Commercial Space Transportation

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, today, I am announcing new legislation that is of great importance to the future of space exploration.

My bill will elevate the Office of Commercial Space Transportation as an independent entity within the Department of Transportation. It will remove it from the jurisdiction and the auspices of the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration.

This is actually the way the office was originally set up when it was created in 1984, but in the mid-nineties, it was folded into the FAA. That was never a good fit. It was never really what the FAA was designed to do, and the commercial space industry is a dramatically different enterprise today than it was in the mid-nineties, than it even was just a few years ago.

This is a commonsense reform that, in fact, has been endorsed by the FAA's own Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, which unanimously recommended removing the Office of Commercial Space Transportation from the FAA and making it its own independent entity that reports directly to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

This will remove a layer of bureaucracy that has proven to be very problematic when it comes to innovation in space. It was underscored very dramatically just last month when the world witnessed the extraordinary scene captured in this photograph, when the launch of flight 5 for SpaceX's Starship, which is the most powerful rocket ever built, resulted in the booster being returned to the launch site and being caught in this tower without the use of landing legs or anything like that, using the Mechazilla chopstick arms.

This booster, by the way, has 33 of what are called Raptor engines. Each one of those 33 engines has twice as much thrust as the engines of a Boeing 747. It is truly an awe-inspiring amount of force, and the scale and power of this space vehicle is truly unprecedented. The feat that was accomplished in flight 5 was something that folks didn't even think was possible.

By the way, I had the chance to go to flight 6 earlier this week, which was another very successful test for SpaceX and truly something that was remarkable to witness in person.

However, this amazing scene almost didn't happen, or at least wouldn't have happened when it did, because the FAA had tried to hold back the launch. The FAA had come out and said that it was going to depart from the previously announced timeline and was going to delay the launch by months for no good reason at all.

I cross-examined the FAA Administrator about this myself, and he could provide no good reason, certainly no public safety reason, for delaying the launch. He, in fact, came up with bogus reasons that were quickly debunked as false.

Thankfully, the FAA did finally come around and allowed the launch to move forward, but if those initial delays had been allowed to stick, then both flight 5 and flight 6 wouldn't have happened by now.

This all just goes to underscore that the FAA really should not be involved in these matters.

With my legislation, we will get them out of the picture. The Office of Commercial Space Transportation would be housed as an independent entity within the Department of Transportation.

The fact is it should not be more difficult to get the paperwork approved for a launch than it is to actually build and launch the rocket.

This is worth putting in perspective because, in spite of the fact that we have had a redundant and, at times, hostile regulatory regime, we have seen incredible progress in the commercial space industry, in particular by SpaceX, which has given the United States a position of dominance when it comes to space.

In fact, SpaceX, this one company, accounts for well over 90 percent of the mass that is launched into orbit around the world. In fact, just in the last 48 hours, SpaceX has had four different launches from not just Texas, where Starship was launched, but from Florida and California as well. That is unprecedented, four launches in 48 hours. As a point of comparison, the entire continent of Europe has had fewer launches this entire year.

It is truly extraordinary what is being accomplished in spite of regulations and bureaucracies that are attempting to hold us back.

Just imagine, Madam Speaker, what we could accomplish if we actually had our laws and regulations and agencies be on the side of innovation. Just imagine what might be possible.

The dominance that the United States currently has in space is a tremendous national asset, and it is of vital importance in a number of ways when it comes to national security, of course, as well as when it comes to connectivity, bringing the internet to all corners of the globe. I have constituents in Death Valley, which I represent, who use SpaceX's Starlink system. It has also been used by our fire agencies when connectivity is disrupted with wildfires.

They have managed to accomplish all of this in spite of adverse regulations. If we manage to change that paradigm, if we manage to actually have regulations that are designed to encourage those who are innovating to make these seemingly impossible feats be brought somewhat closer or more readily within the bounds of possibility, then it will not only enhance U.S. dominance in space and it will not only further all of those advantages I just mentioned, but I think it will continue to bring folks together around something that is truly inspiring around this common purpose. It will be something that is larger than any of us.

I think that when we witnessed this epic catch of the Starship booster last month, it was really a singular moment, more than any other moment perhaps in decades. It has heralded a new era of space exploration with literally infinite possibilities.

