At a House Natural Resources Committee hearing before the Congressional recess, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) celebrated the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and acknowledged its provisions regarding public land use and national parks.
00:00Subcommittee on Federal Lands will come to order without objection that Chair is authorized to declare a recess of the subcommittee at any time.
00:06The subcommittee is meeting today to consider four bills.
00:10H.R. 1945 by Representative Onder, H.R. 2290, Representative Dingell, H.R. 2306, Representative Molinar, H.R. 4285 by Representative Malloy.
00:23I ask unanimous consent that the following members be allowed to participate in today's hearing from the dais.
00:28The gentlelady from Michigan, Ms. Dingell, the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Molinar, and the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Onder.
00:38Without objection, so ordered.
00:42Under Committee Rule 4F, any oral opening statements at hearings are limited to the Chairman and the ranking minority member.
00:47I therefore ask unanimous consent that all other members' opening statements be made part of the hearing record if they are submitted in accordance with Committee Rule 3, Parin O.
00:57Without objection, so ordered.
01:00I now recognize myself for an opening statement.
01:02I'd like to welcome everybody back to the committee after our 4th of July recess.
01:07Hope you all had a great 4th of July.
01:08Earlier this month, we didn't just celebrate our country's independence.
01:12We celebrated a major win for the American people.
01:15On the 4th of July, President Trump signed the one big, beautiful bill into law, delivering on key promises to restore responsible force management, unleash American energy, and roll back the Biden administration's wasteful spending spree.
01:29This landmark bill follows the framework laid out in President Trump's executive orders, prioritizing active land management, reviving our nation's commitment to energy dominance, and eliminating costly, ineffective programs tucked into the so-called inflation reduction act.
01:45This historic legislation puts common sense and stewardship ahead of the bureaucracy and radical climate ideology.
01:52But just as important, this legislation reflects the kind of vision we should carry into the next year as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
02:00The one big, beautiful bill strengthens access to our public lands and national parks by investing in events, celebrations, and activities surrounding America 250.
02:09Through these events, we can remind everyday Americans about our country's rich history and what makes us the greatest nation in the world.
02:18And as President Trump reminded us with his Garden of Heroes initiative, our history is worth celebrating, not tearing down.
02:25That's what brings us here today.
02:27As part of the lead-up to the semi-quincentennial, say that three times, today's hearing considers four proposals that honor key figures, historic milestones,
02:38and the landmarks that tell America's story.
02:41We'll begin with H.R. 1945 from Representative Onder, which would designate America's National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri, as a National Historic Landmark.
02:52This museum marks the site of Churchill's famous 1946 Iron Curtain speech, a defining moment in the Cold War,
02:59and a reminder of the strength of freedom-loving nations working together.
03:03We'll also consider H.R. 2290, led by Congresswoman Dingell and Representative Fulcher,
03:11to authorize the placement of a memorial honoring the millions of American women who contributed to the war effort during World War II.
03:18Their work on the home front was vital to Allied success and deserves permanent recognition.
03:24Next is H.R. 2306, the Adams Memorial Great American Heroes Act, introduced by Representative Molinar.
03:31This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the commission charge with building a memorial to the Adams family,
03:38including John Adams, the first vice president and second president of the United States,
03:42his wife Abigail, and their son, John Quincy, the sixth president of the United States,
03:48whose leadership helped form the bedrock of our republic.
03:52While I am concerned about the spending authorized in this legislation,
03:55I look forward to hearing more about the proposed location of this memorial.
04:01President John Adams once said that our obligations to our country never cease, but with our lives.
04:08Representative Molinar's legislation ensures that the Adams family's many contributions
04:12and overwhelming sense of obligation to our great nation will not cease with the passage of time.
04:19Finally, we will consider the STARS Act, introduced by Representative Molloy.
04:23This legislation designates September 17, 2026, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day,
04:30as a fee-free day at the National Park Service sites.
04:34It's a smart, symbolic step to help Americans of all backgrounds participate in the semi-quincentennial
04:41and connect with the public lands and history we all share.
04:44I can think of no better way to celebrate our country than encouraging people to enjoy what is frequently referred to
04:50as America's best idea, our national parks.
04:54Each of these bills supports the goals of America 250 to educate, commemorate, and unify all Americans,
05:01and each reminds us that honoring our past is essential to securing our future.
05:06This subcommittee is proud to work with the administration to advance legislation
05:10that codifies President Trump's executive orders.
05:13In particular, the legislation on today's agenda directly supports President Trump's executive orders
05:19on celebrating America's 250th birthday and making the District of Columbia safe and beautiful.
05:27I want to thank all the bill's sponsors for their leadership and extend my appreciation to the witnesses today.
05:33Your work helped bring these ideas to life and ensure the American story continues to be told proudly and truthfully.
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