Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a business meeting to consider S. 930, S. 1279, GSA resolutions to authorize the FY 2004 Capital and Investment Leasing Program, H.R. 274, S. 269, S. 551, the Recycled Oil Bill (to be introduced), S. 793, H.R. 1018, H.R. 281, S. 1210, S. 1425, and the POPS implementing bill, to be introduced.

The hearing will be held in SD 406 (Hearing Room).

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 9 a.m., to hold a nominations hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at a time and location to be determined to hold a business meeting to consider the nominations of Joe D. Whitley to be General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security; Penrose C. Albright to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Plans, Programs, and Budget, Department of Homeland Security, and Joel D. Kaplan to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 30, 2003.

The following agenda will be considered:

Presidential nominations: Howard Radzely, of Maryland, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor; and Michael Young, of Pennsylvania, to be a member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

Any additional nominees cleared for action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 10 a.m., in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting on pending business, to be followed immediately by an oversight hearing on potential settlement mechanisms of the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit.

Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet in the afternoon on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 2 p.m., in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on S. 578, The Tribal Government Amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Judicial Nominations'' on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 10 a.m., in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Witness List:

Panel I: Senators.

Panel II: Henry W. Saad to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.

Panel III: Larry Alan Burns to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California; Glen E. Conrad to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia; Henry F. Floyd to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Kim R. Gibson to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Michael W. Mosman to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon; and Dana Makoto Sabraw to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226 on ``An Examination of S. 1194, The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003.''

Witness List:

Panel I: Mr. Ron Honberg, Esq., National Alliance for Mental Illness, Arlington, VA; The Honorable Eve Stratton, Justice Ohio Supreme Court, Columbus, OH; Mr. Reggie Wilkinson, Director of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections, Columbus, OH; Sheriff Donald Eslinger, Seminole County Sheriff's Department, Sanford, FL; and The Honorable John Campbell, Vermont State Senate, Quechee, VT.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 9 a.m., for a hearing entitled ``SARS: Best Practices for Identifying And Caring for New Cases.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space be authorized to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 2:30 p.m., on Space Exploration.

Mr. Speaker, as the author of H.R. 274, I am pleased the House is considering this legislation to expand the boundaries of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which is located in my congressional district.

Garrett Island, which consists of approximately 180 acres, was the site of Maryland's second settlement in the 1600's. It is the only rocky island in the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay system, and it is a vital link between the Susquehanna River and the Bay. It also provides habitat to 44 different bird species, including eagles, Common Loons, Tundra Swans and 14 species of ducks.

I have visited Garrett Island and there is no question that its rich history, geographic location and wildlife resource values make it an excellent candidate for inclusion within the National Wildlife Refuge system. As a nation, we can ill afford to allow unique places, like Garrett Island, to be lost forever.

While I am disappointed that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not endorsed this idea, I was pleased to hear the agency testify that, ``Given the Island's historic and archaeological values, its recreational opportunities, and its environmental education and interpretation potential, a concerted effort should be put forth to provide long-term protection and management of the island.'' This is the goal of H.R. 274.

The Cecil Land Trust has done everything it can to protect this important property, contributing $150,000 toward the purchase of the island. Based on our hearing, Federal acquisition costs will be less than $400,000, and little, if any, maintenance or personnel will be required in the future. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation had it right when it wrote that steps must be taken to ``ensure protection of this largely unspoiled, historical and ecological gem.''

I would urge my Colleagues to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 274! This is an important and necessary inclusion in our National Wildlife Refuge system, which celebrated its 100th birthday last month. This is exactly the type of place that Theodore Roosevelt had in mind when this unique system of public lands was created.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, again I thank my good friend from Arizona for his management of this legislation. I thank also the chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), who is the chief sponsor of this proposed legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this bill passed in committee last year and we are just going through the process and refining it even better. As stated by my good friend from Arizona, this noncontroversial legislation would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the existing Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge through the acquisition of Garrett Island.

Mr. Speaker, wildlife habitats such as that found on Garrett Island is in short supply in the lower reach of the Susquehanna River. In fact, it is my understanding that Garrett Island is the only bedrock island in the tidal portion of the Chesapeake Bay System.

The Fish and Wildlife Service should be encouraged to pursue the addition of this valuable property to enhance the existing Blackwater Refuge Complex and also to ensure the long-term protection of important open space and fish and wildlife habitat.

Again, in closing, I want to express my full support of this proposed legislation. And I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 274) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the property in Cecil County, Maryland, known as Garrett Island for inclusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 274 has been introduced by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest). It has been the subject of two congressional hearings and extensive site visits by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Garrett Island, Maryland.

While there is a dispute over who should hold title to the 180 acres that comprise Garrett Island, there is no debate over the fact the island contains valuable resources that should be protected in the future and that the cost of acquiring the property is less than one- half million dollars. I have been assured the two private landowners who currently hold title to about 120 acres of Garrett Island, which is uninhabited, are willing to sell their property to the Federal Government in a voluntary manner.

The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) has made a compelling case for incorporating this land within the existing Blackwater National Wildlife

Refuge and I urge a yea vote on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material in the Record regarding the three bills just considered, H. Res. 173, H.R. 274, and S. 162.