I am truly excited about this. I think it is something that everyone in our country and all across the world can be excited by. I am excited about the new possibilities that will open up when we get this bill passed and signed into law. Crime Once Again Illegal in California

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to present some good news from California, which is that crime is, once again, illegal in my home State.

California voters have overwhelmingly passed, with almost 70 percent of the vote, Proposition 36, an initiative to make crime illegal again.

It passed with a higher percentage of the vote than any other initiative on the ballot in California. It passed in each and every one of California's 58 counties, and it wasn't close anywhere. It passed in San Francisco. It passed in L.A.

It passed everywhere across the State, and this was despite the fact that the leaders of the supermajority legislature were against it. It is despite the fact that Governor Gavin Newsom fought the initiative tooth and nail each and every step of the way. Newsom concocted schemes to try to remove the initiative from the ballot. When that failed, he led the campaign against the initiative.

Yet, at the end of the day, California voters overwhelmingly passed it, and Governor Newsom, for his part, decided to insult the voters. He said that the initiative was a very lazy response to the State's crime problem. He even said that he doesn't recognize the State that he is living in. That is probably a good thing because the State that we have been living in is one where crime has effectively been legalized.

Madam Speaker, if you walk into a store in many parts of California, first of all, on your way into the store, you might have to walk through an open-air drug market or a place where drugs are being openly exchanged and used. You might have to step around needles that are on the ground. This might happen on your way to school, or in a park, or in many other public places.

Then, you go into a store. Let's say it is a CVS, and you just need to get some shampoo or a stick of deodorant. You can't just take it off the shelf and pay, Madam Speaker. It is going to be under lock and key, and you are going to need to press a button or summon an attendant to unlock the cabinet so you can get your stick of deodorant or your bottle of shampoo.

The reason, of course, they are doing that is because the legal system cannot be relied upon to deter crime, so retailers have had to take matters into their own hands. If there is a theft incident, which does actually dramatically reduce the margins of retailers and is driving many out of business in California, there is nothing they can do about it. They just have to watch the person walk out the door with stolen merchandise. Usually, they won't even bother to report it to the authorities because they know nothing is going to happen because the laws on the books are not strong enough to make a prosecution worth going through in most places.

That is why I say that this initiative was designed to make crime illegal again, because currently in the State, there is no consequence for criminal activity, so crime effectively is legal. Proposition 36, which has been overwhelmingly approved by voters, changes that.

First of all, what it does is it restores penalties for those who repeatedly steal merchandise from our stores. Number two is that it restores rehabilitation, mandatory treatment, for those who are repeatedly arrested for drug use. Number three is it toughens penalties for fentanyl dealers, with fentanyl poisoning and overdoses continuing to result in such tragic losses in every community throughout California.

Our State, Madam Speaker, I am happy to report, is on a path back to sanity. For folks around the country who love California, who have considered it the Golden State and are dismayed by what has happened in recent years, this is cause for hope.

Not only that but a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, which I wrote an amicus brief for, has restored the ability of our communities to actually remove homeless encampments from public places, which a previous Ninth Circuit decision blocked them from doing. We are already seeing some of our streets getting cleaned up.

Not only that but we just had a couple of the most reckless district attorneys in the country, including George Gascon in Los Angeles, removed from office, so we truly are on a path back to sanity.

I believe it is a new day for California, and I am very excited about the progress that we are going to continue to make in the months and years ahead. Honoring the Memory of John Hidahl

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, I wish to recognize and honor the memory of a good friend of mine, John Hidahl, the El Dorado County supervisor for District 1, who passed away this month on November 2.

Supervisor Hidahl was an outstanding public servant who served in the El Dorado Hills area for over 40 years, most recently two terms on the board of supervisors.

John was raised in Ceres, California, on the Hidahl family ranch, where he performed farm work as well as driving for his family trucking business.

John's family had been ranching for generations, and beyond his work for the family growing up, he continued the family farming legacy by serving as the chairman of the board of Hidahl Ranch.

