Reauthorizing the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund

Floor Speech

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Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5715. This bill would reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation through 2029. The bill does not increase the funding authorization level of this program, which received approximately $5.1 million in funding last fiscal year.

In 1992, Congress passed the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation Act to award scholarships and select Native American congressional interns.

In 1998, Congress amended the Udall Foundation to create the United States Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.

The institute provides mediation and related services to help resolve environmental, resources, and lands conflict involving the Federal Government. Congress has twice reauthorized the Udall Foundation, in 2009 and again in 2019.

I thank Chairman Grijalva for working with the Committee Republicans to include good government language we proposed in H.R. 5715 that would require the Department of the Interior's inspector general to conduct an audit 4 years after this reauthorization. Similar language was included in the Udall Foundation's 2019 reauthorization.

The Udall Foundation is making steady progress toward implementing recommendations previously raised by the inspector general to ensure they are fully complying with Federal requirements. Requiring another audit in 4 years gives the foundation time to implement the new standards and reforms they are working to put in place and advances this committee's role in conducting proper oversight of Federal funds and programs.

Republican amendments have been made to this legislation that would help ensure continued oversight of the program and the implementation of good government practices prior to a future reauthorization.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues across the aisle for their bipartisan work on this bill. I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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