Floor Statements

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment that I offered on behalf of myself, Mr. Mark Udall, Mr. Rob Bishop, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Heller, Mr. Salazar, and Mrs. Musgrave. This bipartisan amendment will redirect roughly $20 million in departmental salaries and expenses to the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program to bring the total appropriation to nearly $253 million.

I am pleased to be working with this bipartisan group and thank my colleagues for their support. All of us have something in common. We represent some of the 1,900 counties spread across every State but Rhode Island that have public lands that rely on the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program to mitigate the impact of the lost tax revenue resulting from Federal land ownership.

The Federal Government owns nearly 650 million acres of land, mostly in the West. We have a map here that shows all the land owned or held in the trust by the government in red. It is important to see exactly how much of the land in the West is owned by the Federal Government. In fact, the amount of land owned by the Federal Government is amazing.

This is an amazing amount of Federal ownership and control by the Federal Government. That means that we do not tax those lands and that means that in the Western United States we pay less per child for education, but we tax our people more per family because we are supporting the Federal Government. In other words, we don't tax these lands; we tax ourselves more.

As the chairman of the Western Caucus, I know all too well that my fellow colleagues throughout the West are struggling with these issues, and also in many districts in the East, where there is a great deal of public lands.

It is only fair that we pay a reasonable amount in lieu of taxes to cover this shortfall. The Payment in Lieu of Taxes program was created in 1976 to provide payments to counties to make up for property taxes they were prevented from collecting on Federal lands located within their boundaries.

This year, the administration's budget proposal proposed to cut PILT by $34 million, to a paltry 56 percent of the authorized level. The past few years have seen Congress achieve historic levels of PILT funding. We are grateful to Chairman Dicks and Ranking Member Tiahrt for their efforts to restore PILT to the fiscal year 2007 enacted level.

While the appropriation currently in the bill is significantly above the administration's recommendation, it is far from what it should be, and our counties are bearing the brunt of it. While the Department's administrative budget has nearly doubled since 2001, PILT funding levels have not kept pace, and this is not acceptable.

It is imperative that we raise funding so that our rural counties won't have to continue to foot the bill for lands owned by the Federal Government. I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to bring PILT funding levels to nearly 70 percent of the authorized amount and to support the counties that host public lands.

Although I will continue to fight for full funding for PILT, this amendment is a step in the right direction and adds a modest sum to the PILT program, a sum that is important to Americans who live in public lands communities, as well as to all the visitors who visit our public lands.

Madam Chairman, reclaiming my time, I very much appreciate the gentleman's point. The fact is, this is much higher than the President's proposal. I appreciate that. Our job here is to balance how we fund these various programs. The inequity that has been perpetrated on Western counties, where you see these massive amounts, including in your State, of public lands that are not adequately supported by a tax base is very important.

I thank the gentleman very much for his support thus far.

Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman, and urge support of my amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume and rise in support of House Resolution 401.

House Resolution 401 has been adequately explained by the majority. I thank the gentlelady, and urge adoption of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 116, and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 116 has been adequately explained by the majority. The only thing I would add is I would like to commend Congresswoman Cubin for her work on this resolution to designate the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States in Jackson, Wyoming. This designation places the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States in a prestigious class of less than 20 museums to earn such a designation.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 94, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 94 has been adequately explained by the majority, and I urge adoption of the resolution.

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

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

I rise in support of House Resolution 341 which endorses the goals and ideals of American Eagle Day.

Two hundred and twenty-five years ago, the Second Continental Congress decided to use the image of the American bald eagle on the Great Seal of the United States. Since that time, the image of this majestic bird has graced American art, our culture, currency and stamps. It has been the subject of more than 2,500 books, making the bald eagle the most extensively studied bird in North America.

While there were nearly 500,000 on this continent prior to European settlement, this species was particularly devastated by various chemical compounds that caused widespread reproductive failure. In response, the Congress enacted the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the bird was listed on our Endangered Species Act.

From its all-time low of 417 nesting pairs in the continental United States in 1963, extraordinary conservation efforts have saved the bald eagle, and we have witnessed a significant population increase. Today, there are 9,789 breeding pairs, not including the more than 30,000 bald eagles living in Alaska.

By any objective standard, recovery of the bald eagle has been remarkable, but sadly, it is one of only a handful of species that have been recovered under the Endangered Species Act. While it is likely that the Secretary of the Interior will soon make a decision to remove the bald eagle from the Federal list of threatened and endangered species, there is no question that the bald eagle will continue to inspire millions of Americans because it symbolizes the fundamental values of this country of courage, freedom and patriotic spirit.

Under the terms of House Resolution 341, the people of the United States are encouraged to observe American Eagle Day on June 20 and to provide educational information on the value of conserving our Nation's wildlife resources.

