could support my bill to reduce the amount of time that asylum seekers 
have to wait to get their work permits so that they could more rapidly 
go to work, so that they weren't waiting in shelters, in tents, in 
other places.
  I don't know about your State, but in mine our chamber of commerce is 
constantly asking for more workers. We are constantly behind in having 
sufficient people to do the work. So to say that we do not want to 
welcome these people who come from war-torn nations and difficult 
political situations, and that we don't want to find a way to 
accommodate them, we should be looking for ways to speed up the process 
to make sure that people can go to work, and so that they can make sure 
that they can move forward and become those extremely responsible and 
hardworking members of American society that they choose to be.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Chair, I will respond by saying that we are a 
welcoming nation. We are a welcoming city. My parents are immigrants, 
as well.
  However, nobody was required to pay for their housing--my parents did 
not move into a park that the mayor created to be an encampment--taking 
that away from the taxpayers.
  I simply say that we need to have individuals who want to come to 
this country follow the rules, follow the law, and that is the big 
difference here. The President has created a crisis. It is of his own 
making with his open border policies.
  You mention war-torn countries, but there are over 120 different 
countries that are being represented, not to mention it is just 
completely unsustainable. I am not just talking about the 6 million 
that you mentioned that applied for asylum. I am sure you know that 
more than half of those asylum cases were denied in court. I think that 
is an important thing to point out, which means that they are abusing 
the asylum process to gain entry into our country.
  My office, in particular, has helped nearly 100 people become U.S. 
citizens. I am very proud of that. It may be more than anybody else in 
this Chamber, quite frankly. We did it for the people who followed the 
rules, did everything right, have been waiting in line and 
unfortunately, got stuck in our bureaucracy because now they are being 
shoved to the back of the line because, as you know, those individuals 
coming over the border are taken up first before anybody else, which is 
completely unfair to those who have come here legally.

  Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Gosar).
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I participated and went up to New York to see 
this site. There are 2,200 men in a camp right next to soccer fields, 
right next to ice-skating rinks. There is going to be a problem here. 
In fact, just a couple weeks after that, it flooded. This whole area 
flooded.
  So New York City is going to take a national park--this is the first 
time this has ever happened or occurred--they don't do a NEPA; they 
don't do full evaluations, but they are going to turn 2,200 military-
aged men into this shelter.
  They are higher than a kite if they think that there are not going to 
be problems. That is what the gentlewoman wants. She wants to have the 
same things done at this time, at this place as any other place it 
would be done, such as a NEPA. This is not a good idea to do this in 
this area. It is going to have a harmful effect on those kids, those 
children that participate there.
  So I agree with the young lady from New York. This is a bad idea. Bad 
timing. Bad place. Let's follow the rules.

                              {time}  1415

  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New York has 1 minute 
remaining.
  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Chair, I would just add that the gentleman made 
a good point in saying that there has been significant flooding at this 
particular site. If you care about migrants and care about their 
safety, there was nearly a foot of water following the recent 
rainstorms at this site. I don't know how you expect to have these 
tents set up and people living in that condition. That is number one. 
Number two, there is also a fire safety issue. Even the legal aid 
society, by the way, has come out against this particular encampment 
because they don't feel that it is safe for the inhabitants.
  The other point that was brought up about the NEPA process is a very 
important one. I always hear my colleagues on the other side talk about 
protecting the environment, yet they are turning a blind eye right now 
to when the environmental review process is not being fulfilled. There 
wasn't an environmental assessment. There wasn't anything done to 
evaluate this, which is why they probably didn't know that such 
flooding would exist.
  Once again, it is unsafe for everybody involved. It is not the 
responsibility of the taxpayer. It is going to cost them $15 billion to 
have these encampments. We shouldn't be doing this. Let's pass H.R. 2 
and secure our border.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I am very sorry. I fully sympathize with the 
city of New York and the many challenges they are facing in managing 
this influx of people.
  As I have said, I have had numerous conversations, whether it is the 
mayor of my own city of Portland or the city council or the many people 
who are working hard in social service agencies to make sure that we 
continue to be a welcoming country; that the asylum seekers who are 
legally in our country but waiting for the long process of their asylum 
application to be approved or denied, to get through that process, that 
they require housing.

[[Page H5290]]

  I will just say a couple of things. I am sorry also that New York 
City recently had to experience the foot of water, but I encourage my 
colleagues to stop opposing measures to reduce the impact of climate 
change. Once again, they are turning their head at the things that are 
going to continue to happen more and more to some of our biggest cities 
in the country and rural areas, as well.
  I also recommend that people don't have to stay in shelters for so 
long if we would only let them go to work. We have a provision for 
asylum seekers to get a work permit, but right now it takes 180 days. 
Why not just shorten it down to 30 days. When you are concerned about 
the cost of this and the cost of people going to work, we can make sure 
they go to work. I have talked to so many asylum seekers and their 
families. They are so anxious to go to work, and we have a worker 
shortage. This is one thing it seems like we could agree upon on both 
sides of the aisle.
  I have no idea if you block this particular park in New York City, 
what you are going to do to solve this problem. This seems to me like 
just a mean-spirited attempt to try to turn away people who have 
nowhere else to turn, who are anxious to become workers in our society, 
and who need to go through a lengthy process. We could shorten that 
process.
  Mr. Chair, I 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 New York (Ms. Malliotakis).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 70 Offered by Mr. Perry

