James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1512) providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 7776, with an amendment.

The Clerk read the title of the resolution.

(Text of H. Res. 1512, see Book II of this Record.)

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Res. 1512.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise to urge Members to support this piece of legislation. I thank everyone who worked on this process. All told, from the beginning of it, to now, over 2,000 Member requests were considered in some form or another, either in committee, on the House, or as we worked with the Senate.

With that open, collaborative, and bipartisan process, we have produced, I think, an excellent product. First, and foremost, we support the men and women who serve in the United States military in this bill. Most specifically, we serve the people who are economically struggling the most by a 4.6 percent pay raise, increase in the basic housing allowance, increase in the basic needs allowance, making sure that the price of items at the commissary do not go up so much as to price people out of it.

We support the men and women who serve in the military in this bill, and that is the number one most important role that we have.

This bill also continues on the work that we did on last year's efforts to reform how sexual assault is handled in the military by including sexual harassment in the portions that are under the jurisdiction of the special victim prosecutor.

There is a laundry list of things we do to really improve the quality of life for servicemembers and to exercise our oversight.

This bill also contains a number of other oversight bills; the Intelligence oversight bill, the Foreign Affairs oversight bill, the Coast Guard authorization bill--authorization was the word I was looking for--as well as the Water Resources Development Act.

All told, this bill is Congress exercising its authority to authorize and do oversight of the executive branch on behalf of the American people; and I think that is enormously important.

We are a coequal branch of government. It is our responsibility to exercise that oversight and represent the people.

Now, obviously, the most direct, sort of blunt force way that we do it is through appropriations, the money we spend. That is incredibly important as well.

But the authorizing portion of what we do matters a great deal. It is our opportunity, as individual Members of Congress, to set policy for this country at the Department of Defense, first and foremost but, as I said, also in this bill on intel and foreign affairs and the Coast Guard and elsewhere. It is really important that we get that job done and we do it really, really well.

I can't go through every single item that is in this bill, but I can tell you that just about every Member of this House has something in this bill that is important for policy, important to their district. I know because they have been talking to me for the last 6 months about it.

This is important policy that makes a huge difference for the people of this body and the people of this country, and I would urge us to support it.

I want to say two more quick things before I yield to my partner-- actually, three more quick things before I yield to my partner, Mr. Rogers, on this.

First of all, I really want to thank him, the staff, and everybody involved in all of that. To field that many requests takes a lot of time. The staff on the Armed Services Committee has been outstanding, and we are a bipartisan staff. We work together in a collaborative process.

All of the committee members, Republican and Democrat, have worked well together. Heck, in this moment I will even say something good about the Senate. They worked well with us also in a bipartisan, bicameral way. I really thank them for putting that process together.

Second, I do want to just briefly address, there is always a lot of controversy about issues not within our jurisdiction and whether or not they go into the bill. What has to happen on that is the committees of jurisdiction have to agree. Democrat, Republican, House, Senate, you have got to get all four. If you get all four, great, we are happy to carry it. If you don't, we can't.

I know it is important to you. I know you wish we could, but we can't because we don't have the votes for it. So I hope people understand that as we work with them on those outside issues.

Lastly, I do want to address the vaccine issue, and I want to make a couple of things perfectly clear. Number one, the policy that the Department of Defense put in place in August of 2021 requiring servicemembers to be vaccinated was the absolute right policy.

It saved lives and it improved readiness for the United States military while it was in place because it was absolutely clear that that vaccine made an enormous difference in protecting people from the disease. It was the absolute right policy; that is number one.

Number two, servicemembers who refused to follow that order had to be disciplined. Orders are not optional in the United States military. You cannot function that way, and we are not going to undo that.

But number three, right now, today, what is it, December whatever, in 2022, a policy that says you have to have gotten the first shot, and that is what the policy is that we are undoing in this bill. It says that you have to have gotten that first shot way back in 2021, either one Johnson & Johnson shot or the two-shot Pfizer or Moderna deal. Right now, the science does not support that that makes you any safer today; it just doesn't.

I urge the Department of Defense to go back now and look at that policy and think about what the right and best policy would be. But it does make sense to repeal that order from August of 2021.

Personally, I would have preferred the Department of Defense do it on their own rather than the legislature telling them to. But since they didn't, I think this makes sense, and I think we ought to do it.

Again, let me just conclude by saying this has been an excellent process. We have a nearly 4,000-page bill that exercises the authorizing and oversight authority of the United States Congress on behalf of the American people. We did it very well.

We have accomplished a lot in this bill. I think every Member of this body can vote for it and feel really good about that.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.
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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Speier), the chair of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time remains on each side.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Jackson Lee).

