Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Steve Borell in recognition of the 22 years of service he has given as Director of the Alaska Miners Association.

An engineering master's graduate of Kansas State University, he began his career as a pit foreman in North Dakota, quickly rising up through the ranks of his profession, eventually starting his own engineering consulting company in Anchorage, Alaska.

He began his role as Director of the Alaska Miners Association (AMA) in 1989. Founded in 1939, the Alaska Miners Association has about 1,000 members throughout Alaska and elsewhere, and exists primarily to support the mining industry and all those who work with and within it.

Through his leadership of the AMA he has unified the industry behind simple and consistent support of the responsible and safe development of minerals, doing his utmost to advocate for the mining industry in difficult economic times and in the face of staunch opposition to progress in this sector.

The mining industry brings a host of benefits to both the State of Alaska and the Nation as a whole. The jobs it creates, the economic and infrastructural development it yields, and the energy security it maintains are some of the most pressing issues facing Americans today. It is these issues that the mining industry and the AMA have always sought to address.

In doing this the AMA has sought to ensure that any restrictions on the use of land and water for infrastructural and energy development are firmly scientifically sound and economically realistic. All modern mining must address the balance between environmentalism and resource utilization--the two need not be mutually exclusive. In recognizing this, Steve has truly helped bring mining into the 21st century.

Steve has been a great Director of the AMA, unifying the industry around common goals and aims, serving the best interests of the working men who make up the ranks of the Association, and last, but not least, his tireless effort to be the voice of a whole new generation of miners.

Thanks for everything, Steve.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 441) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for a microhydro project in nonwilderness areas within the boundaries of Denali National Park and Preserve, to acquire land for Denali National Park and Preserve from Doyon Tourism, Inc., 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 materials on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 441, the Kantishna Hills Renewable Energy Act, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for a microhydro project within a nonwilderness area of Denali National Park. Additionally, it will facilitate a small land exchange between the National Park Service and Doyon, Ltd., which owns and operates the facilities that will take advantage of the proposed microhydro project. Finally, at the request of the National Park Service, this bill will allow the Park Service to permit similar projects that exist or may exist in the future. Roughly only six acres of land would be affected.

Doyon is one of 13 Alaska Native Regional Corporations formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Currently, the facilities at Kantishna, which are located at the end of a 90-mile park road, operate exclusively off diesel fuel. Not being connected to any grid system, the roadhouse must produce all its energy onsite. This means trucking thousands of gallons of diesel fuel over the long and treacherous park road. Energy created by this microhydro project could cut the roadhouse's diesel usage in half and drastically reduce the need of these trips.

Down the road at the new Eielson Visitor Center, the National Park Service operates a similar microhydro project to great success, and the Kantishna Roadhouse seeks to take advantage of similar technology that could help rid their reliance on costly diesel fuel.

Working with both the National Park Service and Doyon, we have before us a bill that was crafted in a truly collaborative fashion that is a win-win that lowers the fossil fuel use in the park, lowers costs for the lodge operators, and protects park resources.

I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge the passage of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 295) to amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 to authorize funds to acquire hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services specific to the Arctic for safe navigation, delineating the United States extended continental shelf, and the monitoring and description of coastal changes, 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 materials on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 295 would use existing authorized appropriations in the Hydrographic Survey Improvement Act of 1998 for fiscal year 2012 to fund surveys and mapping activities in the Arctic.

Currently, base hydrographic data in the Arctic is woefully inadequate and not sufficient to support current, let alone future, marine activity. With the last major hydrographic survey activity having occurred more than 60 years ago, after World War II, and with other areas not having been surveyed since the 1800s, there's a lot of work to do.

As we all know, the Arctic has become the focus of many of its surrounding nations to determine ownership of the sea bed and any potential energy sources in the area. In addition, the lack of sea ice is opening up shipping routes to commercial and recreational vessels.

H.R. 295 is an effort to move this process forward, and this bill is necessary to emphasize the need for the agency to collect hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services in the Arctic region. Last Congress, similar legislation passed out of the House by a roll call vote of 420-0.