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 70 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. PERRY. 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 193, after line 2, insert the following:
       Sec. 493.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Environmental Protection Agency to take any of 
     the actions described as a ``backstop'' in the December 29, 
     2009, letter from the Regional Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency to the States in the 
     Watershed and the District of Columbia in response to the 
     development or implementation of a State's watershed 
     implementation and referred to in enclosure B of such letter.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, this amendment prohibits the use of funds to 
take retaliatory actions against States that fall short of their EPA-
mandated pollutant reduction goals. Importantly, this amendment would 
not prevent the EPA from working with States to restore the Chesapeake 
Bay.
  For context, in 1985, the States in the Chesapeake Bay region 
recognized the need to address pollutants in the bay, and through their 
own initiative, came together to conduct clean-up efforts. These State-
driven efforts were largely successful. Water quality improved almost 
50 percent from 1985 until 2010.
  However, in 2010, the EPA seized the States' authority to determine 
their own method of compliance and threatened to take over the water 
quality plans if the States failed to comply.
  States are not inferior agents to the Federal Government. States are 
not servants to the Federal Government. This 2010 power grab, known as 
the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, directly contradicts the intent of the Clean 
Water Act, directly contradicts it. The Clean Water Act clearly 
acknowledges State authority in water quality and requires cooperation, 
not coercion, between the States and the Federal Government.
  Now, these coercive methods have been tried and have failed. Water 
quality has not improved since the federalization of bay clean-up 
efforts.
  It is imperative that we return the rights of the States to make 
their own water quality decisions and restore the local control that 
has been shown to improve water quality, to be effective, because the 
future of the bay depends on it.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would allow those who pollute 
the Chesapeake Bay to ignore the Environmental Protection Agency's 
water quality standards.
  Restoring the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed continues to be a 
priority. The EPA established mandatory water quality standards, and 
Congress has approved over $1 billion for the Chesapeake Bay program to 
help States, localities, and businesses meet those standards. This 
amendment would jeopardize that funding and have devastating effects on 
the health of the bay.
  This amendment is not about the well-being of Virginia, Maryland, and 
the surrounding States. It is about the fact that some industrial 
operators don't think they should be responsible for controlling the 
pollution they dump into our rivers and streams across the country.
  The courts have sided with the EPA on this matter.
  For more than 35 years, the regional partnership created through the 
Chesapeake Bay program has sought to restore and protect the Nation's 
largest and most productive estuary.
  This amendment would undermine decades of work and have lasting 
damaging effects to the health of the bay and the economy that it 
supports.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I remind the gentlewoman and everybody that 
Pennsylvania and the other States are not ignoring the requirements. As 
I said, while they were working together without Federal involvement, 
without the coercive activity of the EPA, water quality was actually 
improving. It was actually when the Federal Government got involved 
that things stopped. It hasn't improved since that time. It worked 
until the Federal Government got involved with their coercive activity, 
and then it stopped.
  This would just allow the States to go back to collaborative efforts, 
with the Federal Government, with the EPA, without the heavy hand of 
Damocles' sword hanging over their head trying to force them to do 
something that apparently and obviously is ineffective. It is 
ineffective.
  We all have the same goal, to clean up the bay. The States have 
agreed on their own to do this, and they have been effective. What is 
not effective is the Federal Government's coercive activity. This 
amendment seeks to remove the ability for that coercive activity so 
that the requirement is just to work with the States to do what works 
and works well.
  Mr. Chair, 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 question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. PINGREE. 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 Pennsylvania 
will be postponed.


               Amendment No. 71 Offered by Mr. Arrington

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 71 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. ARRINGTON. 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:

       At the end, before the short title, insert the following:


                  salina mucket and mexican fawnsfoot

       Sec. ___. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     proposed rule titled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and 
     Plants; Endangered Species Status for Salina Mucket and 
     Mexican Fawnsfoot and Designation of Critical Habitat'' (88 
     Fed. Reg. 47952; published July 25, 2023).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Arrington) and a

[[Page H5291]]

Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Chair, I rise to encourage my colleagues to 
support my amendment to the appropriations for the Department of the 
Interior to prohibit any funds from being used to finalize President 
Biden's proposed rule which would list two species of mussels in the 
Rio Grande River as ``endangered'' and their habitat as ``critical.''
  Unfortunately, it appears to me that our President cares more about 
the Mexican mussel and protecting this critical habitat than protecting 
the American people against violent Mexican drug cartels who he has 
ceded control of our border to.
  The only critical habitat that is endangered along the Rio Grande--I 
can say this as a Texan who has been there multiple times--are the 
people in the communities living alongside the Rio Grande because of 
the deluge of people, crime, and drugs pouring into our communities not 
only in Texas but throughout the country.
  It is clear and evident to everyone in this country that our 
President has failed in his first and most important job, to provide 
for the common defense, to enforce the laws of the land, and to secure 
our sovereign border.
  Eight million people have crossed our border illegally. Just in this 
past year, almost 3.5 million, a record. Last month, 270,000, a record. 
Record drug flow. Record migrant deaths. Record abuses and humanitarian 
crimes.
  Title 8 of the U.S. Code says that no citizen can induce someone to 
break the law and they cannot harbor lawbreakers, but that is exactly 
what is going on. In title 8 of the Federal code, they call it aiding 
and abetting criminals. That is what our Federal Government, under our 
Commander in Chief and CEO, President Biden, is sanctioning and 
legitimizing.
  Thankfully, there is a section in the Constitution, Article I, 
Section 10, that affirms that States have the sovereign right of self-
defense. When there is an invasion or States experience imminent danger 
such that will not permit delay, they have the sovereign right to 
protect themselves.
  Here is the deal. President Biden isn't only abdicating his first and 
most important responsibility as President and Commander in Chief, he 
is infringing on States like Texas and their right to defend themselves 
and their citizens.
  This is the case with this Mexican mussel. He is harassing our 
Governor and State leaders as they desperately try to do what he has 
failed to do, and that is secure our sovereign border and protect the 
citizens of Texas.
  Mr. President, if you want to protect mussels in the Rio Grande 
River, stop illegal crossings, not the buoys in the States that are 
desperately trying to protect their citizens.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, nature is declining globally at rates 
unprecedented in human history. More than 1 million species are 
currently threatened with extinction, many within decades.
  This amendment seeks to legislate species status rather than 
providing species with the protections they are afforded under the 
Endangered Species Act, our principle conservation law, and would 
potentially increase litigation regarding the government's 
responsibility to implement the statutory requirements of the 
Endangered Species Act.
  Once again, my Republican colleagues are disregarding the law. We can 
have a legitimate debate on how to best manage our border and how to 
handle these issues, but that belongs in the Homeland Security bill and 
not here under this and not talking about the Endangered Species Act.
  The best available scientific and commercial information--not 
politics--should determine whether a species is listed as threatened or 
endangered. This amendment circumvents the rigorous process that is in 
place to make these determinations, as well as the role of public 
input.
  Historical range for these species was throughout the mainstem Rio 
Grande and select major tributaries in Texas and Mexico but today have 
been reduced to a single population that occupies only a fraction of 
this area.
  Human activities that threaten and diminish animal habitats, pollute 
nature, and accelerate global warming are driving species extinction 
and creating unhealthy ecosystems.
  When we lose a species, impacts reverberate throughout ecosystems and 
we all suffer because our economy, health, livelihoods, food security, 
and quality of life all depend on healthy ecosystems.

                              {time}  1430

  Defunding the Service's ability to list species would work against 
the clear intent of the Endangered Species Act and would further 
litigation by outside groups on both sides.
  It would also undercut the Service's ability to work collaboratively 
with Tribes, other Federal agencies, States, local communities, and 
landowners to conserve this species.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment and protect 
vulnerable species so future generations benefit from a world with 
healthy ecosystems and robust biodiversity.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Chair, I find it rich with irony that the 
President decides, in this administration, after Governor Abbott and 
our State leaders--in a desperate attempt to protect their citizens and 
our sovereign border as a result of the failure and abdication of 
border security, which is a national security issue and a 
responsibility of our Federal Government--put out these buoy barriers 
to prevent people from taking the dangerous trek across the river and 
to uphold the law of the land.
  Here comes our President, who I think--and I hate to impugn such bad 
motives to our President, but I think he is more concerned about 
appeasing the open border left than he actually is about the Mexican 
mussel, quite frankly. He didn't care that there were millions of 
people crossing the border illegally, trampling this very ``critical 
habitat'' of the Mexican mussel.
  Never once was that an issue for the Secretary of the Interior or 
this administration until Texans decided to stand up and fight for the 
safety of their citizens and to again honor and uphold the rule of law 
and our sovereignty as a State.
  That is an indication that maybe this President isn't quite concerned 
about critical habitat.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 72 Offered by Mr. Bentz

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 72 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. BENTZ. 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:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the establishment of a national monument in 
     Malheur County, Oregon, under chapter 3203 of title 54, 
     United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Antiquities 
     Act of 1906'').

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Oregon (Mr. Bentz) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the Department of 
the Interior from using appropriated funds for any purpose having to do 
with establishing, under the Antiquities Act, a national monument in 
Malheur County, Oregon.
  Malheur County is part of my congressional district, and it is huge, 
almost 10,000 square miles in size. As you can see from this picture to 
my right, this county is 145 times the size of Washington, D.C. It is 
sparsely populated, but the people who live and work

[[Page H5292]]

