Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2005

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 22, 2005, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Examining the Financial Services Industry's Responsibilities and Role in Preventing Identity Theft and Protecting Sensitive Financial Information.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 10 a.m., on Communications in a Disaster, in SD-562.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the following pending nominations:

Environmental Protection Agency, George M. Gray, of Massachusetts, to be an assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Edward McGaffigan, Jr., of Virginia, to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the term of 5 years expiring June 30, 2010.

Department of the Interior, H. Dale Hall, of New Mexico, to be director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Environmental Protection Agency, Lyons Gray, of North Carolina, to be chief financial officer, Environmental Protection Agency.

Department of Commerce, Santanu K. Baruah, of Oregon, to be assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the

Senate on Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 9 a.m., to hold a hearing on nominations.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development, be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 22 at 3 p.m. in SD-430.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. to hold a business meeting to consider pending committee business.

Agenda

Legislation

1. S. , Assure Emergency and Interoperable Communications for First Responders Act of 2005.

2. S. , an original bill to provide relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

3. S. , a bill to expand the responsibilities of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to provide independent and objective audits and investigations relating to the federal programs for Hurricane Katrina.

4. S. 939, Disaster Recovery Act of 2005.

5. S. 1700, a bill to establish an Office of the Hurricane Katrina Recovery Chief Financial Officer.

6. S. , a bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to allow employees of the judicial branch to establish an emergency leave transfer program in the event of a major disaster or emergency.

7. S. 572, Homeland Security Food and Agriculture Act of 2005.

Nominations

1. Stewart A. Baker to be Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

2. John R. Fisher to be Associate Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

3. Colleen D. Kiko to be General Counsel, Federal Labor Relations Authority.

4. Juliet J. McKenna to be Associate Judge, District of Columbia Superior Court.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup of Thursday, September 22, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. in Senate Dirksen Office Building Room 226.

Agenda

I. Nominations

John G. Roberts, to be Chief Justice of the United States; Timothy Flanigan, to be Deputy Attorney General.

II. Bills

S. 1088. Streamlined Procedures Act of 2005; Kyl, Cornyn, Grassley, Hatch;

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate for a hearing entitled, ``The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Small Businesses'' on Thursday, September 22, 2005, beginning at 10 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Vetearns' Affairs be authorized to meeting during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 22, 2005, for a committee hearing titled ``Preserving Sacred Ground; Should Capital Offenders be Buried in America's National Cemeteries?'' The hearing will take place in Room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building at 10 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 22, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed markup on the fiscal year 2006 Intelligence Authorization.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. for a hearing regarding ``Cost and Payment Plans of Medicare Part D.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 22 at 2:30 p.m.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 435, a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, S. 1096, a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate portions of the system, and for other purposes, S. 1310, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation to increase the diameter of natural gas pipeline located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, S. 1378, a bill to amend the National Historic Preservation Act to provide appropriation authorization and improve the operations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and S. 1627, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study to evaluate resources along the coastal region of the State of Delaware and to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park in Delaware.

I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 435,

the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2005. Once passed, the bill will designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. I would like to thank the chairman of the Resources Committee, Mr. Pombo, for bringing this legislation to the floor and for working with me to ensure that this important study can commence promptly.

The bill commissions a feasibility study to evaluate whether the Lower Farmington River and the Salmon Brook qualify as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River within the National Park Service's Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Lower Farmington River is defined as the 40- mile stretch between the end of the west branch of the Farmington River in Canton, Connecticut, and the Rainbow Dam in Windsor, and the Salmon Brook, an additional 32-mile stretch in the top 12 in the State of Connecticut for diversity of aquatic insects it hosts. The study area crosses both the Fifth and First Congressional Districts. The Farmington River and Salmon Brook's recreational and environmental contributions to our State are well-known and a valuable resource for future generations.

The 14 miles of the Farmington River's west branch, designated as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River in 1994, is a resounding environmental and economic success story. Partnership designation for the west branch has fostered public-private partnerships to preserve the area's environment and heritage while yielding economic benefits to river towns. Its designation has preserved it as a home to trout, river otter, and bald eagle populations; and historic structures still grace its banks. Fishermen, hikers, canoeists, and kayakers enjoy the river year-round.

I hope to see the rest of the Farmington River, as well as Salmon Brook, enjoy similar success. This new initiative is a an ideal way to showcase the whole river's unique cultural and recreational resources. The direct economic impact of the final designation is estimated at $3 million and an additional $9 million in total economic impact from recreational users.

This legislation has broad bipartisan support at the local, State, and Federal level, and I urge my colleagues' support for the bill.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the following hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:

The hearing will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 435, a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, S. 1096, a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate portions of the Musconetcong River in the State of New Jersey as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, S. 1310, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation to increase the diameter of a natural gas pipeline located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, S. 1378, a bill to amend the National Historic Preservation Act to provide appropriation authorization and improve the operations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and S. 1627, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study to evaluate resources along the coastal region of the State of Delaware and to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park System in Delaware.

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, SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-6150.

For further information, please contact Tom Lillie or Brian Carlstrom.

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

The hearing entitled ``Climate Change Science and Economics'' will be held on Tuesday, September 20th at 10 a.m. in Room SD-366. This is a continuation of the hearing held on July 21, 2005.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony regarding the current state of climate change scientific research and the economics of strategies to manage climate change. Issues to be discussed include: the relationship between energy consumption and climate change, and the potential effects on the U.S. economy of climate change and strategies to control greenhouse gas emissions.

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, SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6150.

For further information, please contact: John Peschke or Shannon Ewan.

subcommIttee on National Parks

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 435) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, Senate 435, introduced by Senator Lieberman of Connecticut and a companion to H.R. 1344 sponsored by our colleague Nancy Johnson, would study a segment of Farmington River and Salmon Brook in Connecticut for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic River System.

I urge adoption of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.