I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1160) to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey the McKinney Lake National Fish Hatchery to the State of North Carolina, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

This bill would transfer title to 422 acres of land from the Fish and Wildlife Service to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The commission has been effectively managing this property since 1998 under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Service, and they have been providing anglers with 150,000 channel catfish each year. Both the State and the Obama administration testified in support of this conveyance, and I note that Congress has previously conveyed 10 national fish hatcheries to various States and municipalities.

I urge the adoption of this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 461) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal features of the electric distribution system to the South Utah Valley Electric Service District, 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 materials on the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 461, sponsored by Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah, conveys the federal title of electricity distribution lines to a local entity. This transfer resolves ownership confusion caused by lack of proper federal paperwork and will lead to more efficient management of the project. The general concept of so-called title transfers is a promising one: they place projects under local control; they reduce federal paperwork; and they provide instant ownership equity for a local entity to leverage private financing dollars. These benefits will all be achieved without a cost to the American taxpayer. This bill is an excellent example of a win-win scenario.

I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 818) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts between the United States and the Uintah Water Conservancy District.

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

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

H.R. 818 would allow a local water district in Utah to prepay its loan obligations to the Federal Government. Prepayment can benefit local water utilities because it relieves them of interest costs and some regulatory burdens.

This concept is similar to giving a family an option to prepay its mortgage and to save compounded interest cost. It's also in the best interest of the American taxpayer since it will facilitate the revenues to the U.S. Treasury.

I urge adoption of this measure, and I reserve the balance of my 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. 320) to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking Congressman Calvert for introducing this bill to designate a memorial in honor of the over 150,000 current and former members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The new memorial was dedicated on October 27, 2010, at March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California. With the legislation, the memorial will be designated as the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial. This designation honors these patriots and does not require or permit the expenditure of any Federal dollars.

I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of National Business Women's Week, Business and Professional Women, North to the Future, and YWCA.

Working women constitute 72 million, or almost half of the nation's workforce and strive to serve their communities, their states, and their nation in professional, civic and cultural capacities. Women- owned businesses constitute 30 percent of all U.S. business generating in $1.9 trillion in sales and employing 9.2 million people.

Working women should be applauded for their contributions to the workplace and the financial stability of their families especially during the economic downturn when more women have become their family's breadwinner. Since 1928, National Business Week has honored the contributions of working women and employers who support working women and their families.

North to the Future is a professional local organization with more than thirty five years of active community service within Anchorage. BPW NTTF remains committed to reducing Alaska's staggering statistics on sexual assault and domestic violence and has organized activities programs and events to educate and uplift women.

For these reasons, I rise in support, recognition and congratulations during National Business Women's Week.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of China (Taiwan) on their upcoming centennial anniversary of becoming the first democracy in Asia on October 10, 1911. The annual celebration of this event is known as ``Double Ten Day,'' and celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising which established the Republic of China.

Since the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Taiwan has been a true friend and long term ally with the United States. Both the U.S. and Taiwan have maintained strong trade ties stemming from our close friendship; I hope these ties continue to advance and expand in the future.

Alaskan and Taiwanese relations are also close as Taiwan is the only country with whom Alaska has a codified relationship agreement. In 2004, leaders from both Alaska and Taiwan established the Taiwan-Alaska Trade and Investment Cooperation Council to further extend collaboration between Alaska and Taiwan. Because of this collaboration, both Alaska and Taiwan have greatly benefitted from the many cultural exchanges, and improved trade and transport relations. In fact, in 2010, Taiwan was Alaska's 16th largest export power and received $23 million in exports including forest products, energy, and machinery. However, since 2008, Alaska has exported $143 million to Taiwan making it Alaska's 9th largest trading partner over the last 3 years.

I would like to congratulate Taiwan on its 100th anniversary and thank them for their role as an important strategic ally of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, over the course of many years, I have observed the

work ethics, tenacity, and love of Alaska by a Pioneer of Alaska Aviation. Today, I stand in recognition and honor Mr. Cliff Everts.