there understand the value and importance of protecting the land. Why? 
Because many are second, third, and fourth generations who have spent 
their lives earning a living in the most challenging of arid locations, 
knowing from hard experience that the only way to survive is to live in 
harmony with the land.
  Back in 2015, a small group of mostly urban activists funded by 
recreational sportswear companies tried to convince the Obama 
administration that it should use the Antiquities Act to abruptly 
impose a national monument designation on 2.5 million acres of the 6.3 
million acres making up Malheur County. That is about 40 percent of the 
county's entire area.
  This picture beside me shows the typical type of land that makes up 
this 2.5 million acres. Almost 200 miles of the canyon seen cutting 
through the sagebrush flats in this picture are already protected with 
scenic river designations. We don't need a monument stacked on top of 
those designations.
  Much of the 2.5 million acre area is covered by sagebrush and 
extremely dry. The widely separated springs and ephemeral trickles of 
water trying to pass as streams in this vast environmentally fragile 
area are generally the site of ranch headquarters operated for 
generations by rancher families.
  These ranchers, in addition to being an important part of the 
economy, provide first responder protection for recreationists, hikers, 
hunters, and, when wildfire breaks out, the land itself. Their presence 
also protects against abuse of the land by those who have little regard 
for its fragility.
  Back in 2015, when those activists began to lobby the Obama 
administration for a monument designation, local residents gathered 
together in opposition. They formed a group of ranchers, hunters, 
environmental NGOs, and others. For the past 7 years, this group has 
been meeting, studying, arguing, discussing, and working with 
landowners, State legislators, county commissioners, Congressmen, 
Senator Ron Wyden, and others to develop a legislative initiative 
addressing many of the concerns of interested parties. Their work 
culminated in S. 1890, the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee 
Act, now pending in the Senate.
  Thus, there is no reason for a national monument designation. The 
pending Senate bill, when finalized, plus the Federal protections 
already in place, as shown in the chart beside me, are designed to 
protect this important area. A top-down monument designation will not 
protect the land, and in fact, such a designation will attract tens of 
thousands of people to this fragile area, resulting in destruction of 
the very things a monument purports to protect.
  It is a sad commentary on those that preach cooperation and 
nonpartisanship that one of the environmental NGOs that was at the 
resolution table and participated in the structure found in S. 1890 has 
now begun to advertise, fundraise, and lobby advocating that the 
President use the Antiquities Act to designate that same 2.5 million 
acres as a national monument, ignoring the years of work and time 
invested by those who actually live in, on, and around this land.
  Mr. Chair, my amendment is designed to stop the use of Federal moneys 
for a monument designation, thus allowing the locally driven public 
land protective process to continue.
  Mr. Chair, I ask for support of this amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would bar the use of any 
Federal funds to create national monuments under the Antiquities Act in 
Malheur County, Oregon.
  The Antiquities Act provides the President with the authority to 
designate national monuments in order to protect objects of historic or 
scientific interest. This amendment inappropriately restricts the 
President's ability to declare national monuments in specific parts of 
the country.
  Both Republican and Democratic Presidents have used this authority to 
increase protection of special Federal lands. It goes against 100 years 
of American tradition to protect the Nation's cultural and natural 
resources.
  The Antiquities Act represents an important achievement in the 
progress of conservation and preservation efforts in the United States. 
Congress should not stand in the way of these achievements.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Chair, I want it known for the record that we had a 
vote in Malheur County some years ago on whether or not to have a 
monument, and 90 percent of the voters said no to the monument.
  The purpose of the amendment is focused on Malheur County, Oregon, 
alone. The purpose of including the entire county is that the county 
itself and the work we are doing in this other bill addresses the 
county. There is no reason to worry about the amendment being overly 
broad.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 73 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 73 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. BOEBERT. 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:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___.  The salary of Elizabeth Klein, Director of the 
     Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall be reduced to $1.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my amendment that 
utilizes the Holman rule to reduce the salary of the Director of the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Elizabeth Klein, to $1.
  Ms. Klein is a radical environmentalist and a partisan hack 
compromised by special interests and mired in ethical conflict. Her 
conflicts of interest were so severe that even Senator Manchin voted to 
block her nomination as Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
  As deputy director at the New York University School of Law's State 
Energy and Environmental Impact Center, Klein placed and paid the 
salaries of legal fellows in State attorneys general offices to advance 
Michael Bloomberg's radical environmental agenda.
  The use of private money to conduct public business is ethically 
flawed. An Indiana attorney general categorized Ms. Klein's program as 
an ``arrangement through which a private organization or individual can 
promote an overtly political agenda by paying the salaries of 
government employees.''
  In just the first year of the program, SEEIC fellows participated in 
filing at least 130 regulatory, legal, and other challenges to 
President Trump's policies.
  Now, Ms. Klein is working for the Federal Government and on the other 
side of lawsuits that she helped file. Under President Biden's own 
ethics rules, she should be prohibited from participating in matters 
involving her former employer.
  During her testimony to the House Committee on Natural Resources, I 
questioned Ms. Klein about her failed nomination to become Deputy 
Secretary of the Interior. I asked if she had been provided with a 
recusal list and formally requested that she provide this list to the 
committee. Ms. Klein told the committee that she was happy to provide 
the list.
  Shamefully, it took a letter from the committee and this aggressive 
committee questioning for Ms. Klein to send the committee a very 
delayed recusal list that should have been in place almost immediately 
after her hiring.
  Ms. Klein spent several years funneling money from Michael Bloomberg 
to sue the Trump administration and pay for the Green New Deal lawyers 
she had placed in attorneys general offices across the country.
  Given her myriad of Federal lawsuits and conflicts, there should be 
little to

[[Page H5293]]

nothing that Ms. Klein is allowed to work on at any subagency within 
the Department of the Interior.
  Senior Federal employees are required to be transparent in their 
ethical obligations and act impartially, placing their sole loyalty to 
the Constitution and the laws of the United States.
  Ms. Klein's history of infiltrating State governments with Michael 
Bloomberg minions and supporting lawsuits against the Federal 
Government makes it impossible for her to meet the ethical obligations 
that her position of public trust requires.
  Ms. Klein's continued employment as Director of the Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management has been riddled with a controversial and extensive 
history of ethical conflicts and is a stain on the Department of the 
Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
  Radical, partisan extremists have no place in the Federal Government, 
especially those in charge of our energy industry.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to restore 
integrity to the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment is petty and punitive. Rather 
than pursuing grudges against public servants and spewing inaccurate 
and disrespectful information, my colleagues across the aisle should 
focus their energy on negotiating with the Senate on a bill to fund the 
government.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1445

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. PINGREE. 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 Colorado 
will be postponed.


