To authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, due to a family matter requiring my presence in New Mexico, I was not able to be present for a number of votes on the House floor this week.

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 627, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4606, to authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park, and for other purposes, as amended, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 628, on motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 3193, the Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 629, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6504, the Small Business Investment Company Modernization Act of 2012, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 630, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate Amendment on H.R. 3783, an act to provide for a comprehensive strategy to counter Iran's growing hostile presence and activity in the Western Hemisphere, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 631, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6621, to correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code, as amended, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 632, on motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 3642, the Theft of Trade Secrets Clarification Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 633, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6672, to reauthorize certain programs under the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 634, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1845, the Medicare IVIG Access Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 635, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 668, to refer H.R. 5862, a bill making congressional reference to the United States Court of Federal Claims pursuant to sections 1492 and 2509 of title 28, United States Code, the Indian trust-related claims of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma as well as its individual members, as amended, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 636, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6655, the Protect Our Kids Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 637, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 3564, the Public Interest Declassification Board Reauthorization Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 638, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6016, the Government Employee Accountability Act, as amended, I would have voted ``aye.''

I thank the gentleman from Utah for very concisely summarizing just exactly what this bill does.

I rise in support of H.R. 4606, which I have introduced. This commonsense legislation would permit the necessary safety maintenance of a natural gas pipeline that was constructed in 1962. Ordinary maintenance of the pipeline, which is the sole source of natural gas for nearly 25,000 residents in the Flathead Valley of Montana, is being prevented by red tape. About 3\1/2\ miles of this 118-mile pipeline follow U.S. Highway 2 through the southwestern border of Glacier National Park.

The National Park Service is allowed to issue an easement over lands in the park for specific purposes, including electric transmission lines and communications services. But the specific uses listed do not include natural gas lines; so under current law, they can't allow maintenance.

The law also authorizes the Federal Government to issue rights-of-way for natural gas lines--just not in national parks. And so this tiny stretch of existing pipeline, which is so critical to so many Montanans, finds itself between a legal rock and a bureaucratic hard place. Allowing maintenance of the existing pipeline is too important for further delay.

Not only is the pipeline nestled in and around Glacier National Park; but it is also near the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, which is designated as a wild and scenic river and the Great Bear Wilderness Area. An accident due to a lack of maintenance would be devastating to the local ecosystem.

Moving the line outside the park would require further harm to the surrounding environment, and it makes sense for the pipeline to use the existing roadbed for Highway 2 in order to minimize the economic impact.

My legislation simply solves this government-made problem by allowing the National Park Service to allow maintenance on the pipeline. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4606) to authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let me also as we begin this debate I would yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Montana whose bill this is that will talk about a power company decision that in 1962 was allowed and then in 1990 the Park Service determined they couldn't do what they already had done and now it has to be fixed.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rehberg).

Mr. Speaker, I have only myself as the final speaker we have over here. I was wondering if there are any other speakers from the minority side.

Mr. Speaker, in closing on this, this is a piece of legislation that is just common sense and blindingly necessary. At risk, if it is not passed, are 25,000 people, citizens of Montana, who would be without this kind of natural gas service, as well as Glacier National Park that would be without this kind of service. It's something that needs to be done, it should have been done a long time ago, and it needs to be changed to allow the Park Service to be doing what it naturally should be doing. I urge all my colleagues to support this particular bill.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4606 clarifies that the National Park Service may issue right-of-way permits for a natural gas pipeline in Glacier National Park. The pipeline already exists in the park, and the legislation

provides appropriate easements for access by Northwestern Energy.

Senator Tester first introduced this legislation in March of this year. We do not object to this legislation, Mr. Speaker, and I reserve the balance of my time.

No, I don't, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I did not return to Washington in time on Monday December 17, 2012 and missed two votes.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yes'' on H.R. 4606--To authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park, and for other purposes (rollcall 627), ``yes'' on S. 3193--To make technical corrections to the legal description of certain land to be held in trust for the Barona Band of Mission Indians, and for other purposes (rollcall 628).