Mr. Everts was an instructor for the predecessor of Alaska Airlines, Alaska Star Airlines. In 1945 he joined the team of Wien Alaska flying Boeing 247s and Lockheed Lodestars hauling fuel from Barrow to Umiat and after 15 years saw an opportunity to begin his first business experience. When Wien's business plan dropped fuel delivery, he purchased one of the C-46s and continued delivering fuel to Alaska's villages. Wien was lucky to keep Mr. Everts as one of their team until 1980 when he retired after 35 years and 30,000 hours in a cockpit.

Mr. Everts has flown at forty below temperatures, through dark days and nights, in snow, sleet, and rain, to supply the needs of village residents. He is a true Alaskan with a frontier spirit.

One of the most interesting adventures of Cliff was delivering 110 reindeer from Nome to Colorado so that people in the ``lower forty- eight'' could experience a Santa Clause sleigh ride. Somewhere today there are decedents of one of the escapees there in Colorado along with our Alaskan wolves!

Cliff also gave new meaning to ``when pigs fly'' when he delivered several dozen pigs in a C-46 from Ohio to Big Delta for a farm project.

As a committed Alaskan, he realized early the opportunity in our State and the value of our resources, our people, and our commodities. He purchased surplus equipment and resold or rented it. His renowned collection of planes with historical nose art, which are still flying today, is an example in recycling and honorable use of assets, when others may have disregarded them for lack of value.

Cliff has contributed to Alaska with the creation of more than one successful company; the leadership today exemplifies his integrity, values, commitment to community and family, and love for our State and Country. Cliff and his planes have provided fuel to villages and mines, while not only improving quality of life, but often saving life. Our State would be less today without you and Pioneers like him.

I rise today to congratulate Mr. Cliff Everts on this day as we place a plaque and memory in perpetuity on the East Ramp of the Fairbanks International Airport.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Jerry Prevo and the 40 years of service he has given to the Anchorage Baptist Temple community in Alaska where he is the pastor of one of the State's largest and most active churches. Sporting an auditorium able to seat over 2,000 people and a regular congregation of 2,200 it is difficult to imagine the church's very humble origins.

The church was founded as the Bible Baptist Church in 1956 by Missionary Don White who oversaw a congregation of 300 people until, in 1971, a young graduate of the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, was called. In just a few short years under his careful and dutiful stewardship, Pastor Prevo saw attendance increase rapidly, until there was just no more room.

He needed to do something about it. In 1973 he proposed to move the church to their present location on Northern Lights Boulevard--a magnificent 20-acre estate. The community needed a church, the church needed the community. Answering the call, the new building was built, largely, by hundreds of church members who freely volunteered their time and talents in an outstanding example of community-wide cooperation. It was then that the church was renamed Anchorage Baptist Temple.

Pastor Prevo, always committed to the education of future generations, saw the opportunity to found the Anchorage Christian Schools. Within just 5 years more classrooms and a gymnasium had to be built due to its massive popularity. Decades later the school and the Children's Ministry Center consists of 26 classrooms, a 300-seat gymnasium, library, music department, computer lab, and a chemistry lab over a 350,000 square feet complex--all built from the community's generous donations with no debt incurred. The Christian School now has over 750 students as well as a Sunday school, a preschool and all-day child care.

In the midst of running a school and a church the Pastor Prevo took the time to pursue a Doctor of Divinity degree at Hyles Anderson College and the Liberty Baptist Theological in 1978 and 1993, respectively. He expanded his community work to philanthropy by serving on the Board of Samaritan's Purse and on the Board of Liberty University in Virginia.

Today, through three radio stations, a contemporary Christian music station, and a television station he can be seen and heard daily by over half the population of Alaska.

On a personal note, Pastor Prevo has been there for me during some tough times. The loss of my wife, Lu, was sudden and painful and Pastor Prevo helped by offering the use of the Anchorage Baptist Temple and its ability to broadcast to a good portion of the State for her memorial service. In the two years since her passing I have come to rely on his spiritual leadership and guidance.

