mr. walden: i want to thank mr. frelinghuysen for his incredible and tenacious work to bring us this legislation and by the way, all 12 appropriations bills have been passed by the house and sent to the senate. a vet against the c.r. is a vote to shut down the government. it's that simple. today is the day we keep the government operate, we're not going to take the irresponsible path of shutting it down. i stand in support of the continuing resolution this legislation before us today not only keeps the doors of the federal government open and the services to our constituents available but also provides short-term funding for the state, children -- for the state children's health insurance program, also known as chip. this program provides vital health coverage for approximately nine million children nationwide. so when my colleagues on the other side of the aisle vote no, no that -- know that they're also voting against these nine million children who need access to health insurance. while i'm glad we have the short

mr. walden spent about 28 hours. >> who? >> mr. walden. >> okay. so mr. walden is in the rarified stratus with mrs. pelosi then for having spent a good deal of time with this committee. has the speaker been here? i don't know. we would certainly love to see mr. mccarthy and mr. ryan if they choose to join us. i don't think you'd hear any complaints from our side if they were only here for 2 1/2 hours. >> why would we need to do that when you've got me? >> we appreciate your time on this committee as well, mr. chairman. >> there you go. >> but i would just again indicate that were mr. mccarthy or mr. ryan to come, we would certainly be respectful of their time. if they were with us for 2 1/2 hours we would consider that a great sign of respect for your committee. >> let me assure you they have great respect for this committee. and they have appointed each of you. we have made sure that our committee to a person is not only the finest in our conference but here of equal value to each other and we do appreciate that. but this is a representative of our party

mr. walden of oregon. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. walden: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you to the distinguished chairman of the appropriations committee from new jersey for his great work on this and so many other issues. i rise to support the continuing resolution and highlight a very important short-term provision in here that provides certainty for children, families, and states that rely on the children's health insurance program known as chip. this adjustment, which was introduced by mr. costello of pennsylvania, mr. emmer of minnesota, will provide the centers for medicare and medicaid services with greater flexibility of existing dollars so they can assure chip programs across the country including now in my home state of oregon can continue to have vital federal funding they need this month to continue chip. this emergency funding will help families and states while congress finishes the job of providing funding for children's health insurance. public health priorities. our community health centers. medicare extenders that se

mr. walden spent about 28 hours. mr. polis: ok. so mr. walden is in the rarefied stratus with ms.pelosi then for having spent a good deal of time with this committee. paul ryan, the speaker, been here? i don't know. we would certainly love to see mr. mccarthy and mr. ryan if they choose to join us. i don't think you'd hear any complaints from our side if they were only here for 2 1/2 hours. i think we would be grateful for that time. mr. sessions: why would we need to do that when you've got me? [laughter] mr. polis: we appreciate your time on this committee as well, mr. chairman. i would just again indicate that were mr. mccarthy or mr. ryan to come, we would certainly be respectful of their time. if they were with us for two hours or 2 1/2 hours, we would consider that a great sign of respect for our committee. mr. sessions: let me assure you, they have great respect for this committee. they have appointed, as ms. pelosi has, each of you, we have made sure that our committee to a person is not only the finest in our conference, but here of equal value to each other. and we do ap

mr. walden of oregon. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. walden: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you to the distinguished chairman of the appropriations committee from new jersey for his great work on this and so many other issues. i rise to support the continuing resolution and highlight a very important short-term provision in here that provides certainty for children, families, and states that rely on the children's health insurance program known as chip. this adjustment, which was introduced by mr. costello of pennsylvania, mr. emmer of minnesota, will provide the centers for medicare and medicaid services with greater flexibility of existing dollars so they can assure chip programs across the country including now in my home state of oregon can continue to have vital federal funding they need this month to continue chip. this emergency funding will help families and states while congress finishes the job of providing funding for children's health insurance. public health priorities. our community health centers. medicare extenders that se

mr. walden: i want to thank mr. frelinghuysen for his incredible and tenacious work to bring us this legislation and by the way, all 12 appropriations bills have been passed by the house and sent to the senate. a vet against the c.r. is a vote to shut down the government. it's that simple. today is the day we keep the government operate, we're not going to take the irresponsible path of shutting it down. i stand in support of the continuing resolution this legislation before us today not only keeps the doors of the federal government open and the services to our constituents available but also provides short-term funding for the state, children -- for the state children's health insurance program, also known as chip. this program provides vital health coverage for approximately nine million children nationwide. so when my colleagues on the other side of the aisle vote no, no that -- know that they're also voting against these nine million children who need access to health insurance. while i'm glad we have the short

