[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 20 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H395-H396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UDALL FOUNDATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2882) to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L.
Udall Trust Fund, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2882
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Udall Foundation
Reauthorization Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. INVESTMENT EARNINGS.
Section 8(b)(1) of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall
Foundation Act (20 U.S.C. 5606(b)(1)) is amended by adding at
the end the following: ``Beginning on October 1, 2023, and
thereafter, interest earned from investments made with any
new appropriations to the Trust Fund shall only be available
subject to appropriations and is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the provisions of this Act.''.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE UDALL FOUNDATION TRUST FUND.
Section 13 of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall
Foundation Act (20 U.S.C. 5609) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2028'';
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2028''; and
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``5-fiscal year period''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``5-fiscal year period beginning with fiscal year
2024.''.
SEC. 4. AUDIT OF THE FOUNDATION.
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this
section, the Inspector General of the Department of the
Interior shall complete an audit of the Morris K. Udall and
Stewart L. Udall Foundation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs.
Dingell) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2882, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2882, the Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act of
2023, as amended, would reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L.
Udall Foundation through 2028.
Congress passed the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in
National Environmental Policy Foundation Act in 1992, intending to
provide scholarships and internship opportunities for Native Americans.
This program continues today and brings Native American students into
the halls of government, providing opportunities for them to pursue
public policy and work on issues that directly address their own
experiences.
In 1998, Congress broadened the scope of the Udall Foundation and
created the United States Institute for Environmental Conflict
Resolution. In 2009, Congress amended the act to add former Secretary
of the Interior Stewart Udall's name to the Foundation.
The Udall Foundation was last reauthorized in 2019. In that
reauthorization, Congress renamed the United States Institute to the
John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict
Resolution.
The Udall Foundation currently supports several programs that
encourage research and study related to the environment, American
Indian and Alaska Native healthcare issues, and Tribal public policy
concerns.
H.R. 2882 reauthorizes the Udall Foundation through 2028. This
reauthorization maintains currently authorized appropriations and has
been amended to make interest income from the trust fund subject to
appropriations.
The bill also requires the Department of the Interior's Office of the
Inspector General complete an audit of the Udall Foundation within 4
years of passage. Past audits highlighted areas where the Foundation
was then able to strengthen processes within the Foundation.
I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani) for his work on
this bill, and I encourage adoption of the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of
Representatives,
Washington, DC, January 3, 2024.
Hon. Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Westerman: This letter is in regard to the
jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Education and the
Workforce (``Committee'') in certain provisions of H.R. 2882,
the Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2023, which fall
within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Education
and the Workforce.
In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed
expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill,
the Committee is willing to waive the right to sequential
referral. By waiving consideration of the bill, the Committee
does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the
subject matters contained in the bill that fall within its
Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to
name members of the Education and the Workforce Committee to
any conference committee that is named to consider such
provisions.
Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R.
2882 and into the Congressional Record during consideration
of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the
cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this
matter and others between our respective committees.
Sincerely,
Virginia Foxx,
Chairwoman.
[[Page H396]]
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House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, January 4, 2024.
Hon. Virginia Foxx,
Chairwoman, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House
of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairwoman Foxx: I write regarding H.R. 2882, the
``Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2023.'' The bill
was referred primarily to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce, and additionally to the Committee on Natural
Resources, and was ordered reported, as amended, by the
Committee on Natural Resources on November 15, 2023.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and the
Workforce and appreciate your willingness to forgo any
further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the
Committee on Education and the Workforce will not formally
consider H.R. 2882 and agree that the inaction of your
Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any
jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the
Committee on Education and the Workforce to any conference
committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our
exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record
during floor consideration of the bill and will include such
letters in the committee report on H.R. 2882. I appreciate
your cooperation regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2882. This bill will
reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund.
The Udall Foundation was established as an independent Federal agency
in 1992 by Congress in honor of Mo Udall's contributions to our
Nation's public lands and natural resources and his support for Tribal
self-determination. In 2009, Congress honored Stewart Udall in the name
of the Foundation alongside his brother.
The Udall Foundation's impact is monumental in supporting the next
generation of environmental and Tribal policy leaders. From the John S.
McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution to the
Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy, the
Foundation serves a critical role in shaping public policy.
In addition, the Foundation supports several educational programs,
such as the Parks in Focus program, fellowships, scholarships, and
congressional internships.
H.R. 2882 will ensure the Foundation remains an essential partner in
Tribal and environmental education.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, once again, this is important legislation
to reauthorize the Udall Foundation to continue supporting Native
American congressional interns, as well as the research and study that
goes along with that.
As I mentioned earlier, it also works with Alaska Native healthcare
issues and Tribal public policy issues. This is a very important piece
of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
am prepared to close.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani), the sponsor of the bill.
Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Westerman, my good friend,
for yielding me the time to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 2882, the
Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2023.
The Udall Foundation is a nonpartisan agency established by Congress
in 1992, committed to the values of civility, integrity, and consensus,
which are emblematic of how Mo Udall approached his 30 years of public
service in this House.
Since its creation, the Udall Foundation has done incredible work.
They have awarded over 1,800 undergraduate scholarships to students
pursuing careers in environmental public policy, Tribal public policy,
or Native healthcare. They have placed over 300 Native American and
Alaska Native students in summer internships on Capitol Hill and with
Federal agencies. They have conducted over 800 environmental
collaboration and conflict resolution assessments, and facilitated
processes and trainings across all 50 States.
My bill, H.R. 2882, extends the Udall Foundation's authority for 5
additional fiscal years, through FY 2028. This reauthorization will
allow the agency to promote public service through research, education,
and service programs. Moreover, they will continue to foster
leadership, education, collaboration, and conflict resolution in the
areas of environment, public lands, Native Nations, and natural
resources.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this
commonsense, bipartisan legislation.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentleman from Arizona
for sponsoring this important legislation. I urge adoption of the bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2882, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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