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I know how hard the chairman works. I would have preferred the mark of the President's budget, but this is hard fought and hard won.

I thank the chairman for the raise that has been given to our servicemen, their housing allowances. Let me thank him for this important research stream to the historically Black colleges and for Ukraine.

Let me also thank him for what we have fought for in the name of Vanessa Guillen, and that is a new protocol for the sexual assault that occurs in our military branches. Let me not point out a particular one.

Let me also stand on this floor and say hostage Brittney Griner has come home. That is a testament to what America is all about. I thank all those who played a role and indicate that, as she has come home and her family is ecstatic, I remind everyone that former marine Paul Whelan should be brought home, as well.

I thank President Biden for working on making sure there is an authorization bill that really responds to the people of the United States military. I am delighted that the amendments dealing with breast cancer that I offered were included, $10 million for triple-negative breast cancer. I am delighted for the PTSD funding, $2.5 million, that I offered, as well, to ensure that the people of the military are taken care of. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to recognize the importance.

Brittney Griner is home.

Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to express my support for the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 7776, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2023.

Congress has the solemn duty to ensure that those who wear the uniform of the United States--and those civilians who provide logistical and operational support--have the equipment, training, and resources needed to carry out and complete their mission.

And we must never forget that a grateful nation has a sacred obligation, in the words of President Lincoln, ``to care for him who has borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.''

This legislation rises to meet that mandate admirably in myriad ways, from providing a 4.6 percent pay raise for service members to increasing funding for housing, childcare, and improved food for service members.

Importantly, the bill provides over $131 million in funding for research at HBCUs--a 22.8 percent increase--which improves integration of HBCUs into our country's national defense research and development infrastructure.

These are important measures because, as the DoD is the largest federal agency, the wide scope of activities covered by the NDAA impact every sector of our economy and every facet of American life. The activities funded by the NDAA are, in effect, a microcosm of the activities of the United States, and, as such, they must set the tone for how these issues are to be addressed in our country's other industries and communities.

Of course, the main purpose they serve is to protect our country and strengthen our national defense. So, I am pleased that this bill reinforces our capacity to meet the challenges posed by Russia's aggression in Ukraine, China's increasing agitation in the South China Sea, non-state terrorist groups, cyber-attacks, and other threats to our country.

I am especially pleased that this bill adopts a modern yet long-term approach to our national defense by embracing innovative strategies, emerging technologies, workforce diversity and inclusion, preparation for asymmetric combat, and operational continuity and resilience.

In furtherance of these essential principles and methods, I offered amendments to the NDAA when it came to the floor of the House in July, and I am very pleased that the legislation before us today includes my amendments which I would like to summarize.

My amendment #191 authorizes a $2.5 million increase in funding to combat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and I thank my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee for adding the full $2.5 million increase into this legislation.

PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as torture, being kidnapped or held captive, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes. According to the NIH, an estimated 3.6 percent of U.S. adults had PTSD in the past year.

People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb (especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close), lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become violent.

Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called flashbacks. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.

My amendment recognizes that the soldiers afflicted with PTSD are, first and foremost, human. They carry their experiences with them. Ask a veteran of Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan about the frequency of nightmares they experience, and one will realize that serving in the Armed Forces leaves a lasting impression, whether good or bad.

My amendment will help ensure that ``no soldier is left behind'' by addressing the urgent need for more outreach toward hard-to-reach veterans suffering from PTSD, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas of our country.

My amendment #194 authorizes a $10 million increase in funding for increased collaboration between the DoD Office of Health and the National Institutes of Health to research and combat Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I am very pleased that my colleagues added the full $10 million increase into the bill.

As a Member of Congress, a mother, a sister and a spouse, and a breast cancer survivor, I feel a special responsibility to do all I can to ensure that every American can defeat all types of cancer, and especially triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). We must increase our efforts to protect women in the military, and women who are spouses of service members, from this virulent and lethal illness.

The 13-25 percent of breast cancers that are triple-negative disproportionately afflict Black women. Although the rate of all breast cancers is 10 percent lower in Black women than white women, Black women are 3 times more likely to suffer from triple negative breast cancer than are white women. In 2013, the American Cancer Society estimated that 27,000 Black women are diagnosed with the illness annually.

African American women who are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer--an especially aggressive type of cancer which often occurs at younger ages than other breast cancers--have a five year survival rate of 78 percent after diagnosis as compared to 90 percent for white women.

The key to beating this cancer is early detection, and the DoD's health care system for women service members and women who are spouses of service members can enable early detection.