During his years at Ceres High School, John earned his Eagle Scout rank at the age of 16. I actually used to see him at every Eagle Scout ceremony I went to in the area. He was always there, a proud Eagle himself, and so proud to recognize and honor the young Eagles as they reached that milestone.

Also in high school, he met his wife of 52 years, Eileen, who is a retired public school teacher.

John studied mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, which launched his career in the aerospace industry. During these years, he conducted impressive work at Aerojet and Northrop Grumman and excelled at multiple roles, including rocket test engineer, rocket design engineer, director of engineering, and chief systems engineer.

John was propelled by his personal motto of ``Service before self'' to serve his community, guiding his transition to public service. He led his community in various roles. He served on the El Dorado Hills Water District for 33 years, the El Dorado Hills Area Planning Advisory Committee for 36 years, the El Dorado Hills Community Council for 23 years, and the list goes on.

The thorough dedication and leadership shown by John is one of the things that has allowed our region to remain an amazing place to live, learn, work, and raise a family. It has been a true privilege to know John, and I am certain that the impact of his lifelong ``Service before self'' slogan will be felt by the county for many, many years and for generations to come.

During my time in both the State assembly and in Congress, it has been an honor to work alongside Supervisor Hidahl. He truly exemplified what it means to be in public service, and he worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all of his constituents.

Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I extend my heartfelt condolences to John's wife, Eileen; their five daughters, Kathryn, Maureen, Christine, Rachel, and Brittani; and to the many others whose lives John touched in El Dorado County and the neighboring region.

John will be greatly missed, and his legacy will be felt for a long, long time to come.

Celebrating Lake Tahoe Community College's 50th Anniversary

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, I wish to mark and celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Lake Tahoe Community College.

In 1974, the formation of the college was approved, with the official opening of their doors taking place on September 18 of the following year. Now, 50 years later, the Lake Tahoe Community College is a true pillar in the community.

Ranked among the top 20 best community colleges in the country in 2023, Lake Tahoe Community College is an evolving, dynamic academic institution located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe, California.

It is northern California's highest elevation college, and it is a microcosm of the natural beauty of the nearby national treasure, Lake Tahoe.

The college currently serves 7,500 students annually from the local community, neighboring jurisdictions, other States, and even from across the globe.

Their academic programs help students earn terminal degrees, prepare them for transfer to 4-year institutions, and ready them for exciting and fulfilling careers.

Of particular note is the college's career and technical education program, which provides certifications and training with an avenue directly into employment in a variety of important local career paths, such as firefighting with CAL FIRE and forestry protection with the U.S. Forest Service.

In fact, they have had students who have gotten their certifications and have gone right out immediately to help fight against wildfires, providing an incredibly and very much needed service.

The college's dedication to promoting educational opportunities and access to higher learning contributes to a diverse and enthusiastic college environment that inspires scholars through hard work and determination to thrive in their academic and career goals.

The professors, administrators, staff, and board of the college are to be highly regarded for their remarkable leadership, contributions to the Tahoe community, and the instrumental support they provide toward the success of their students.

I am proud to represent exemplary colleges like Lake Tahoe Community College in Congress.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize Lake Tahoe Community College for more than five decades of dedication to academic achievement, empowering individuals, and enriching our community. Death Valley '49ers

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, I wish to mark and celebrate the 75-year anniversary of the Death Valley '49ers.

For more than seven decades, this volunteer, nonprofit organization has been dedicated to raising public awareness and preserving the history and natural beauty of Death Valley National Park, the Nation's largest conserved desert landscape.

The Death Valley '49ers had its beginning in 1949, when it produced a historical pageant in Death Valley to highlight the spirit of the California pioneers. Since then, the Death Valley '49ers have sponsored an annual encampment each November to celebrate this pioneer spirit and the highly valued national resource of Death Valley.

Through their efforts to both protect the rare desert environment and famed recreational space, this organization has played a pivotal role in educating the public on the history of Death Valley in the settlement of the west.

In addition to sponsoring the annual encampment, they are also involved with a variety of projects that support Death Valley and the surrounding community, including hosting art shows and musical events, providing scholarships and educational opportunities for local students, publishing books and other communications about the park, assisting in renovation projects, spearheading monument and State landmark efforts, and maintaining contact with the Timbisha-Shoshone Tribe.