                Amendment No. 74 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 74 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. BOEBERT. 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:

       At the end, before the short title, insert the following:


         prohibition on finalization of certain proposed rules

       Sec. ___. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce--
       (1) the proposed rule titled ``Endangered and Threatened 
     Wildlife and Plants; Revision of Regulations for Interagency 
     Cooperation'' (88 Fed. Reg. 40753; published June 22, 2023);
       (2) the proposed rule titled ``Endangered and Threatened 
     Wildlife and Plants; Listing Endangered and Threatened 
     Species and Designating Critical Habitat'' (88 Fed. Reg. 
     40764; published June 22, 2023); or
       (3) the proposed rule titled ``Endangered and Threatened 
     Wildlife and Plants; Regulations Pertaining to Endangered and 
     Threatened Wildlife and Plants'' (88 Fed. Reg. 40742; 
     published June 22, 2023).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment that prohibits 
the Biden administration from taking any action to finalize, implement, 
or enforce their proposed Endangered Species Act rule proposed on June 
22, 2023.
  For far too long, radical environmentalists have weaponized the ESA 
against farmers, ranchers, landowners, and our rural communities. The 
proposed rule abandons clear and well-functioning Trump-era reforms in 
favor of one-size-fits-all mandates from disconnected Washington 
bureaucrats. These new regulations will only make it more difficult for 
true conservationists to assist with species recovery.
  In 2019, the Trump administration modernized the Endangered Species 
Act for the first time in nearly 40 years. The Trump administration 
added more flexibility for affected stakeholders while also ensuring 
species recovery plans take a tailored and targeted approach.
  With these proposed rules, the Biden administration moved to repeal 
and replace these changes with more mandates that don't work for the 
people on the ground.
  In 2019, President Trump and his administration recognized the 
differences between threatened and endangered species. In doing so, FWS 
rescinded the prior blanket rule that automatically granted endangered-
level protections to species listed as threatened.
  Joe Biden's plan to restore this blanket rule will lead to more red 
tape and burdensome regulations on rural communities, and they simply 
can't afford that.
  Similarly, the 2019 reforms to section 4 regarding listing and 
delisting of species and designations of critical habitat were a 
welcome change. These reforms removed constraints that previously 
prohibited agencies from researching and sharing the economic impact of 
a listing determination under the ESA.
  Joe Biden's proposal removes those flexibilities and includes a 
mandate that the agencies must designate unoccupied areas as critical 
habitat.
  The 2019 modernization efforts also updated section 7 to clarify the 
interagency consultation process and codify alternative consultation 
mechanisms to provide greater efficiency.
  The rule established standards to ensure that effects analysis for 
proposed actions is limited only to activities that are reasonably 
certain to occur and must be backed by clear and substantial 
information.
  Eliminating these important modernizations made by President Trump 
and his administration will only result in further one-size-fits-all 
responses to threatened and endangered species that will benefit 
absolutely nobody, including the species.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of my amendment to 
prevent these egregious new rules from taking effect and steer the ESA 
back to its intended purpose of actually helping species recover 
without being a barrier to prosperity for our rural communities.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, the Endangered Species Act is the Nation's 
principle conservation law whose ultimate goals include preventing the 
extinction of species and providing for their recovery.
  On June 4, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries 
Service announced a plan to improve and strengthen implementation of 
the Endangered Species Act to address 21st century conservation 
challenges.
  These agencies are proposing to revise three final rules issued in 
2019 under the previous administration that do not adequately guide the 
implementation of the Endangered Species Act. The proposed revisions 
are intended to improve and clarify the interagency consultation 
processes; listing, delisting, and reclassification decisions; and 
designation of critical habitat.
  Why would anyone object to making regulations clearer, more 
straightforward, or improving implementation of the Endangered Species 
Act?
  The Services also proposed to reinstate the 4(d) blanket rule options 
for protecting and conserving threatened species. Remember, Mr. Chair, 
providing a suite of protections for threatened species will help it 
avoid becoming an endangered species.
  These proposed rules are now subject to public review and comment, 
and the Services will carefully consider the comments they receive 
before finalizing any changes.
  The proposed revisions do not alter the standards for making listing 
and delisting decisions, nor will they automatically lead to an 
increase or decrease in the total amount or area of

[[Page H5294]]

critical habitat that is designated. These decisions will still depend 
on the Services using the best scientific information available.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to consider how these revisions will 
make ESA regulations more consistent and efficient, and to reject this 
amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I just would note that we understand how the 
comment periods work under the Biden administration. Typically, they 
are for a topic that impacts our rural communities. In the West, there 
is a real rural and urban divide, and it is always my effort to 
highlight that and give our rural communities a strong voice in the 
efforts that we are promoting.
  Unfortunately, usually for the topics at hand that are impacting our 
rural communities, the comment period meetings are often held in urban 
areas where it is difficult for our farmers and ranchers to even travel 
to so they can have their comments heard.
  Also, these bureaucrats already have their minds made up. They don't 
care what they are reading in the comments, they don't care what is 
being said during the comment time.
  Their position is solid, and the American people do not want more red 
tape.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my 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 (Ms. Boebert).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. PINGREE. 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 Colorado 
will be postponed.