I urge an ``aye'' vote and want to compliment the author of this resolution, freshman Congressman David Davis of Tennessee, for his effective leadership in proposing this celebration of American Eagle Day.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield so such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David Davis), who is the author of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 54 and yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 54 has been adequately explained by the majority. I would like to commend Congressman Boustany for his work on this resolution to create the National Hurricane Museum and Science Center.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 390, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Resolution 390 has been adequately explained by the majority, and I urge its adoption.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this matter, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 1139. H.R. 1139, sponsored by the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to assist the Western Municipal Water District in the planning, design, and construction of the Riverside- Corona Feeder. This project includes water storage, pumping facilities, and 28 miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California.

This legislation, as amended, is another step toward ``drought proofing'' Southern California and also reduces the region's dependence on imported water supplies, while providing limited Federal assistance. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

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

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

I rise in support of H.R. 1736. I would like to begin by thanking the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for her kind comments and background on this bill.

H.R. 1736 passed the House of Representatives last Congress, and I reintroduced this legislation earlier this year. This bill will benefit many of my constituents by allowing Juab County to become eligible for funding for conjunctive use under the Central Utah Project. Precious water resources in Utah are highly valued and maximizing existing water resources efficiently is imperative.

The Bonneville Unit of the Central Utah Project was planned to develop and export water from the high Uinta Mountains in the eastern part of the State and bring it to the populated Wasatch Front.

As originally planned, Juab County would have received a large amount of water. However, due to alterations in the original plan, much of that water is planned for use in the Wasatch, Utah, and Salt Lake Counties. While efforts will continue to identify and secure substantial additional water supplies for Juab, there are near-term steps that can be taken to help the county meet its current needs and growing demands. This legislation will facilitate one of those near- term steps.

H.R. 1736 will allow Juab County to become eligible for funding for studies and construction of conjunctive use projects by amending the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992. Allowing Juab County to be eligible to receive funds under the Central Utah Project Completion Act will allow the county to maximize surface water flows and groundwater sources by storing flows in existing aquifers.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1175 and yield myself such time as I may consume.

The Democratic bill manager has adequately explained the bill. This legislation has been cosponsored by five of my Republican colleagues, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Gary Miller of California, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Royce and Mr. Campbell of California.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 361 and yield myself such time as I may consume.

The gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands has appropriately explained the bill, which has passed the bill in the last two Congresses in one form or another. I support the bill.

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

Madam Chairman, the language included in Section 103 of HR 2316 entitled Additional Restrictions on Contractors is language I offered at the Judiciary Committee that closed a loophole in the revolving door provisions of the law.

This language was accepted by voice vote in the Judiciary Committee with the support of Committee Chairman John Conyers. My amendment would impose the same post employment restrictions currently in law to those attorneys and firms that are employed through a contract with the Congress.

Currently, the House Judiciary Committee Majority has agreed to a contract with a partner in a law firm at the same time that law firm is registered to lobby the Congress and in particular is registered to lobby for clients with particular legislative interest before the committee. It is a glaring loophole that a law firm would be able to send an individual to work on the hill at the same time the firm is lobbying the contract employee's colleagues on the committee and the contract employee can potentially lobby the committee where they worked because they are technically not an employee of the committee.

The contract the Judiciary Committee signed was with Irv Nathan of Arnold and Porter for $25,000 per month for up to $250,000 for a 10 month contract. An astonishing amount of money to be paid to a staffer, an amount any full time staffer or member would appreciate to be making.

It is my opinion the only way to comply with clause 14(b) of House Rule XXI, which states contract employees shall not be able to use one's official position for private gain and to conduct oneself at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House, is to include contract employees in the revolving door provisions. In an article from the Washington Post on January 16, 2007, Jeff Birnbaum writes:

The most jaw-dropping hire from K Street, though, is Matt

Gelman. Gelman is senior adviser to House Democratic Whip

James E. Clyburn (S.C.) and is, in effect, on loan from

Microsoft, where he is director of federal government

affairs. He's on unpaid leave for a few months from the

software giant and will return after he helps build Clyburn's

vote-counting operation.

Furthermore, in a January 27, 2007 story in McClatchy Newspapers Matt Stearns writes:

Clyburn spokeswoman Kristie Greco defended the hire, saying

that Gelman is a veteran Capitol Hill aide with specialized

knowledge . . . and that Microsoft is banned from lobbying

Clyburn's personal and leadership offices while Gelman works

there.

In essence, the language would codify the Clyburn precedent and extend the post-employment restrictions to contract employees and their firms. This language closes a loophole which is ripe for abuse.

I appreciate that the language was accepted and remains in the legislation that is being considered today.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 261, I was inadvertantly detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, today, the House is presented with a unique opportunity to address two prevailing problems with representation in the House.