As a result of his far-reaching state-wide community work and success in reforming and growing one of Alaska's largest churches, and his extensive outreach in Europe and the Middle East, the Alaska Journal of Commerce has listed him as one of the 25 most influential individuals in Alaska.

Dr. Jerry Prevo has always worked hard and been nothing but loyal to his community and church and I commend him for his 40 years of service.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, Members of the body, with all due respect, this is about the State's rights. This bill does not preclude the State of Alaska, the Coast Guard, or any other entity from enforcement on the Yukon River. The Park Service can still move on the river. But it does not allow them to enforce inspections of boats on the river that are private. Not in business, but private.

And I have to tell you a little story about this. This is the reason I'm very adamant about it. The Park Service is for the people; it's not for the Park Service. The Park Service in Alaska has become, very frankly, I'd say, like an occupying army of a free territory. To give you an example, this man that was arrested was 70 years old with his wife, who happened to be from Germany--I'm going to bring that up a little later--and a couple. So 70 years old, 69 years old, 68 years old, on a cruise on the Yukon River in a very seaworthy boat, Coast Guard inspected. And there was another boat on the river and there was a distress signal given by the Park Service. Being a good Samaritan, they went over to help them out. As they approached the boat, they flashed their badges and said: We're the Park Service. We're going to board your vessel and inspect you for safety and registration.

Think about this. A distress signal, and then: We're going to board your boat.

And maritime law says you will not board a boat on a moving river. You have to put it to shore.

And the guy said: Up yours; I'm going to go to shore. And that's what he did.

And he gets to shore, he gets out of the boat. The rangers have already got a shotgun on a 70-year-old man, and carrying a pistol out of the holster. And as the guy walked toward them, they started to say something. He turned around and walked back. They tackled him and rolled him in the mud, a 70-year-old man. These are two young bucks-- cowboys--and handcuffed this man, this 70-year-old man, and made him sit on the shore. And they took him a great distance down the river to a village and flew him to Fairbanks--drove him to Fairbanks-- handcuffed.

This is your Park Service? This is not my Park Service.

Well, it did go to trial and the judge hasn't rendered his decision yet. In the first place, the State never gave them the authority to do any inspection. In the second place, they never gave them the authority--by the way, the Coast Guard did not give them authority. And they do not have jurisdiction over that water; that's State water. In every State in this Union, it's the State's water. To have the Park Service act like that is dead wrong.

So I'm asking you not to support this amendment. This is an amendment that shouldn't be adopted because we have agencies today who are acting, very frankly, like occupiers. The lady I brought up was from Germany. And during the trial they asked her, the prosecution: Did you ever have a gun pointed at you? And she said: Yes, by the SS troops.

Now, that gives you an idea. A 70-year-old lady and have them point a shotgun. Now, that's wrong.

You say it sets a precedent; yes, it sets a precedent because it's State's waters. This amendment should not be accepted. We should leave it in the bill as it is. It's the right thing to do.

I say vote down the amendment. Think about the little people. Quit thinking about these agencies. These agencies aren't God. Think about the little people. People are abused by agencies, and you're paying for them.

And by the way, the one ranger, the one ranger, had a record longer than my arms, and they hired him to enforce the so-called park regulations.

So I'm asking you to think about this a moment. It's the wrong amendment. This is the right thing to do. It's time we start telling these agencies: Think of the people, not the parks themselves.

This is about parks and partners. And they're certainly not partners in Alaska. They say: We're going to educate Alaskans about Alaska. Now, this is a 70-year-old man that had been living there all his life. And to have that happen is dead wrong.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

It is not their responsibility. This is the State waters.

Again, this is Yukon Charlie, the Yukon River that was used by the Gold Rush people, has been used by Alaskans all these years without the Park Service. The State has authority over the waters. The Coast Guard has the authority for inspection. The State has the authority for registration, not the Park Service. This is navigable water that is our water. Now, the land is there on one side. But this is our water.

