[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]]

     
                                  ____
                                         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.

                          ____________________