mr. walden for five minutes. thank you, mr. chairman and mr. administrator we're delight to have you here. i think this is your first oversight hearing on the hill and we're delight we could have you here to tell us what's going on at the epa and take our questions and hear what we have to say. i'm obviously disappointed the president called you out in between and i appreciate the fact you will be here this morning and come back this afternoon and continue to participate in this process. with this i will yield briefly to my friend from oklahoma who would like to formally introduce you to the committee and with that i'll yield 30 seconds. >> thank you, chairman and others. i had the opportunity to serve with the administrator. i want to thank mr. pruitt for making himself available for today's hearing. he and his staff have worked hard to bring the epa back to our environment with common sense ways with government and tribe business to collaborate an approach which is a breath of februa fresh air. nobody wants to take care of our back yards more

mr. walden, transportation and infrastructure subcommittee bill shuster and the committee on government and oversight reform chairman gowdy for their efforts to see this through. i ask unanimous consent that these letters exchanged between our committees be included in the record. this is another bipartisan example of varied stock holders can come together can draft and pass important legislation. it's an opportunity we have today to elevate the importance of cybersecurity at the department of homeland security to achieve its goal of protecting the united states. and i urge my colleagues to support this vital piece of legislation. and with that, mr. speaker, i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the the gentlewoman from california is recognized. >> i rise in support of h.r. 3359 the cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency act of 2017 and yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. h.r. 3559 would make long overdue organizational changes within the departm

mr. walden. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. walden: i want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their great work, mr. rush from illinois and former chairman of the energy and commerce committee for their work and other committee members who put so much into this important piece of legislation. the committee has examined and advanced thoughtful solutions to support american businesses and jobs and protect the envimet. these commonsense bipartisan bills we are considering today continue this very strong bipartisan effort. as many of you heard me discuss fore, hydro power plays an integral role across our country as well as my home state of oregon. 43% of electricity comes from this base load power resource and it has supported jobs along the columbia river. two of the three bills under consideration today build upon the committee's work promoting emissions-free energy resource. the house of representatives has already passed 10 energy and commerce committee bills that promote hydropower and modernize the licensing

mr. walden, as a conferee on h.r. 1, appoints the gentleman from michigan, mr. upton, to fill the vacancy. the clerk will notify the senate f the change in conferees. the chair lays before the house the following enrolled bill. the clerk: senate 371, an act to make technical changes and other improvements to the department of state authorities act fiscal year 2017. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. will all members take their conversations off the floor. the house will be in order. please remove your conversations. the house will be in order. we are unable to proceed until there's order. for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> thank you, mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass s. 1266. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: senate 1266 an act to authorize the secretary of veterans affairs to enter into contracts with nonprofiting orny asians to investigate medical cents of the department of veterans' affairs. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order.

mr. pruitt, thank you for coming here today, thank you for making the whole state proud. i appreciate you and i yield back to chairman walden. >> i thank the gentleman for his introduction of our witness today. as you know,ed ed administrator pruitt, this committee is charged with oversight of the bulk of the policies that the epa implements, we are your authorizing agency or committee. it's been almost 10 months since you were sworn in as an administrator, so i would like to start what i hope will be a continuing conversation. i'm particularly intrigued by your back to basics concept septembs and your -- administrative pursuits to its mission of protecting air, soil and water and doing so at the exclusive dictates of congress. i hope this will guide your epa, rather than attempt to inrun congress in the federal government or on the courthouse steps. i also want to thank you for the goal -- metrics to use and particularly want to know you have a plan to address staffing by the agency's inspector general for over the last two decades. this is a 20-year-old problem you are inheriting, but one we both take seriously. we apprec

mr. pruitt, thank you for coming here today, thank you for making the whole state proud. i appreciate you and i yield back to chairman walden. >> i thank they for his introduction of the witness. administrator pruitt this committee is charged by the house of representative with legislative and oversight responsibilities for the bulk of the statutes the epa issues. we are an authorizing committee and it's been ten months since wowor sworn in as administrator, an agency that turned 47 on monday. would like to continue with what hopefully will be a continuing conversation about the agency you oversee, your vision and what challenges you face. i'm particularly intrigued by your back to basics concepts and your state end intent to return the epa from the free-wheeling administrative pursuits to mission of protecting air, soil and water and doing so according to dictates of congress. i hope this view of governing will guide your epa. rather than efforts to end-run congress and the federal register or on the courthouse steps. i also want to discuss the goals you're staying for the programs at epa and the metrics you subpoenaed to

mrs. noem, messrs. neal, levin and doggett. from the committee on energy and commerce tore consideration of section 20003 of the senate amendment, modifications committed to conference, messrs. walden, shimkus and ms. castor of florida. from the committee on natural resources for considerations r section 2001 and 20002 for the senate amendment, misers ishop of utah, young and grirge. -- messrs. bishop of utah, young and grijalva. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. mr. poe: mr. speaker, the house is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the house is not in order. please take your conversations outside. please take your conversations outside. thank you. the gentlelady is recognized. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you so much, mr. speaker. i'd like to talk about jamie dupree who serves as the radio news director of the washington bureau of cox media corporation. i've had the privilege