mr. huffman: thank you, mr. speaker. this amendment strikes section 122 from the underlying bill, that section would prevent the b.l.m. from meeting its statutory obligations under the mineral leasing act to ensure that operators, quote, use all reasonable precautions to prevent the waste of oil or gas. the b.l.m. would also be prevented if this underlying provision remains for modernizing the existing 0-year-old oil and gas production rules to bring them into line with technological advancements in the industry. if that provision stays in the bill, states, stribes -- states, tribes, and federal taxpayers stand to lose royalty revenues when natural gas is wasted which a 2010 g.a.o. report estimated could amount to as much as $23 million annually in royalty revenue. if this provision remains in the bill, b.l.m. won't be able to update the current royalty rate or raise it as conditions may warrant and the recommendation has been made by both the g.a.o. and inspector general that they do that, that the conditions do indicat

mr. huffman. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. huffman: my friend from alaska is correct, the ultimate decision and the final disposition of this incredible place is up to the congress of the united states. however, the question before us now is how should this area be managed until congress finally resolves this issue. i'm proud to have authored an amendment a few months back that showed that there is bipartisan support in the house for a final wilderness determination. i believe eventually that bipartisan support will be a majority of the congress but in the meantime, those of us working to protect this very important, iconic place know that we are expressing the voice of the american people. nearly a million people commented in support of the wilderness recommendation. these are people from all 50 states, it includes nate i americans, it includes native alaskans. it includes people from the faith community, the business community, the environmental community. this is a uniquely important place with wildlife that in many cases ar

mr. huffman of california. the chair: a recorded vote having been requested, those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rizz and be counted. a sufficient number having risen, a recorded vote is ordered. this is a two-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.] chor open -- the chair: on this vote, the yeas are 181, the nays are 244. the amendment is not adopted. the unfinished business is the request for a recorded vote on amendment number 14 offered by the gentleman, mr. smith. the clerk will redesignate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 14 printed in house pe report 114-683, offered by mr. smith of missouri. the chair: a recorded vote having been requested, those in support of the request for a recorded vote will rise and

mr. huffman, for purposes of a very important unanimous consent request that would save lives. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. huffman: i ask unanimous consent to bring up h.r. 1217, the the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation in honor of the memory of two of my constituents, former deputy sheriff, ricky and former fort brag councilman, jerry melo, they are both vick testimonies of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this house floor. the speaker pro tempore: as previously announced, the unanimous consent request cannot be entertained. the gentleman from colorado is recognized. mr. polis: i would like to yield to the gentleman from california, mr. aguilar, who has a very important and timely unanimous consent request to prevent terrorists from acquiring arsenals to attack our fellow americans. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california virginia tech. mr. aguilar: i ask unanimous consent to bring up h.r. 1217, the the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation in honor of kenneth logins

mr. huffman. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. mr. huffman: i thank the gentleman. mr. speaker, it seems that when it comes time to attempt another repeal of the affordable care act, the house republicans are willing to bring an unlimited number of bills to this floor, consume an almost unlimited amount of this house's resources, it seems that congress is always ready to act and always ready to have debates and votes on their favorite issues for their favorite special interests. but when it comes to the worsening gun violence epidemic in america, we're back to the moments of silence. we're back to the banging of the gavel, the 30 seconds at best of silence, followed by another bang of that gavel and the resumption of business as usual. no meaningful debates, no meaningful votes. we are now hearing that this week we're going to get a glorified moment of silence, a bill written and blessed by the n.r.a. that would not keep guns out of the hands of terrorists or other dangerous people. because it imposes a completely arbitrary 72-hour tim