Their devoted efforts have made a lasting impact in the region, and I am confident that their ongoing contributions will continue to serve the park, visitors, and residents for many generations to come.

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize the Death Valley '49ers for their 75 years of commitment to the Death Valley National Park and the history within. Roseville Housing Authority

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, I wish to mark and celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the Roseville Housing Authority.

The Roseville Housing Authority started providing rental assistance in 1980 and has since directed more than $132 million in Federal funds to those in need who qualify as low-income households for rental assistance.

Acting in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Roseville Housing Authority works as the hands that reach out to the local community to make housing assistance both affordable and accountable.

This outreach has expanded as they administer for the city of Rocklin in providing both project-based vouchers and housing choice vouchers. Moreover, in the last decade alone, the Roseville Housing Authority ran the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, which collaborates with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

I am proud to say that their work of housing veterans is progressing. In 2021, the Roseville Housing Authority leased the first project-based vouchers in Roseville, which provided lease assistance for households directly from homelessness, and nearly two-thirds were issued to veterans.

The enduring strength and innovation of the Roseville Housing Authority in creating and implementing new housing opportunities was on full display last year when their new landlord incentive program served 140 households and achieved a near-perfect 97 percent lease success rate.

These recent successes provide a short glimpse into the Roseville Housing Authority's dedication to assisting with and initiating housing opportunities in the community.

Their success is consistent and historic, as they have earned the designation of ``High Performer'' by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for decades.

This distinguished and meritorious status is the highest rating the Department can bestow on a public housing agency. The Roseville Housing Authority is and has been among the top public housing authorities in the country.

It is a great honor and privilege to represent pioneering and exceptional organizations such as the Roseville Housing Authority in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize the Roseville Housing Authority for 50 years of providing outstanding contributions to our community. In Recognition of the Retirement of Placer County Board Supervisor Jim Holmes

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize retiring Placer County Board Supervisor Jim Holmes, who has served the foothill communities of Placer County, California, for nearly 20 years.

A native to the city of Auburn with long family roots that extend back five generations, Supervisor Holmes attended Placer High School and Sierra College and completed his undergraduate education at Humboldt State University with a bachelor of arts degree.

He worked for nearly 30 years as a manager and owner of a gas station and repair shop, thus setting the stage for his public service based on lessons learned as a small businessman.

Supervisor Holmes is known for being accessible to his constituents, active in the community, and attentive to varying sides of an issue before making a decision he believed to be in the best interests of Placer County citizens. By any measure, Supervisor Jim Holmes has established a tradition of public service in Placer County that sets a marker and an expectation.

He has served faithfully on a wide variety of community boards, commissions, and committees, including: the First Children and Families Commission; Auburn Area Salvation Army Advisory Board; Placer County Consolidated Fire Protection District Board; and, the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency, among others. He was also a founding member of the North Auburn Municipal Advisory Council, as well as the Highway 49 Business Association Board.

During Supervisor Holmes' tenure, he promoted affordable housing projects and programs, improved traffic and highway safety concerns, invested in fire protection and prevention efforts, supported our local public libraries, preserved the agricultural heritage of the area, and enhanced overall services throughout the county.

Supervisor Jim Holmes achieved a wide diversity of accomplishments to improve the quality of life and experiences for residents, businesses, and visitors of Placer County. Some of his particularly noteworthy accomplishments include his contributions toward fully funding the Placer County retirement obligation, bringing Mercy Housing to North Auburn, building the Rocklin Public Library, and leading improvements to Highway 49, just to name a few.

It is because of the leadership and commitment of people like Supervisor Jim Holmes that Placer County is such a great place to live, work, and recreate. I am confident that the legacy he built and the public service he provided will continue to benefit the county for many years to come.

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize Supervisor Jim Holmes for the years of dedicated leadership he provided to the people of Placer County, and I wish him all the best in his retirement. In Recognition of the Retirement of Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, I wish to recognize the retiring Sacramento County supervisor for district 4, Sue Frost, for her years of service to the Sacramento area community.

Supervisor Frost has served the people of the Sacramento area for more than three decades with a career in elected office that spanned 12 years.