One relates to whether the District is entitled to a Representative and the other whether Utah is owed an additional seat in Congress because of the illegitimate counting of residents after the 2000 census.

Utah lost out on a 4th seat because of a census bureau decision to count, and to enumerate to their respective home States, government employees residing temporarily abroad, but not count similarly situated missionaries.

Had the Bureau either not counted any Americans residing temporarily abroad, or counted all such Americans and not just those employed by the Federal Government, Utah would have been awarded a fourth seat.

Although this legislation provides Utah the seat it deserves and was denied in the 2000 census, I do have concerns with the language in the bill which ties the hands of the Utah legislature.

The preemption language is offensive and demeans the historic role of States in the reapportionment process.

I offered an amendment that was rejected by the Rules Committee on a 7-4 vote that would have simply removed the language of the bill mandating the ``at large'' seat in Section 4 and left it to the State to decide.

The amendment would have changed ``shall'' to ``may'', and would not have prohibited an at large seat, but rather would have provided Utah the opportunity to choose whether to redistrict or not.

The intent of my amendment was to reaffirm the role of the State in the decisionmaking process, but the Democrats treated the 10th Amendment of the Constitution as words without meaning by rejecting my amendment.

Although I will vote in favor of this legislation, as this bill moves forward I will continue my efforts to push for inclusion of my amendment to protect the State's role in the process.

Madam Speaker, I rise to welcome to the United States and to my State of Utah the Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Mr. Marat Sultanov. Mr. Sultanov was hosted by leaders in Utah on February 3-5.

Kyrgyzstan is a small nation in the heart of Central Asia, landlocked and inhabited primarily by a Muslim population with a predominantly nomadic culture and heritage. Kyrgyzstan has demonstrated itself a friend and ally of the United States, especially in the fight against terrorism. The air base at the Manas International Airport in Bishkek is still the only military base in Central Asia supporting coalition forces operations against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan.

For some time the Kyrgyz Republic has been considered an advanced nation in terms of political and economic transformation. After the change of regime in 2005 and the election of a new president, Kyrgyzstan still faces many challenges. One great challenge for this nation stems from its proximity to Afghanistan, and the threat of increasing drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and radical militancy. Kyrgyzstan needs our support to progress with reforms for a better future for its citizens.

During his visit to the United States, and Utah in particular, Speaker Sultanov talked about those matters. His background and political career show his own contributions to the promotion of market- based economic reforms. Before his election to the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, he was head of the National Bank and the Minister of Finances.

Speaker Sultanov's visit to Utah came at the invitation of Utah Senate President John Valentine, as a result of the Speaker's special interest in building strong, direct ties between the legislators of Kyrgyzstan and the legislature of Utah, as well as with the U.S. Congress.

While in Utah, Speaker Sultanov lectured at Utah Valley State College on the subject of ``The Kyrgyz Republic-Utah-Rocky Mountain States: A new level of cooperation through a sustainable Mountain Partnership.'' The Speaker will emphasize for the first time a new tack in the bilateral agenda, related to cooperation in the sphere of sustainable mountain development, which will be very important for both Kyrgyzstan and Utah.

The idea of sustainable development is directed toward fighting poverty, unemployment and inequality by looking for the exchange and implementation of best practices among the people who live in similar environments with similar challenges. Many of these challenges in mountain nations come because of remoteness, lack of resources and infrastructure.

The Rocky Mountain States and Utah are actively involved in this cooperative process. In November of last year several institutions from this region, including Vista 360 (Jackson, Wyoming), Utah Valley State College and the Utah-Russia Institute became members of the UN-related Mountain Partnership, which coordinates efforts on sustainable mountain development on a global level.

Another major project which Utah Valley State College is pursuing, together with its partners from the National Center of Development of Mountain Regions of Kyrgyzstan, is the international conference ``Women of the Mountains.'' A number of prominent women from around the world and from the Rocky Mountain region will take part in the Conference. The goal of the Conference is to unite leading scholars and institutions from the Rocky Mountain States in a regional approach toward sustainable mountain development. This conference will be free and open to the public on the UVSC Orem campus from March 8th-March 10th.

The conference will give scholars from the region an opportunity to talk to each other and identify positive examples of sustainable development in the Rocky Mountains and then to further these experiences both in this region and with interested partners around the world. UVSC intends that the Conference be held on an annual basis.

Representatives of Kyrgyzstan and other developing mountain nations have emphasized how important it is for them to have specific support from the mountain communities of

the United States. The historical development of the mountainous states in North America, and Utah in particular, are of particular interest to them. The new involvement and interest of the Rocky Mountain States and Utah in sustainable mountain development could help many of the transitioning economies to develop and implement more successful, pro- market policies.

This is a rewarding and noble goal, especially now, when we are witnessing growing challenges to stability and development around the world from the growth of poverty and unemployment, two primary sources feeding terrorism and militancy.