A 2007 study of more than 50,000 women with all stages of breast cancer found that 77 percent of women with triple-negative breast cancer survived at least 5 years, versus 93 percent women with other types of breast cancer. Another study of more than 1,600 women published in 2007 found that women with triple-negative breast cancer had a higher risk of death within 5 years of diagnosis.

By prioritizing this very lethal condition, the DoD can make great strides in protecting women from triple negative breast cancer's worst effects.

My amendment #199 directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure that candidates granted admission to attend a military academy undergo screening for speech disorders and be provided appropriate opportunities and supportive services.

Academy students should have the option of undergoing speech therapy to reduce speech disorders or impediments.

I am pleased that Report Language was added that cites the DoD's recent attention to this issue, and states, in part, that the DoD is now ``noting the availability of medical waivers in certain circumstances for physical or medical standards, providing the Reading Aloud Test administered to applicants,'' and very importantly, ``describing the availability of speech therapy.''

My amendment #195 directs the Secretary of Defense to audit current practices for the administration of sexual harassment claims and submit a report detailing efforts to prevent sexual harassment and protect service members, and compiling data and research on sexual harassment prevalence in the military, cases reported, legal proceedings, and convictions.

Sexual assault is endemic in our military, especially for female service members. Streamlining and auditing the process of reporting sexual assault protects victims and is a necessary step in weeding out abusers.

I am very pleased that this bill advances key reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prevent sexual harassment and abuse by:

placing sexual harassment and related sexual offenses in the jurisdiction of the Special Trial Counsel;

requiring independent trained investigators outside of the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment;

requiring the randomization of court-martial panels;

expanding reporting requirements on the implementation of the New Special Trial Counsel program; and

permitting the Secretary of Defense to expand restricted reporting of sexual assault for civilian employees rather than relegating them to only filing unrestricted reports with the military.

In light of these measures to reform the enforcement process against sexual offenses, I am pleased that, as a result of my amendment, Report Language has been added, stating that, ``. . . the matters addressed in this provision are routinely addressed in the Department's Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military.''

My amendment #190 requires a report to be submitted to Congress within 240 days following enactment on the risks posed by debris in low earth orbit and to make recommendations on remediation of risks and outline plans to reduce the incident of space debris.

Man-made objects in Earth's orbit that become space debris no longer serve a useful function, yet their impact can pose serious risks to personnel in orbiting spacecraft, satellites, and essential systems since they travel at speeds up to 17,500 miles per hour. Space debris includes nonfunctional spacecraft, abandoned launch vehicle stages, mission-related debris, and fragmentation debris.

I am very pleased that my amendment led to inclusion of bill language requiring the Secretary of Defense to respond to a reporting requirement regarding space debris that was included in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 specific to defense and national security space assets.

My amendment #198 requires the National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to submit to Congress and others in 2023, 2024, and 2025 a report identifying the personnel, training, and equipment needed by the non-federal National Guard to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters.

Hurricane Harvey's impact in Texas was so severe that it lingered for years. The storm's footprint covered over 9,000 square miles, including the city of Houston. Hurricane Harvey dropped over 52 inches of rain in the Houston area. At its peak, one-third of Houston was underwater, leaving 34,575 evacuees in shelters across Texas.

The scope and magnitude of these dueling disasters tested the National Guard and Reservists in unprecedented ways. To prepare for major natural disasters in the future, this amendment requires a readiness report by the National Guard and Reservists to make sure they have what they need to assist communities in need of disaster assistance.

My amendment will help the National Guard help communities prepare for disasters, respond to them, and rebuild from them. It will improve the ability to support the important mission of the National Guard and Reservists to engage in disaster response.

Thus, I am pleased that bill language was included to require the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to include in the National Guard Bureau unfunded priorities list any unfunded priorities related to non- Federal National Guard responsibilities in connection with natural and man-made disasters.

My amendment #197 requires the Secretary of the Navy, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, to submit to Congress a report on desalinization technology's application for defense and national security purposes to provide drought relief to areas impacted by sharp declines in water resources.

I am pleased my amendment resulted in Report Language stating that, ``We are aware of the importance of expeditionary desalinization capabilities to crisis scenarios, including natural disasters. Accordingly, we direct the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report to the congressional defense committees, not later than August 1, 2023, outlining the current inventory and usage of desalinization systems, planned future investments into technologies and systems, and any current and projected future needs for expeditionary water purification that may not be met by current and planned capabilities.''

My amendment #189 requires a report to be submitted within 220 days following enactment on the Capacity to Provide Disaster Survivors with Emergency Short Term Housing.

As we witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, as well as other major natural disasters, enormous swaths of the population are displaced, communities are unlivable with no prospect for near-term rebuilding or restoration, and there is an enormous unmet need for emergency housing.

