Floor Statements

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

If my friend will yield, I got a call from one of the secretaries, so why don't you give your statement.

Will my friend yield for a question?

They had a great piece on public radio before the race started--it was very good--as to why the race takes place. I want to find out if what I understood from that radio piece is valid.

Wherever the race winds up, there was a place badly in need of some kind of serum because there was an illness there, diphtheria. I do not really remember. They had no way of getting the medicine there. Some person decided what they could not do with machines they could do with dogs. They took the medicine and saved all these lives. Is that valid?

I listened to it. It was on the radio.

Madam President, I hesitate saying this because I will probably get in trouble, but this is a good reason why the House vote was bad today to disband public radio.

It was such a wonderful piece. I did not know that.

I heard Ted Stevens talk about this in the past.

The only radio station I can get in the daytime in Searchlight is public radio.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act of 2011. This bill would transfer two small parcels of public land to Elko County and the Elko Indian Colony and provide an important economic development opportunity to the people of Elko County.

In my home State of Nevada, the Federal Government manages more than 87 percent of the land--more than 61 million acres in all. As a result, our communities come to their congressional delegation for help remedying problems that are often handled on the state or local level in other parts of the country.

The first part of our legislation would convey approximately 300 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management's, BLM, Elko Field Office to Elko County. This proposal is strongly supported by the local community as a way to provide for a variety of motorized recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors of Elko. Off-highway vehicles are a popular form of recreation throughout Nevada and our citizens enthusiastically support safe and sustainable motorized outdoor activities.

This legislation will help Elko County develop a centralized, multipurpose recreational facility on the western edge of the City of Elko with easy access to Interstate 80. The new park will draw OHV enthusiasts from across northeastern Nevada and beyond, providing a much needed economic boost to local businesses. Beyond the convenient location, economic benefits, and potential for diverse recreational opportunities at the proposed Elko Motocross Park site, this new facility will serve as a place for people to learn responsible use and enjoyment of these recreational vehicles.

Title two of our bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to expand the Elko Indian Colony by taking approximately 373 acres of land into trust for the Elko Band to address their compelling need for additional land. The Elko Band is one of four constituent bands that make up the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada. Each Band has a separate reservation or colony in northeastern Nevada. While the Elko Band's population has steadily grown, their land base has remained the same for over 75 years.

The Elko Indian Colony has always been a thriving part of the greater Elko community. When Elko was established as a railroad town in 1868, Shoshone families lived nearby, working on the railroad as well as in the nearby mines and on local ranches. Despite government efforts to relocate the Elko Band in the late nineteenth century, these families persevered and remained in the Elko area. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson created the Elko Indian Colony when he reserved 160 acres for the Shoshone Indians near Elko by executive order.

While more than half of the Te-Moak's Tribe's enrolled members continue to live and work in Elko, it is the unfortunate truth that over 350 tribal members must live outside of the colony. The Elko Colony has one of the smallest land bases of the four constituent bands and it lacks adequate land for housing and community development. Our legislation would address this need by making land available for residential development and for traditional uses, such as ceremonial gatherings, hunting and plant collecting.

It is always encouraging when communities come together to support projects like these and we are grateful for their collective work on this effort. This bill is vital to the growing communities we serve. We look forward to working with Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski and the other distinguished members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to move this bill through their process.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act of 2011. This bill would transfer two small parcels of public land to Elko County and the Elko Indian Colony and provide an important economic development opportunity to the people of Elko County.

In my home State of Nevada, the Federal Government manages more than 87 percent of the land--more than 61 million acres in all. As a result, our communities come to their congressional delegation for help remedying problems that are often handled on the state or local level in other parts of the country.

The first part of our legislation would convey approximately 300 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management's, BLM, Elko Field Office to Elko County. This proposal is strongly supported by the local community as a way to provide for a variety of motorized recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors of Elko. Off-highway vehicles are a popular form of recreation throughout Nevada and our citizens enthusiastically support safe and sustainable motorized outdoor activities.

This legislation will help Elko County develop a centralized, multipurpose recreational facility on the western edge of the City of Elko with easy access to Interstate 80. The new park will draw OHV enthusiasts from across northeastern Nevada and beyond, providing a much needed economic boost to local businesses. Beyond the convenient location, economic benefits, and potential for diverse recreational opportunities at the proposed Elko Motocross Park site, this new facility will serve as a place for people to learn responsible use and enjoyment of these recreational vehicles.

Title two of our bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to expand the Elko Indian Colony by taking approximately 373 acres of land into trust for the Elko Band to address their compelling need for additional land. The Elko Band is one of four constituent bands that make up the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada. Each Band has a separate reservation or colony in northeastern Nevada. While the Elko Band's population has steadily grown, their land base has remained the same for over 75 years.

The Elko Indian Colony has always been a thriving part of the greater Elko community. When Elko was established as a railroad town in 1868, Shoshone families lived nearby, working on the railroad as well as in the nearby mines and on local ranches. Despite government efforts to relocate the Elko Band in the late nineteenth century, these families persevered and remained in the Elko area. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson created the Elko Indian Colony when he reserved 160 acres for the Shoshone Indians near Elko by executive order.

While more than half of the Te-Moak's Tribe's enrolled members continue to live and work in Elko, it is the unfortunate truth that over 350 tribal members must live outside of the colony. The Elko Colony has one of the smallest land bases of the four constituent bands and it lacks adequate land for housing and community development. Our legislation would address this need by making land available for residential development and for traditional uses, such as ceremonial gatherings, hunting and plant collecting.

It is always encouraging when communities come together to support projects like these and we are grateful for their collective work on this effort. This bill is vital to the growing communities we serve. We look forward to working with Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski and the other distinguished members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to move this bill through their process.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 48; that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, March 28, at 4:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 40; that there be 1 hour for debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote, without intervening action or debate, on Calendar No. 40; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order; that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 51 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 105.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 106.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Madam President, I now ask we proceed to S. Res. 107.

I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid on the table.

I now ask unanimous consent we proceed to H. Con. Res. 30.

I ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.

I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment of the Senate, the majority leader, Senator Rockefeller, and Senator Webb be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore and majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses or by order of the Senate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 30 until 2 p.m. on Monday, March 28; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and following any leader remarks, there be a period of morning business until 3 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, following morning business, that the Senate resume consideration of S. 493, the small business jobs bill; and finally, at 4:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Mae D'Agostino to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of New York, as provided under a previous order.

Madam President, for the information of Senators, at 5:30 p.m. Monday when we return, there will be a vote on the confirmation of the D'Agostino nomination.