                Amendment No. 75 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 75 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. BOEBERT. 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:
       At the end, before the short title, insert the following:


            prohibition on finalization of certain documents

       Sec. ___. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     Draft Resource Management Plan or Draft Supplemental 
     Environmental Impact Statement referenced in the Notice 
     titled ``Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource 
     Management Plan and Supplemental Environmental Impact 
     Statement for the Colorado River Valley Field Office and 
     Grand Junction Field Office Resource Management Plans, 
     Colorado'' (88 Fed. Reg. 51855; published August 4, 2023).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that 
prohibits the Bureau of Land Management from taking any action to 
finalize, implement, or enforce a Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to end new oil leases 
on 1.6 million acres in Colorado.
  Colorado's West Slope used to have a booming energy production 
economy. Unfortunately, we have been regulated into poverty in 
Colorado's Third District.
  I remember when I owned a small business, roughnecks used to come 
into my restaurant, and I knew that it was going to be a good, 
successful, and profitable day because I had mud on my floors to clean 
up. However, through regulations, there was no more mud to clean up on 
nearly any of our business floors, and many businesses shuttered 
forever.
  There used to be 112 rigs on the West Slope, but now we have 4 
drilling rigs. Now not-in-my-backyard extremists and job-killing 
Federal policies have driven away these good-paying jobs. The Bureau of 
Land Management's Draft Resource Management Plan for the Colorado River 
Valley field office and Grand Junction field office is the latest 
fossil fuel attack.
  This proposed land grab could remove over 1.6 million acres of public 
lands in Colorado from future oil and gas leasing and establish nine 
different areas of critical environmental concern and over 100,000 
acres of BLM land.
  If this proposal is finalized, the United States will lose access to 
vital energy resources, many more than 600 fewer wells projected by the 
agency to be lost by 2043.
  The consequences will be felt far beyond the State of Colorado where 
the residents will lose their livelihoods and see increased gas and 
energy prices. BLM is proposing to close all areas with no known, low, 
and moderate oil and gas development potential and is basing its 
analysis of the oil and gas potential on out-of-date information that 
does not take into consideration modern technology.
  The Permian Basin was once thought to be low to medium, and now it is 
the highest producing oil field in the world. As a result, the Permian 
Basin would be closed if this proposal had been in place in New Mexico 
and Texas prior to the significant amount of production that is now 
occurring.
  This proposed land grab is nothing short of partisan politics meant 
to further restrict access to the oil and natural gas development that 
could reinvigorate the economy of the West Slope of Colorado and help 
ensure energy security for all Americans.
  There are already stringent standards and requirements in place for 
all oil and gas producers that aim at reducing environmental and 
cultural impacts. This proposed rule is yet another blatant land grab 
designed to dismantle the fossil fuel industry and force a green 
transition.
  Closing the door to over 1.6 million acres of vital public lands for 
energy development is not just an issue of economics, it is a threat to 
our Nation's energy independence and security. This proposal goes 
beyond necessary environmental consideration and instead seeks to 
restrict access to promising resources hindering the potential for 
economic growth and prosperity, particularly on the West Slope of 
Colorado.
  Rogue bureaucrats at the BLM shouldn't be unilaterally locking up 
more land in Colorado. It is urgent that we block this overreach and 
prioritize responsible energy production that will help reduce gas 
prices during these challenging times.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, we are now only 15 days away from a 
government shutdown, and instead of focusing on keeping the government 
open, we are working on a bill that is going nowhere.
  The draconian cuts proposed in this bill violate the agreement 
reached by former Speaker McCarthy and President Biden and that were 
memorialized in statute in Public Law 118-5, the Fiscal Responsibility 
Act of 2023. We would not be teetering on the brink of a government 
shutdown if my Republican colleagues had held up their end of the 
bargain.
  We are here to protect the welfare of the American public, and we 
cannot close our eyes to the impacts of climate change, such as the 
drought, flooding, severe storm, and wildfire events we are 
experiencing. As of October 10, the United States has experienced 24 
confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 
billion each. This is a new record.
  This amendment seeks to prohibit funding for the Bureau of Land 
Management to finalize, implement, or enforce a Draft Resource 
Management Plan and draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
that would remove 1.6 million acres of public lands in Colorado from 
future oil and gas leasing. These lands do not have high oil and gas 
potential, and BLM's actions would protect the important wildlife 
habitat, recreation areas, and water resources, as well as reduce 
emissions and the impacts of climate change.
  Not investing in strategies that minimize and prevent the 
acceleration of climate change and instead paying billions in disaster 
relief shows my Republican colleagues are not thinking

[[Page H5295]]

about what is best for the American taxpayer.
  Our economy, health, livelihoods, food security, and quality of life 
all depend on healthy ecosystems.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment and focus 
instead on addressing climate change and making our Nation stronger, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1500

  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 76 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 76 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. BOEBERT. 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:

       At the end, before the short title, insert the following:


              prohibition on finalization of proposed rule

       Sec. ___. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     proposed rule titled ``Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing 
     Process'' (88 Fed. Reg. 47562; published July 24, 2023).

