Rob Bishop: “I want to do two motions simultaneously here. I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris…”

“I want to do two motions simultaneously here. I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers), and I ask unanimous consent that the remainder of the time be managed by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Utah? There was no objection. Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments and, specifically, the Tribal biomass demonstration provision. Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest, we rely on baseload renewables like biomass. In recent years, we have seen catastrophic fires in the Pacific Northwest devastating our natural resources. When we expand these biomass options, we can reduce forest fire risk by keeping our forests healthier, while also creating a stable energy source. I believe that our Tribes can and should be taking a leading role in this effort. In 2015, eastern Washington was devastated by the wildfires burning more than a million acres in our State and devastating the Colville Tribe's reservation. Following that, I joined the late Colville Tribal chairman, Jim Boyd, and authored an op-ed in the Seattle Times advocating for the Tribes to have more tools to manage their lands. This legislation will allow them to take a more active role as it relates to biomass.…”