I have not won because I may have won a temporary battle, but there can be another park ranger--rangers. There can be another park superintendent that does not listen to anyone. Then where are we?

The only navigable water is the Yukon.

Will the gentleman from Washington yield?

Announcement by the Acting Chair

To answer the gentleman, the Coast Guard has all the authority for enforcement on all waters, including all rivers. In fact, sometimes the Coast Guard is too active on the river, as far as I'm concerned. I have been on that river. Like I say, I'm a tugboat captain, a licensed mariner, and my biggest challenge to this is excessive use of the Park Service.

Now, you say I won that battle. Like I said before, that doesn't keep them from trying to enforce this again over the State's objection. The State didn't give them the right to register the boats or check registrations. The Coast Guard didn't give them the right to inspect the boat.

And remember this now: Here are two guys giving a distress signal and a good citizen tried to help them and they flash a badge. This sounds like you know what to me. That's not a good thing. I get very frustrated. Leave this in the bill. Let the Park Service know they no longer can trod over the people of Alaska because they are part of the Federal Government. They are the Park Service--You better listen to us--when this man was breaking no laws. This is wrong.

Now, you say I have won the battle. Maybe I have. But it took a lot of effort to do it. But I haven't won the war. And they will come back. So I'm suggesting this stay in the bill as it is. It's very, very important.

Will the gentleman yield?

The river is 2,800 miles long. This is one little tiny section. This is a river that's 5 miles wide and 2,800 miles long. It's the third largest river in the United States of America that carries transportation.

Will the gentleman yield?

Just keep in mind that the Coast Guard has its authority. As soon as this happened, I called the Coast Guard because the Park Service said the Coast Guard had granted them that authority. The Coast Guard said, No way. That's our authority.

Secondly, they said, with registration, only the State has the right to register a boat--that's the same thing in your State--not any Federal agency.

Remember, this is the highway of Alaska. The highway of Alaska has been used for hundreds of years, and we've gotten along very well without any Park Service all these years. By the way, I don't think there was a drowning because of a boat accident on that section of the river--in history. So why all of a sudden you're wanting me to protect the Alaskan people who do not like this, I do not understand.

Very frankly, I think you're meddling. You're meddling in something that a State has a great interest in, that has said before, This is our waterway. We have a right to traverse it from Canada through Alaska, all the way down to the Bering Sea. By the way, it had an illegal boat. According to the Coast Guard, the boat they were driving was overpowered. So just leave this in the bill as it should be.

I ask all of my colleagues to think about this very carefully. Do you want an agency that does not respect the rights of individuals because they work with the government or an agency that does not respect the rights of history? I don't think you do.

So I'm asking for the amendment to be defeated, and I'm asking for my colleagues to understand this is a big issue in my State. It is very, very important, not only to me, but to my people--the people of the State of Alaska, who have been using that river for centuries. So let's just leave it in the bill.

So let's just leave it in the bill.

Mr. Speaker, only in Washington can someone charge $14.3 trillion in debt, ask for a higher credit limit, and not propose a single solution about how to control their seemingly unrestrained spending. That is just what the current Administration has asked Congress to do and it is something which I joined 317 of my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, in saying ``no!''

As every Alaskan family knows, there is no magic wand that will just waive debt away. Rather, debt must be managed, luxuries must be given up, and budgets must be made and adhered to. H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 employs what should be a common-sense approach to controlling and paying down our bloated debt. By cutting today's spending and capping and indexing tomorrow's spending to our growth, we can begin to pay down the $46,000 that each and every American owes.

To ensure that future generations do not make the same spending mistakes, H.R. 2560 will also encourage Congress to propose a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. With this amendment we can begin to restrain growth of Washington bureaucrats whose sole job is to prevent resource development and make everyone's life more complicated and more difficult. By forcing future Congress to spend only what they take in revenue, we can finally create a government which lives within its means.