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, from day one in his administration, Joe Biden 
declared an all-out war on American energy production and exploration. 
He made it clear that he cares more about appeasing the radical climate 
change activists than protecting the millions of oil and gas workers 
and producers in America.
  I was disappointed but not surprised this July when the Biden 
administration filed this proposed rule entitled fluid mineral leases 
and the leasing process, which mandates provisions from the partisan 
so-called Inflation Reduction Act, better known as the Green New Deal 
in disguise, which increased the royalty rate for production on Federal 
lands while also increasing and creating new fees for domestic energy 
producers.
  This new fluid mineral leasing rule is further proof that Joe Biden 
is using every tool in his administration to dismantle American energy 
production. It increases bonding levels for the production on Federal 
lands and proposes ending nationwide bonding and increasing the minimum 
bond amounts for individual lease bonds and statewide lease bonds from 
$10,000 to $150,000 and from $25,000 to $500,000 respectively.
  This significant increase will tie up capital that would otherwise be 
put back into production and is unjustifiable as there are only 37 
orphaned oil and gas wells on BLM-managed land.
  These increases will impact smaller producers who can't afford to 
operate in the market. These additional fees will ultimately harm 
returns and reduce revenues to State and local governments by 
disincentivizing development on Federal lands.
  The proposed rule also introduces the idea of using preference 
criteria to inform the BLM's selection of lands for lease sales. BLM's 
rationale for this change is to avoid conflict areas with sensitive 
cultural wildlife and recreation resources. This means that the BLM 
field offices could avoid leasing in all areas with endangered or 
threatened species--maybe that is their goal--critical habitat or even 
nearby recreation areas, a move that would greatly limit leasing on 
Federal lands.
  With the wars happening in the Middle East and in Europe, and with 
OPEC significantly lowering oil production, we cannot rely on foreign 
nations to control our energy supply.
  America makes the cleanest energy in the world. American innovation--
in particular, fracking--has allowed America to be the global leader in 
reducing emissions since 2000. We need to stop buying oil and gas from 
Russia, stop begging OPEC, Venezuela, and even Iran to produce energy 
for us, and start producing more clean, reliable, affordable energy 
responsibly here in America.
  We must restore American energy dominance and produce clean, reliable 
energy right here at home. I urge adoption of my amendment, Mr. Chair, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment is one more controversial 
poison pill policy rider that sadly shows extremist Republicans are not 
interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law.
  The proposed rule on fluid mineral leases and the leasing process 
aims to enhance the administration of oil and gas-related activities on 
America's public lands and reflects provisions in recently enacted laws 
that modify aspects of the Federal onshore oil and gas program whose 
regulations have not been updated since 1988. However, this amendment 
seeks to prohibit that.
  Once again, my Republican colleagues are disregarding the law. This 
amendment circumvents the rigorous process that is in place to update 
outdated regulations, which includes opportunities for public input, 
protects the fiscal interests of the American public, and ensures 
proper stewardship of public lands and resources for the benefit of 
future generations.
  The Government Accountability Office and the Department of the 
Interior's Office of Inspector General have conducted audits of the 
BLM's Federal onshore oil and gas program and highlighted weaknesses 
that BLM needs to correct to ensure the American public receives a fair 
return from oil and gas activities on public lands.
  I do not understand why my Republican colleagues would seek to 
undermine the efforts that address those weaknesses and protect the 
American public. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment to 
protect the fiscal interests of the American public and our natural 
resources so future generations benefit from a world with healthy 
ecosystems and robust biodiversity.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 77 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 77 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Ms. BOEBERT. 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:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to carry out the Bicycle Subsidy Benefit Program of 
     the Department of the Interior.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment to 
prohibit funding for the Bicycle Subsidy Benefit Program at the 
Department of the Interior. I wish I were kidding.
  The DOI Bicycle Subsidy Benefit Program provides taxpayer dollars to 
DOI employees and paid student interns or unpaid student volunteers for 
the purchase, improvements, repair, storage, and/or maintenance of a 
nonmotorized bicycle that is used as a primary means of commuting to 
and from work, as well as a monthly stipend. You can't make this up.
  American taxpayers' hard-earned money is being wasted on covering 
bicycle commuting expenses such as bicycles, bicycle locks, bicycle 
parking storage, bicycle safety equipment, bicycle improvements or 
accessories, including reflective lights, racks, bicycle repairs, and 
general maintenance, personal safety and protective equipment, 
including high-visibility safety apparel, headwear, bicycle gloves, and 
bicycle share memberships, as well as getting paid to bike to work.
  DOI employees are going to bike to work because they want to bike to

[[Page H5296]]

work, not because taxpayers are being forced to shell out $20 a month 
to Federal bureaucrats that participate in this absurd and ridiculous 
program.
  Coloradans across my district are struggling right now as they deal 
with the disastrous effects of Joe Biden's destructive economic 
policies. The Biden administration has unleashed record inflation on 
Americans that has decimated our bank and retirement accounts, 
increased gas prices to record levels, raised utility bills, driven up 
grocery prices, and made it harder to live for all American people.
  The primary root cause of this record-breaking inflation was 
trillions of dollars of wasteful Federal spending. This excessive 
spending has real life consequences. American families will pay a 
$8,581 inflation tax over the next year. Currently 20 million Americans 
can't even afford to pay their utility bill.
  We have seen a 4.3 percent decline in real wages since Biden took 
office. Americans have lost more than $2 trillion in retirement 
savings. America is $33 trillion in debt, with a $2 trillion a year 
deficit, and Democrats want us to continue to print money and pay 
bureaucrats to bike to work when our so-called Commander in Chief 
doesn't even know how to properly ride one. Maybe we should subsidize 
some bicycle lessons for the President while we are at it.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to cut 
wasteful Federal spending by prohibiting funding for the Bicycle 
Subsidy Benefit Program at the Department of the Interior. Mr. Chair, I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would block the Department of 
the Interior from its Bicycle Subsidy Benefit Program, which encourages 
Federal employees to use bicycles to commute to the office. Not unlike 
many wellness programs that are available in the public and private 
sector, this is a good idea for the fresh air, for personal health, for 
a whole host of reasons. It is also good for the environment. More of 
us should be on bicycles instead of occupying a car to commute back and 
forth to work.
  The Department created this program in response to a 1993 law in 
which Congress authorizes each agency head to establish a program to 
encourage employees to use means other than single-occupancy motor 
vehicles to commute to and from work. It is a governmentwide program, 
and this amendment unfairly targets Interior employees.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to treat all employees fairly and 
reject this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, riding a bicycle is great. It is wonderful. 
Sure, we want fresh air. Sure, we want exercise. It is great for our 
health, but it is not great for the American taxpayer to subsidize this 
to bureaucrats.
  What about western Colorado? Are we going to subsidize our Bureau of 
Land Management personnel to ride horses into work? Do we pay for their 
feed, their lot storage? Do we get to pay for all that as well? It is 
never ending.
  The gentlewoman pointed out that this unfairly targets DOI. I am 
happy to defund this program in every agency across the Federal 
Government. We just happen to be speaking about the Department of the 
Interior right now.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my 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 (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 78 Offered by Mr. Burgess

