Nevada National Forest Land Disposal Act of 2005

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 2:30 p.m., in closed session to mark up the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at 10 a.m., on Spyware.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 10 a.m.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 895 a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a rural water supply program in the reclamation States to provide a clean, safe, affordable, and reliable water supply to rural residents.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 2:30 p.m., to hold a hearing on U.S.-E.U. Regulatory Cooperation on Emerging Technologies.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. in room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on Federal Recognition of Indian Tribes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in SD226.

Agenda

I. Bills

S. 852, A bill to Create a Fair and Efficient System to Resolve Claims of Victims for Bodily Injury Caused by Asbestos Exposure, and for Other Purposes. [Specter, Leahy, Hatch, Feinstein, Grassley, DeWine.]

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 11, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Bioterrorism Preparedness and Public Health, be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at 2 p.m. in SD-430.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 10 a.m. in closed session to markup the personnel programs and provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 2 p.m.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 100, to authorize the exchange of certain land in the state of Colorado; S. 235 and H.R. 816, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to sell certain parcels of federal land in Carson City and Douglas County, NV; S. 404, to make a technical correction relating to the land conveyance authorized by Public Law 108-67; S. 741, to provide for the disposal of certain forest service administrative sites in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes; S. 761, to rename the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in honor of the late Morley Nelson, an international authority on birds of prey, who was instrumental in the establishment of this National Conservation Area, and for other purposes; and H.R. 486, to provide for a land exchange involving private land and Bureau of Land Management land in the vicinity of Holloman Air Force Base, NM, for the purpose of removing private land from the required safety zone surrounding munitions storage bunkers at Holloman Air Force Base.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. in closed session to mark up the readiness and management support programs and provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 9 a.m. in closed session to mark up the strategic forces programs and provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. Speaker, to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), I want to thank him for his courtesy in granting me time to rise today in support of the legislation I introduced, H.R. 816, the Nevada National Forest Disposal Act.

Mr. Speaker, Nevada has a unique relationship with the Federal Government, because 91.9 percent of the land within that State is either federally owned or federally controlled. As a native and a public servant of this great State, I am committed to promoting sensible land management policies that allow for responsible economic development, while protecting our precious natural resources and scenic vistas. My bill, the Nevada National Forest Disposal Act, is a model for such development.

The bill provides for the sale of six small tracts of land at public auction for fair market value. The sale of this land will allow responsible planning and economic development in Carson City and Douglas County.

These parcels of land, Mr. Speaker, are land that are not pristine forest lands. In fact, there is barely any vegetation at all that can be found on these lots. The parcels are small tracts of land, each bordered by private lands on at least two sides, either within residential areas or next to a highway.

The Forest Service faces many challenges when it comes to managing these lots, and because of the nature of their location they are simply magnets for trash. I think we can all agree that the Forest Service should not have to divert resources away from their mission to deal with small tracts of land that often become an unfortunate dumping ground for a community.

Developing these lands, Mr. Speaker, would benefit the community by providing more economic opportunity and removing what some find to be an eyesore amidst commercial and residential areas, certainly not pristine forest land.

The proceeds of this land sale benefit the community, the State of Nevada and the Forest Service. Sixty-five percent of the proceeds from the land being sold will go to fund an interagency wildland fire suppression center. This center will help to protect the wildland-urban interface that surrounds the community. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds goes to the Forest Service to be used for development and maintenance of parks, trails and natural areas in the Carson City, Douglas County and Washoe County areas. Of the remaining 10 percent of the revenue, 5 percent will go to Nevada's general education fund and 5 percent will go to the Carson Water Subconservancy District.

Mr. Speaker, this is sound public policy. It is sound public land management policy for the Federal Government to dispose of tracts of land such as these that do not warrant Federal protection and use the revenue to manage vital areas of Federal ownership. This particular land disposal is important to the State of Nevada. It is supported by the community, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at 2 p.m., in Room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 100, to authorize the exchange of certain land in the State of Colorado; S. 235 and H.R. 816, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to sell certain parcels of Federal land in Carson City and Douglas County, NV; S. 404, to make a technical correction relating to the land conveyance authorized by Public Law 108-67; S. 741, to provide for the disposal of certain Forest Service administrative sites in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes; S. 761, to rename the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in honor of the late Morely Nelson, an international authority on birds of prey, who was instrumental in the establishment of this National Conservation Area, and for other purposes; and H.R. 486, to provide for a land exchange involving private land and Bureau of Land Management land in the vicinity of Holloman Air Force Base, NM, for the purpose of removing private land from the required safety zone surrounding munitions storage bunkers at Holloman Air Force Base.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC, 20510-6150.

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

(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, as my distinguished colleague the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) has explained, this legislation provides for the disposal of specific forest lands in Nevada and specifies the uses of those funds from the sale of these lands.

The gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo) succeeded in moving this legislation through the House during the last Congress. We do not object to the passage of this legislation at this time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 816) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to sell certain parcels of National Forest System land in Carson City and Douglas County, Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 816.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), the author of this bill.

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