Because of the need to prepare for the consequences of future major natural disasters, I thank my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee for including bill language that effectuates my amendment by directing the development and submission of a report that will help enable disaster survivors to access emergency short term housing.

My amendment #59 recognizes that Black men and women have played an integral role in our nation's defense: from the bravery of Crispus Attucks, an escaped slave, during the Boston Massacre, to today. The amendment would address the historical and current barriers to Black Americans' participation and equal treatment in the Armed Services.

The racial inequality and mistreatment of Black men and women that has historically permeated our military continues to this day, with more than 750 complaints of racial or ethnic discrimination from service members in fiscal year 2020 alone.

But discrimination doesn't exist just within the military rank-and- file, as in FY2020, civilians working in the financial, technical and support sectors of the Army, Air Force and Navy filed 900 complaints of racial discrimination and over 350 complaints of discrimination by skin color, as data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reveals.

According to a report by the Defense Department's Diversity and Inclusion Board, while the enlisted ranks of the active and reserve military were ``slightly more racially and ethnically diverse than its U.S. civilian counterparts,'' the opposite was true for the officer corps.

We owe it to those brave men and women who have proven time and time again to be an integral part of our military to examine the Armed Services' history of discrimination and to determine the necessary steps to repair the harm caused by these inequities.

I am very pleased by the inclusion of report language acknowledging the history of inequities and stating in part, ``Therefore, we direct the Secretary of Defense to brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than May 1, 2023, on those current and future efforts in support of a more inclusive force. The brief shall include resources allocated, lessons learned, how such efforts advance our strategic national security and readiness postures in support of the National Security Strategy and the Department's National Defense Strategy, and any such other information as the Secretary deems appropriate.''

My amendment #193 condemns the actions of Boko Haram and directs that the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General, submit a report on efforts to combat Boko Haram.

I am pleased that, as a result of my amendment, report language was included stating that, ``We direct the Secretary of Defense, not later than June 1, 2023, to brief the congressional defense committees on the activities and initiatives undertaken by the Department of Defense to assist the Government of Nigeria and countries in the Lake Chad Basin to combat Boko Haram, al-Qaeda affiliates, and other terrorist organizations while respecting and protecting human rights and promoting respect for the rule of law.''

My amendment #192 requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress about programs and procedures that ensure students studying abroad through Department of Defense National Security Education Programs are trained to recognize, resist, and report against recruitment efforts by agents of foreign governments.

Because of the need for American students who are studying abroad to be protected from risks and dangers presented by agents of foreign governments, I am pleased that my amendment has resulted in bill language that effectuates my amendment by requiring that a report developed and submitted to Congress about the programs and procedures that are being undertaken to protect these Americans studying abroad.

My amendment #196 directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress in not less than 180 days the actions taken to protect U.S. armed service personnel from armed attacks conducted by militants and terrorists in pursuit of bounties and inducements the agencies, organizations, or entities aligned with the Russian Federation.

I am pleased that my amendment resulted in the inclusion of report language stating in part, ``. . . we direct the Secretary of Defense, not later than June 1, 2023, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on actions taken to protect servicemembers and U.S. personnel from armed attacks conducted in pursuit of bounties or inducements offered by agencies, organizations, or entities aligned with Russia.''

Madam Speaker, I applaud my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, as well as their Senate counterparts, and the committee staff in each chamber for their extraordinary work crafting this extensive, multi-faceted, visionary legislation that will strengthen our national defense both in the current fiscal year and for many years to come.

I would also like to express my appreciation to my colleagues on the committee for recognizing the value that my amendments bring to our national defense infrastructure and maintaining them in the final language that is before us today.

There are so many people to thank in this process, and we have done that, and there are a number of Members who are leaving committee, staff members who are leaving, as well. But I do want to take just a moment to thank three Members in particular on the Democratic side: certainly, Mr. Langevin, who is presiding over this appropriately; Ms. Speier; and Mr. Cooper, who are our three subcommittee chairs.

During the 4 years that we were in the majority, all three chaired subcommittees, and delivered as much consequential legislation on the Armed Services Committee as I have seen.

The leadership on all the different areas has just been invaluable. It will be very difficult to replace. Certainly, Jim's leadership on the Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems Subcommittee--the only thing about it is your subcommittee is a mouthful to keep up with. I would just say ``CITI,'' trying to remember what exactly it all stands for, but it is information technology, it is cyber, it is the guts of what makes our national security apparatus run, basically; the information systems that we have to make sure they are robust, effective, and protected.

Mr. Cooper, of course, more than anything brought us the Space Force, and his leadership on space has been invaluable.

