Cole Remarks During Floor Consideration of H.R. 8998, The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 (Submitted for the Record)

The United States boasts many natural wonders and resources, and the bill before us broadly supports our nation’s rich natural and cultural heritage.

The basis of this year’s Interior and Environment appropriations bill is good stewardship. We thoughtfully manage our public lands and conservation efforts, and direct fiscal resources where they are needed most. With one-fifth of the land in the United States under the purview of agencies within this legislation, responsible governance is critical. 

As the first Native American to chair this Committee, I am proud that this measure continues to uphold our sacred obligations to Tribal communities. The bill provides critical increases for tribal programs, including those covering tribal justice, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service. Delivering on our trust and treaty commitments is of crucial importance to my home state of Oklahoma and to all people of Indian Country.

We also implement vital investments to support wildfire response and our federal wildland firefighters. A permanent pay fix for these emergency responders ensures needed certainty for those protecting our communities.

Importantly, the bill also reins in the Biden Administration’s overreach, ensuring that misguided Green New Deal-style rules and regulations cannot be implemented. We take important steps to reverse misguided policies that have made us more reliant on foreign energy and resources. House Republicans know that strong domestic production supports our national security and American jobs.

All in all, there is much to champion in today’s measure. I thank Chairman Simpson for his hard work in producing this bill, and I urge all members to support it.