In the 112th Congress, I am a proud and original cosponsor of a balanced budget amendment and in previous Congresses I have voted for a balanced budget amendment five separate times. Since my first vote in favor of a Balanced Budget Amendment in 1982, I have supported the idea that Congress, like every American family, must make and stick to a budget. Alaskan families seem to understand this concept, it is time that Washington learned from their example.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Mica and Ranking Member Rahall for taking action on the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act. This bill will restore the balance between the Federal Government and the states in the administration of the Clean Water Act.

This bill contains a provision that is crucial to job creation in my state, as well as the entire nation. This bill will limit EPA's ability to veto dredge and fill permits issued by the Army Corps of Engineers.

I had introduced legislation in both the 111th and 112th Congresses, and requested hearings, to address the EPA's veto authority over the Corps of Engineers when issuing 404 dredge and fill discharge permits. I want to thank the Chairman for working with me to accommodate my concerns.

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act gives authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits for discharges of dredged or fill material into navigable waters at specified disposal sites.

Permit applicants must meet requirements that have been established by the Corps and the EPA. In turn, the Corps issues these 404 permits for activities including construction, mining, farming, and other purposes.

However, the Clean Water Act also gives EPA the authority to overturn the Corps decision if the discharge of materials will have an unacceptable adverse effect on municipal water supplies, shellfish beds, fishery areas, wildlife, and recreation areas. While this language may have had good intentions, the EPA can stop a project simply by withholding the permit.

Giving EPA so much authority over construction projects, mining activities, and energy production projects has become a problem in recent years, especially under the Obama Administration.

This free-for-all veto authority hands the reigns of our economy over to an agency that lacks interest in our economic well being. The EPA is not concerned with recovering natural resources and creating jobs for the good of the Nation. They are concerned with delaying--and hopefully stopping--all new development in Alaska, and in your states as well.

To illustrate the power of these permits, I simply point to 2 projects in my state:

Conoco Phillips' CD-5 Development is the first step that allows our Nation access to the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, which stands to produce 2.7 billion barrels of oil.

This project has been studied extensively over the last decade and measures have been taken to lessen environmental impacts. Due to pressure from the EPA, the necessary 404 permit was denied and remains in limbo, as the Corps is considering an appeal.

Finally, I'll leave you with a hard fought success story of the Kensington Gold Mine outside of Juneau, Alaska. The operators of the mine had to take their fight to the Supreme Court to defend the validly issued permit for their tailings facility from challenges by environmental extremists.

This operation employed approximately 300 workers during the remaining construction phase, and provides an estimated 370 direct and indirect jobs, including many for the local Alaska Native communities.

This operation will generate an estimated $25 million in direct and indirect annual payroll, and will be the second largest private employer in Juneau.

The Kensington Mine is a model project that fully meets economic recovery goals of the American public.

Had the 404 permit never been issued, and had the Supreme Court not corrected the wrong of the 9th District, these economic benefits would not have been realized.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

I would like, at this time, to ask the chairman to participate in a colloquy with me.

I rise today to express my concern about our strategic ports. First, I want to thank the chairman for discussing this important issue with me. I think the chairman would agree that understanding and addressing vital infrastructure needs at our strategic seaports is of major importance.

I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Since 1958, the strategic seaport program has facilitated the movement of military forces securely through U.S. ports. Each strategic seaport has individual capabilities that provide the Department of Defense with the port facilities and services that are critical in maintaining the operational flexibility and redundancy needed to meet a wide range of national security missions and time lines. However, the existing infrastructure at many of the strategic ports may no longer be adequate to meet the needs of our military. I think the time has come to address these needs in both our authorization and appropriations process. That is why I worked with Chairman McKeon to include language in the defense authorization bill that will require a study of the infrastructure needs of these strategic ports. Once that study has been conducted, I believe it is of vital importance that this committee provide the necessary funding to address the needs of these ports.

I want to thank the chairman for discussing this issue with me. I would just like to say to the chairman, I appreciate the fact that you recognize the importance of ports to move our products. I know that the ranking member does, also. I again thank you.

I yield back the balance of my time.