Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Lorne Kramer on

the occasion of his retirement on June 30 after 44 years of commendable public service. Prior to his appointment as Colorado Springs City Manager in 2002, Mr. Kramer had served 28 years with the Los Angeles Police Department and more recently for 11 years as the Chief of Police for Colorado Springs.

A capable leader, Mr. Kramer has been a guiding force behind several projects in my hometown including the TOPS renewal, the renovation of Prospect Lake, the improvement of METRO and highway transportation systems, and the establishment of both Stormwater Enterprise and Airport Business Park. In addition to his commendable public service, Mr. Kramer volunteers in his private life with many organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute, the Pikes Peak United Way, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Mr. Kramer's list of accolades is impressive. He has received the 2003 Alumni and Friends Award from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and the Graduate School of Public Affairs, the Public Administrator of the Year from the Graduate School of Public Administration at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and was appointed by the Governor of Colorado to the Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission and the Drug Control Systems Improvement Committee.

Colorado's Fifth District is fortunate to count among its citizens a man of Mr. Kramer's accomplishments. I am certain that though he is retiring from public service, Mr. Kramer will continue to have a positive impact on the Colorado Springs Community.

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

Mr. Speaker, the majority has adequately explained the bill, and we have no further comment.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire if the majority has any more speakers?

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 407 for both procedural and substantive reasons. I am very dismayed that this bill has been

rushed to the floor with no hearing or subcommittee or full committee consideration by the Committee on Natural Resources. The majority might say a hearing was held on the bill last September, and no opposition was present so there is no need for consideration by the committee this year; but I strongly disagree with this logic for several reasons.

First, the committee has received a strong letter of opposition to H.R. 407 by one of the largest private property rights groups, the American Land Rights Association, based in Battleground, Washington.

That letter states: ``We are curious why no hearings have been held on this bill during this Congress. Congress has the time and energy to congratulate victorious sports teams, but does not have the time and resources to hold a hearing on this bill which affects millions of acres of private property in Washington and Oregon.''

Second, I note that one-eighth of the Members of this body, including me, are new Members of the House and were unable to participate in hearings held in the last Congress on this bill. Although there might be some cases where a consensus bill from the last Congress could justifiably be forwarded to the House for expedited consideration on the floor, this bill should not be one of them. As I said previously, it is strongly opposed by a private rights based group in the area affected by the bill.

The substantive reasons to oppose this bill can best be summarized by the American Land Rights Association's May 3, 2007, letter to the Committee on Natural Resources which states: ``Although H.R. 407 is billed merely as a study, history shows the National Park Service rarely does a study that concludes a national heritage area is not feasible. Recent history also shows that national heritage areas cost the National Park Service $10 million during their 15-year life span. Moreover, once their 15-year authorization expires, heritage area proponents come back to Congress asking for even more Federal moneys so they can ultimately become self-sufficient. At a time when the National Park Service has a multi-billion dollar maintenance backlog for such basic visitor services as campgrounds, visitor centers and sanitation facilities, it should not be forced by Congress to create expensive new heritage areas that siphon precious Federal dollars from these higher and better uses.''

Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the letter I just referred to.

American Land Rights

Association,

Battle Ground, WA, May 3, 2007.

Re H.R. 407 (Columbia-Pacific Heritage Area Study authored by

Congressman Baird and Wu).

Hon. Nick Rahall,

Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington,

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

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

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

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

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

H.R. 1080, introduced by our colleague Congresswoman Barbara Cubin, would modify the boundaries of the Grand Teton National Park to include 49 acres of privately donated land. I commend Mrs. Cubin for her work on this legislation. This highly valuable land, which has been valued at nearly $20 million, is being conveyed to the Park Service at very minimal cost.

Representative Cubin and her staff did an excellent job working with the private individuals and groups who are donating the land and with the Park Service. The 49 acres are beautiful and highly desirable land that will enhance Grand Teton National Park.

This noncontroversial bill was favorably reported by the Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1080.

I would also like to add that our thoughts and prayers are with Representative Cubin and her husband, Dr. Cubin. We wish him a quick and speedy recovery.

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

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

This well-intended legislation improves current law by directly compensating landowners whose tribal lands were flooded by the construction of the Federal Oahe Dam in South Dakota. It also releases Federal funding to the Cheyenne River Sioux who were affected by the dam and, in doing so, reduces Federal taxpayer expenditures throughout the life of the program.

In the last Congress, this bill had major issues, but all parties worked in good faith to resolve their disagreements. It now enjoys broad support.

We have no objection to this legislation and urge its adoption.

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

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

This legislation will help meet the City of Oxnard, California, water supply needs through the year 2030 and will reduce the city's dependence on imported water. A provision in the bill ensures that no Federal taxpayer dollars will be used to construct or operate a nearby visitor center connected to this water project. We have no objection to this bill and urge its adoption.

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

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

H.R. 30 recognizes the need to capture and treat waste runoff to meet growing water supply needs in arid Southern California. The water recycling project envisioned in this legislation will help drought- proof the region and reduce its dependence on imported water from the Colorado River.

I commend our colleague from California (Mr. Issa) for his continued leadership and attention on developing new water supplies. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).

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

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

H.R. 1025, introduced by our colleagues Jerry Moran and Adrian Smith, implements the Republican River Compact Settlement as negotiated between the States of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. This legislation serves as the first step to increase water storage and water use efficiency to benefit those served by the waters of the Republican River.

I commend Mr. Moran and Mr. Smith for their leadership on this important matter. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).

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

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

This important legislation introduced by the distinguished ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Don Young, will help Alaskans through water infrastructure study and development, and improved flood control management.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the bill and the ranking Republican of the Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Young of Alaska.

(Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

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

This legislation, H.R. 1140, introduced by the distinguished former chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee, Ken Calvert of California, authorizes limited Federal assistance for two water recycling projects in southern Orange County. This bill helps the cities of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente meet their water supply needs, and reduces their dependence on imported water.

I commend Representative Calvert for his longstanding leadership in helping all of Southern California meet its future water needs through a combination of water recycling, desalting, conservation and water storage. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the author of the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, time is running out to send our troops the funds and resources they need to continue their critical mission in Iraq. It is time to pass a porkless supplemental bill aimed at victory rather than defeat.

The National Intelligence Estimate released in January warned of the perils of an early troop withdrawal stating, ``If coalition forces were withdrawn rapidly during the term of this estimate, we judge that this almost certainly would lead to a significant increase in the scale and scope of sectarian conflict in Iraq.''

Many on the other side of the aisle urge Congress to heed the other warnings in this document, yet they willfully ignore this particular warning. They prefer a strategy that would tie the hands of our military commanders on the ground, removing our troops and continuing a defeatist policy of cut and run.

It is obvious to me that Washington Democrats would exploit our troops to make a political statement rather than work in a bipartisan fashion to provide our brave men and women in uniform the funding they need.

Madam Speaker, it is time we vote a clean supplemental to give our troops the support they must have.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize but not celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legalization of abortion in the State of Colorado. On April 25, 1967, the Colorado State Legislature passed its first law legalizing abortion. Since the passage of this law, hundreds of thousands of Coloradans have lost their lives as a direct result. Today the death toll continues to mount in Colorado as well as the rest of the country, and with it the tremendous cost to our society.

What would have become of the 50 million Americans whose lives were so untimely taken from them? What discoveries will we never see? What diseases will never be cured because we allowed these lives to be taken? The loss to society, resulting from the perverse logic that the life of an ``unplanned'' child does not possess the same value as that of any other child, is staggering.

The most common medical procedure performed in the United States, abortion is also a deplorable attack on the health of American women. Abortion, though it was legalized in the name of women's health, causes immediate medical complications for over 140,000 women a year, increases the risk of premature birth in subsequent pregnancies, and results in a higher chance of infertility. Furthermore, post-abortion syndrome, which is similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, has led to untold amounts of suffering among American women. Compared to women that give birth, women who abort their unborn children are almost three times more likely to require psychological care.

I believe that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will one day look upon abortion as we now look upon slavery, as an evil so great it tore apart the moral fabric of our Nation. While fighting slavery, the inhumane scourge of his own era, Frederick Douglass said, ``one and God makes a majority.'' Those who fight in the name of life are therefore the majority, and will ultimately prevail. I hope and pray that I will never again have to observe this dark anniversary, and promise that I will continue to do everything in my power to protect innocent lives and the well-being of women.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to America's nurses during National Nurse Recognition Week. From Florence Nightingale, to Clara Barton, to the unsung heroes of today, the nurses of this country have provided invaluable service in times of peace and of war. Providing comfort to the elderly, the sick, and the dying is a, noble yet all too often thankless task. It is for this reason that we take this week in May to honor the extraordinary contributions of nurses to society.

On March 30, 1981 President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. He was then rushed to the George Washington University Hospital. When recounting his experience, President Reagan often spoke of a nurse who held his hand as he was taken into surgery. This simple act by an unknown woman comforted the President during his time of pain and fear. Almost a year later, President Reagan proclaimed that National Recognition Day for Nurses would be observed on May 6. Since then, the recognition has been expanded to a weeklong celebration.

With over 2.7 million registered nurses in this country, nursing is the largest health care profession. These men and women administer care, with profound compassion, in homes, hospitals, and schools across the nation. The theme of this year's National Nurses Week is, fittingly, ``Nursing . . . profession and a passion.'' When Americans fall ill, it is the nurse who tends to their daily needs and provides comfort in times of uncertainty and pain. I want to take this opportunity to thank our nation's nurses for their commitment to the service of others.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of John ``J.D.'' Dallager's appointment as President and CEO of the Pike's Peak United Way.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Fisher DeBerry, former head coach of the United States Air Force Academy football team. During his twenty three years as head coach at the Academy, Mr. DeBerry led seventeen teams to winning seasons and twelve to bowl games; his career record of 169-107-1 is the best in Academy history. Off the field, Mr. DeBerry has made tremendous contributions to his community through the Fisher DeBerry Foundation, an organization dedicated supporting single mothers and their children by providing mentoring and after school programs and funding academic scholarships.

A high school and college athlete, Mr. DeBerry began his coaching career in 1969 as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In 1971 he joined the coaching staff at Appalachian State. As a result of his success at these two institutions, Mr. DeBerry was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach by the Air Force Academy in 1980 and moved on to the head coach position four years later. Dominating the Commander in Chiefs Trophy Series since its inception in 1972, Mr. DeBerry holds, against the Naval and Military Academies, a combined record of 34-8 and is the winningest coach in the history of the service academies.

Mr. DeBerry, a member of the South Carolina and Colorado Springs Sports Halls of Fame, holds numerous other awards and distinctions including three-time WAC Coach of the Year, the 1985 Paul ``Bear'' Bryant award as NCAA College Football Coach of the Year and the 2001 State Farm Coach of Distinction.

A man of deep Christian faith and profound humility, Mr. DeBerry has participated in fundraising efforts for worthy causes including March of Dimes, the Salvation Army, and the American Heart Association. I wish to recognize Mr. DeBerry today not only for his impressive coaching career which has brought tremendous pride to the Air Force Academy and Colorado Springs, but also for his strength of character and community service.