Ms. Speier's leadership on personnel; I cannot imagine a more tenacious advocate for protecting the men and women who serve in our military than Jackie Speier. Her leadership has delivered real results and made a very strong statement.

All three of you will be sorely missed.

Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I can't say it any better than the Speaker said. I think that was just an outstanding summary of the work we have done, why that work matters, and of the policy that we have put forward here.

Once again, we have come together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass an excellent piece of legislation that reflects our values and supports the men and women who serve in our military. It gives us the opportunity to meet our national security requirements. It has been an outstanding process with pretty much everybody in this body participating in it in one way or another and producing an outstanding product.

I will close by urging all Members to vote in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023. I thank everyone for their work, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Chairman Defazio, Ranking Member Graves, and Ranking Member Rouzer in bringing to the floor the bipartisan and bicameral Water Resources Development Act of 2022.

The Water Resources Development Act is our legislative commitment to investing in and protecting our communities from flooding events, restoring our environment and ecosystems, and keeping our Nation's competitiveness by supporting our ports and harbors.

Through the biennial enactment of WRDA legislation, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has addressed local, regional, and national needs through authorization of new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, studies, and policies that benefit every corner of the Nation.

We held 4 hearings in preparation for this bill including a Member Day hearing. We had a formal process to receive legislative, policy and project ideas from Members which resulted in over 1,500 ideas submitted to us by Members. I thank all Members for engaging with the Committee on this bill and advocating for the needs of your districts. We were able to incorporate most of the requests from Members into this bill.

I am particularly thankful that we were able to make a commitment in this WRDA to address the needs of tribal and disadvantaged communities. The bill requires the Army Corps of Engineers to improve outreach to these communities by creating liaison programs in each Corps district region across the country. WRDA includes provisions to develop technical assistance programs that provide guidance to tribal communities on water resource projects, identify opportunities and challenges on existing Corps projects, and provide planning assistance for future projects. The bill gives Corps personnel the training and tools to effectively address issues on tribal lands of ancestral, historic, and cultural significance, including burial grounds.

WRDA also continues the effort that we started 10 years ago to improve water supply at Corps dams by addressing managed aquifer replenishment so that dams can hold water for recharge to local ground water basins. The bill addresses the buildup and removal of sediment in reservoirs to improve the operations and capacity of dams. The bill requires the Corps to take a particular focus on infrastructure in the west to evaluate opportunities to improve water management, water supply, and address the impacts of climate change.

The bill continues congress's goal of improving dam safety by assessing the status of all dams maintained by the Corps and determining the needs for rehabilitation, retrofit, or removal.

The bill includes bipartisan legislation Ranking Member Rouzer and I introduced titled H.R. 7762, the Army Corps of Engineers Military Personnel Augmentation Act. It amends an outdated 1956 law, which is prohibitive against current soldiers who have the technical skills to provide engineering support to the civil works mission of the Army Corps.

In 1956, there were very few NCOs with advanced degrees, so it was presumed that only commissioned officers would be properly trained to handle Civil Works responsibilities. However, since that time and the development of the professional army, there are many NCOs, National Guard Officers, and Warrant Officers with advanced engineering and technical skills, and it no longer makes sense to exclude them from positions in Civil Works. This change is supported by the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Engineers, and the National Guard Association of the United States.

The bill also provides for hundreds of local concerns throughout the country. I am proud that this bill transfers the authorization of 31 debris basins in my region to the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. These debris basins are locally owned, and have been successfully operated and maintained by Los Angeles County for decades. This provision will formalize the current operation of these debris basins.

WRDA includes authorizations for the development of stormwater, sewer, and ecosystem restoration projects in the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles County. This will improve flood protection and boost local water supply at the same time by investing in spreading grounds, dam infrastructure, and treatment operations.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the many people who have helped this bill become a reality. Thank you to the leadership at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Assistant Secretary Connor, Lieutenant General Spellmon, and their incredible staff who have worked through over a thousand submissions we received for WRDA 2022.

I am very fortunate to have some of the best water leaders in the country in my district and Southern California who provided valuable input for this bill including Col. Julie Balten of the Los Angeles District, Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella, California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and San Gabriel Valley Watermaster Tony Zampiello.

I would particularly like to thank the Subcommittee Ranking Member David Rouzer for his friendship and collegiality through the hearings and meetings that led to this bipartisan accomplishment. And most importantly I would like to thank the incredible water subcommittee staff including Alexa Williams, Logan Ferree, Michael Bauman, Ryan Seiger, Ryan Hambleton, and the rest of the majority and minority staff.

I urge my colleagues to support WRDA 2022.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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