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 78 
printed in part A of House Report 118-261.
  Mr. BURGESS. 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:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency to hire or pay the salary of any officer or employee 
     of the Environmental Protection Agency under subsection (f) 
     or (g) of section 207 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 209) who is not already receiving pay under either 
     such subsection on the date of enactment of this Act.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 838, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Burgess) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment that would 
prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from utilizing a title 42 
special pay authority.
  There is no rationale for this authority to exist. It is time that 
the authorizers in Congress stand up for their prerogatives and act as 
a check on the executive branch when it invents claims to new powers to 
which it has no right.
  Mr. Chair, this is not just my sentiment. In 2012, the Government 
Accountability Office conducted a study on the EPA's use of title 42 
special pay authority. In that study, multiple instances of 
irregularities were found, entry-level scientists were hired at much 
higher than what would be the expected GS pay level.
  Why would we allow the EPA to continue to use a program when it has 
clearly and repeatedly demonstrated that it is a poor steward of 
American tax dollars?
  Mr. Chair, not only has there been a report that highlights the abuse 
of the program, but a subsequent study was undertaken by the EPA's 
Office of Inspector General that found that the EPA did not demonstrate 
a need to use this special pay authority. In fact, there was no 
shortage of qualified applicants for those positions.
  Even more alarming, the inspector general found that the EPA did not 
provide any convincing justification for its continued use. Recent 
college graduates with a chemistry degree have been hired on to the 
staff of the EPA at rates higher, much higher than the GS level would 
indicate. This is not for what the program was intended. It is time for 
Congress to exercise the proper authority and not allow agencies to 
ignore congressional intent.

                              {time}  1515

  It is time for Congress to exercise the proper authority and not 
allow agencies to ignore congressional intent.
  That is why this amendment should be adopted, Mr. Chair. I urge my 
colleagues to support the amendment and show the American people that 
its Representatives here in the people's House will properly require 
accountability of agencies, particularly when they overstep the bounds 
of congressional intent.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Maine is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the EPA from 
hiring scientists using its title 42 authority. Title 42 authority is a 
flexible hiring mechanism that allows agencies to attract and retain 
staff with outstanding scientific, technical, and clinical skills.
  The authority is used by the EPA, CDC, NIH, and other agencies that 
require candidates to have specialized degrees in areas such as 
medicine, science, and engineering.
  It is not always easy for the Federal Government to attract high-
level professionals who have invested many years in school and can 
easily make more in private practice or even in academia. That is why 
the Federal Government allows these agencies to provide some additional 
funding to retain or recruit these employees.
  Mr. Chair, I am dismayed that the gentleman does not believe such 
highly specialized employees deserve title 42 recognition.
  With our Nation facing crises like COVID and climate change, we 
should be investing in our scientists. It is a shortsighted amendment 
that unfairly attacks Federal employees who devote their lives to 
public service.
  Mr. Chair, I urge the defeat of this amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I will simply underscore the fact that entry-
level chemists at the EPA are hired at much

[[Page H5297]]

higher than the GSA rate. These are not highly sought-after scientists. 
These are entry-level applicants, and there is no shortage of 
applicants for those positions.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. 
Simpson), the chair of the committee.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, but I rise mainly 
to explain what the special hiring authority is.
  The so-called title 42 special hiring authority was provided to the 
Department of Health and Human Services to allow the agency to pay 
individuals above the GSA pay scale. The authority was created to allow 
the agency to compete with private-sector salaries for the Nation's 
best healthcare experts and scientists, given the critical importance 
of human health and the Federal role in public health.
  Congress then provided the EPA with this authority for the first time 
in 2006. It was authorized by Congress in 2006, arguing that the EPA 
also conducts human health work, such as research and assessment of 
chemicals. Most recently, the authority of the EPA was renewed in the 
fiscal year 2022 spending year, which capped the total number of people 
who could be hired using this special authority to 100 people.
  The current authority expires at the end of fiscal year 2025. This 
amendment allows current individuals to continue to be paid using the 
special authority but blocks any additional staff from being hired 
under this authority.
  Remember, this expires at the end of 2025, and I would hope that the 
authorizing committees would take it up and decide what they want to do 
in the future, but not do this through an amendment.
  I understand the gentleman's very longstanding concerns with this 
authority at EPA, and I agree that appropriate oversight needs to be 
provided so that this authority is not abused, but I do oppose this 
amendment.
  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment. It is 
important, with $31 trillion in national debt, that we be good stewards 
of taxpayer dollars. The gentleman is right. I have pursued this for a 
number of years, but it is because it is a noble cause.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. PINGREE. 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 Texas will 
be postponed.
  Mr. SIMPSON. 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. 
Bucshon) having assumed the chair, Mr. Fallon, 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. 4821) 
making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, 
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and 
for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

                          ____________________