Debbie Dingell

“I support this compromise bill. It requires all new cars to have AM radio so people can get emergency alerts during natural disasters. It also includes an end date, which lets Congress take another look at the rule later as technology changes.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this strong compromise to H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. We have worked on this effort for years, so I thank Chair Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Bilirakis, and all of my colleagues who have worked diligently to find common ground and move this legislation forward. I also thank the broadcasters and the car companies and everybody else who has been part of a lot of tough discussions. I have spent my life at the heart of the American auto industry, and cars have always been a core part of who I am. I understand both the importance of making sure consumers have access to critical information and the importance of getting Federal policy right as technology continues to evolve. AM radio remains an important tool for communities across the country, especially when it comes to delivering lifesaving information during emergencies and natural disasters. Consumers need to have reliable access to those alerts, but we also have to recognize that technology changes. That is why I believe the compromise before us today strikes the correct balance. This bill mandates AM radio in every new car, but it also includes a sunset provision recognizing that Congress should reassess the mandates as technology evolves. If AM radio continues to provide value in the future, Congress can and should act again. It strengthens compliance timelines, ensuring that consumers have reliable”

“I want the House to pass this bill. North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970, mostly because they are losing their habitats. This bill helps communities protect and restore places where birds can live and migrate safely.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act. I am very proud to lead this important effort for bird conservation with my colleague Congressman Cline. I thank him for his leadership on this effort. I also thank the chair and the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee for making this happen. We have a responsibility to make sure that our communities are safe for birds and people to live together. Birds play critical roles in our ecosystem and in our day-to-day lives. Since 1970, bird populations in North America have declined by a third and are continuing to decline at an accelerating rate. Almost 3 billion birds have disappeared. They are gone. Habitat loss is the biggest driver of this decline, and this bill works to protect, restore, and enhance urban and rural habitats for birds. Supporting parks and greenways and reducing urban hazards can make a real difference for migrating and nesting birds and protect bird populations for generations to come. Both the sportsmen and conservation communities have recognized that birds need our help, and that it is up to us to take serious action to address this crisis. I might add that it is very timely for this consideration, as bird migration is underway. During migration, birds can become disoriented, making awareness and simple protections especially important. Mr. Speaker, I thank the broad, bipartisan coalition that has fought for this legislation so far, including the National Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, the Garden Club of America, and the American Bird Conservancy. H.R. 3276 is a real step forward for conservation, and I strongly support its passage.”

“I oppose this bill. It will push right whales closer to dying out, and we can protect both the whales and fishermen without delaying these rules. The real problems facing our fishermen are high fuel prices and harmful trade fights with Canada. I want to send this bill back to committee and study how fuel costs and tariffs hurt our fishing businesses.”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9436 pushes the North Atlantic right whale closer to extinction. I respect my colleague from Maine a great deal, and I agree with him that we can protect the right whale and protect the Maine fishermen as well. A 13-year waiver from complying with the Endangered Species Act does nothing for the lobster industry, which was on a path to sensible rules that keep fishermen on the water and protect these critically endangered whales. They still have 2 more years to get the rules right, and we don’t need to cut off a process that was moving in the right direction. Let’s be clear. The gentleman and I actually share something in common, and that is the immediate threat to fishing communities across this country with President Trump’s chaotic trade policies and the war of choice in Iran. If we are serious about American competitiveness, we need to get our priorities straight. We should not be picking unnecessary fights with our closest friend and neighbor. Canada is our ally and our largest trading partner. This foolish trade war we are now in with Canada will tangibly raise costs for American families and create uncertainty for American businesses, workers, and communities. Fisheries across our country are being decimated by the high price of diesel fuel. As we have heard from the majority, the lobster industry is a $2 billion industry that supports about 1,700 jobs. These fishermen are changing how they work and rethinking how many fishing trips they can take given rising costs. They are often opting for longer, more dangerous trips rather than taking multiple trips to try and pull in the same amount of seafood using less oil. According to the New England’s Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, this means more fatigued workers and a higher risk of accidents. Great Lakes fisheries, which include commercial, recreational, and Tribal fisheries, are a $5.1 billion industry supporting 75,000 jobs. Fishermen are opting to stop fishing because they can’t make the math work with diesel as high as it is, and fish prices to consumers are being raised to compensate. Across the country, marine fisheries generate $319 billion in sales and support 1.7 million jobs. A U.S. shrimper recently reported spending an additional $20,000 on a single trip because of diesel costs. These fishermen are already operating on razor-thin margins, and fuel costs are near or exceeding the shrimp prices. This isn’t sustainable. Just as we have seen in the Great Lakes, fishermen are going to start walking away from their small businesses. Not only are our fishing communities struggling to stay afloat, they also need to pass along these additional costs to American families purchasing their seafood. Back in the Great Lakes region, our manufacturing sector is facing alarming tariffs from Canada because of President Trump’s and Secretary Lutnick’s inability to seriously and diplomatically negotiate a strong and fair trade deal. As if we needed yet another reminder of the pain inflicted on our States by these policies, the President decided to get back at Canada by changing the name of one of our Great Lakes. By the way, it is not going over well at home. Unfortunately, the majority is doing nothing this week to bring down costs and fight for American families and businesses. That is why, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to the committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would direct the Secretary of Commerce to publish a report on the high costs of fuel, fishing gear, and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. fishing businesses and the price of healthy seafood for American families. I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of this amendment into the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.”