Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment simply strikes a controversial provision that is irrelevant to the underlying bill.

Section 111 of the bill explicitly prohibits the Secretary of the Army from preventing someone from bringing a loaded weapon onto Federal Army Corps property. This divisive gun policy is nothing more than another attempt by the majority, unfortunately, to promote the interests of the gun lobby. It chips away at the safety and well-being of the Army Corps personnel and surrounding communities.

Not only is this gun rider widely considered bad policy, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill is an inappropriate mechanism for debating the pros and cons of gun possession on Federal lands, and is inconsistent with the majority's promotion of regular order.

Last week, the House debated the National Defense Authorization Act, which is certainly a more appropriate legislative vehicle for a discussion about guns. I offered an amendment to that bill to improve smart gun technology, and the majority didn't even allow it to be debated on the floor. In fact, not a single gun bill has been considered by the House in the 114th Congress. If the majority is eager to debate the merits of carrying loaded weapons on Federal properties, I am certain that many of us on this side of the aisle would be more than willing to participate in that debate.

By virtue of attaching this policy rider to an appropriations bill, and by virtue of the majority dismissing requests to debate gun research and smart gun technology, it seems that the majority would rather force a contentious issue through Congress with no debate at all. This approach is at odds with the purpose for which we are all here: to debate issues important to our constituents and this country and, by virtue of that debate, advance policies to improve our country.

Mr. Chairman, this policy rider is misplaced and misguided.

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Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, while I respect that perspective, I appreciate the gentleman from Idaho's perspective, and hope that we can work together in the future to make sure that public safety is protected on Army Corps of Engineers property.

Mr. Chairman, it is clear today that this is not a day for a breakthrough on gun debate, in my view.

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