Before pursuing her interests in the public sphere, Supervisor Frost held a distinguished career and made exceptional contributions in both healthcare and business. With a strong foundation in nursing and physical education from Pacific Union College, she became a California certified emergency nurse, showcasing her dedication to community health.

In the business world, she has excelled as a businessowner for 34 years in mortgage lending, consulting, and real estate investments until her retirement in 2014.

Her involvement with the Sacramento Association of Realtors has allowed Supervisor Frost to have an impact on the industry with her vast knowledge and unwavering commitment to the community.

Transitioning to public service, Supervisor Frost impacted our region through extensive service on various boards and associations, including serving as a vice president of the Birdcage Heights Neighborhood Association, vice president of Roseville Parkinson's Support Group, and former president of the Citrus Heights Green Team. Elected to the Citrus Heights City Council in 2012, she served as vice mayor in 2014 and mayor in 2015.

During this period, she championed fiscal discipline, economic growth, and public safety.

As mayor, Supervisor Frost sought regional and economic cooperation and supported nonprofit organizations through key initiatives, such as the Regional Leadership Council, the Community Leadership Conference, and the We Support Veterans celebration, which raised over $10,000 for the Vets Helping Vets Fund.

In January 2017, Supervisor Frost was sworn in to represent district 4 on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.

Dedicated to engaging with residents across her district, including Orangevale, Folsom, and surrounding communities, Supervisor Frost prioritized engagement with her constituents with continuing community meetings, which allowed residents to interact directly with her and her office.

Furthermore, she showed commitment to supporting county services by working with over 30 departments to foster safe neighborhoods, ensure economic development, advocate for veterans' resources, and protect our quality of life.

It is because of the leadership and commitment of people like Supervisor Sue Frost that our communities are such a great place to live, work, and recreate.

I am confident that the legacy she built and the public service that she provided in so many ways will continue to benefit the county for many, many years to come.

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize Supervisor Sue Frost for the dedicated leadership and years of service that she provided to the people of Sacramento County, and I join the Sacramento area and all of her constituents in wishing her the very best in her retirement. In Memory of Robert Hugh ``Bobby'' Tanner

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Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I wish to take a moment to honor the memory of Robert Hugh Tanner, known as Bobby, an Inyo County resident and community leader who passed away earlier this year in June.

Bobby Tanner was known by others as an inspiration, a role model, a local legend, a man of integrity, a great ``mule man,'' and a friend to the Eastern Sierra who contributed greatly to his community.

He was born in Inyo County in the city of Bishop in 1959. Bobby was raised working in his family business, the Red's Meadow Resort and Pack Station, where he would lead pack strings into the Sierra Nevada mountains, a way of life that became one of his dearest passions. He graduated from Bishop Union High School in 1978 and went on to earn his degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Bobby owned and operated his own businesses, Tanner Hay Company and Rock Creek Lodge, and eventually became the owner of his family business, Red's Meadow Resort and Pack Station. As a businessman and entrepreneur himself, he maintained a strong commitment to supporting other local small businesses and organizations, contributing to the strength and economic vitality of the region.

He loved the outdoors, which was reflected in his enthusiasm for sports; namely, skiing and football, skills of which led him to mentoring and coaching youth in the local ski and high school football teams.

Bobby placed his heart in the center of the Eastern Sierras and served the community in several capacities. Of particular note were the monumental contributions he and his family made to the famous Bishop Mule Days Celebration, a first-rate mule show and classic Eastern Sierra tradition. As a son to one of the founders of Mule Days, Bobby participated in this event since its inception in 1970, when he was just 10 years old, and served for many years as a member and president of the board later in life. He also played a vital role in recreating and operating the famed Twenty Mule Team, a special historical attraction iconic to Death Valley.

Undoubtedly, Bobby Tanner's many contributions are part of the fabric and fiber of the city of Bishop and surrounding communities, and I am confident that the impact of the remarkable legacy he left will be felt for many generations to come.

Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Bobby's mother, Jean; wife, Claudia; son, Bo; sister and brother-in-law Suzanne and Harvey Bertrand; and the countless others whose lives he touched throughout Inyo County and the Eastern Sierra region. Bobby Tanner will be greatly missed.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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