Floor Statements

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1672 reauthorizes and makes modest modifications to legislation which created a regional citizens' advisory board in the Pacific Northwest. The Northwest Straits Advisory Commission was established to make recommendations to Federal and State agencies based on input from the county level, and it has no regulatory powers.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, 91 years ago, in an effort to protect certain avian species, Congress enacted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. That law established criminal penalties for certain illegal activities, such as hunting over a baited field, using a live decoy to hunt waterfowl, or simply killing a protected migratory bird. In most instances, the punishment for these offenses is limited to 6 months in jail, a $15,000 fine, or both.

What H.R. 2062 is designed to address are inhumane and shocking violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. For example, during the past 3 years, a number of protected hawks and peregrine falcons have been killed by pigeon hobbyists in retaliation for these raptors eating their prized pets. While those involved in this illegal activity were tried and convicted under Federal law, not a single defendant received jail time, and none of the fines approached the maximum level. This is despite the fact that these pigeon hobbyists shot, poisoned, gassed, strangled, and clubbed thousands of protected birds and then bragged about it on the Internet.

In an effort to respond to future cases which would shock a reasonable

person, H.R. 2062 establishes a new two-tiered penalty system under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. For the first offense under this new standard, a defendant could receive up to 1 year in jail, a $100,000 fine, or both. For subsequent convictions of the same type, the penalties could increase to 2 years in jail, fines of up to $250,000, or both. These would be available, but not mandatory, penalties that a United States Attorney could seek in future migratory bird prosecutions.

Let me emphasize that this will not be the new legal standard for all violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We are not talking about protected birds that are killed by a cell tower. We are not talking about hunters who kill too many ducks or geese. We are not talking about someone who steals goose eggs from a golf course. We are not talking about your grandmother who may shoot a protected woodpecker because its constant tapping on her house is annoying her. There is also absolutely no intention that these new penalties would affect in any manner the authorized hunting of migratory birds or the taking of migratory birds under a depredation order established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

These enhanced penalties in H.R. 2062 will send a clear message to individuals throughout this Nation that egregious behavior, like the roller pigeon cases, will not be tolerated in the future.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3940 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend assistance to facilitate political

status public education programs for American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These territories may request grant funds from the Secretary to conduct public education programs to assist their electorate in understanding the political status options for each territory.

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

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

The Democrat bill manager's adequately explained this bill. We have no objection to its consideration.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

H.R. 86, introduced by Congressman John Campbell, will remove an unused lighthouse reservation currently in place for certain rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California. This bill would add them to the California Coastal National Monument. The lighthouse reservation has been in place since 1935 to provide locations for searchlights and other coastal defense equipment; however, we have been assured that there is no longer a need for this reservation.

Congressman Campbell's legislation will provide for consistency in the management of geological features along the coast of Orange County, and I support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

As the sponsor of H.R. 1454, first I want to thank the chairwoman of our subcommittee, Ms. Bordallo, for her assistance in moving this bill forward.

Also, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Chairman Nick Rahall, Chairman Ed Towns, Ranking Republican Member Doc Hastings and Ranking Republican Member Darrell Issa for all of their efforts to facilitate today's consideration for the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a fiscally responsible method to assist endangered species without costing our taxpayers any money.

This bipartisan legislation has been cosponsored by 154 Members of this body and it has been endorsed by more than 40 conservation organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the

Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund. These groups represent millions of Americans, and I agree with their assessment that allowing the U.S. Postal Service to sell a semipostal stamp that would generate funding for the Multinational Species Conservation Funds would give the general public the opportunity to contribute directly to the conservation of many keystone species around the world.

Under the terms of this measure, the U.S. Postal Service will be directed to design and distribute a semipostal stamp depicting various flagship species, like an African elephant, Bengal tiger, white rhinoceros, or loggerhead sea turtle. These stamps would be available to the public at a premium price. After the Postal Service has deducted all of its administrative costs, the remaining proceeds will be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who will then equally divide the monies into the Multinational Species Conservation Funds.

This is not a new idea. In fact, the Congress has already approved semipostal stamps for the 9/11 response heroes, the victims of domestic violence, and breast cancer research. These stamps have been remarkably successful. According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than 860 million breast cancer stamps have been sold, $381 million in revenue has been obtained, and $67.8 million has been dedicated for medical research to fight this terrible disease.

Let me be clear that under H.R. 1454, there is absolutely no cost to either our taxpayers or the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, the Postal Service will realize a significant profit from the sale of these wildlife postal stamps because we know, based on previous experience, that a large number of people will buy semipostals but will never use them.

For the past 20 years, the U.S. Congress has generously allocated a small amount of taxpayers' money to save highly imperiled African and Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles. While we have authorized $400 million to assist these species, only $64 million has been appropriated, leaving over 1,500 worthwhile eligible conservation projects unfunded.

H.R. 1454 offers us a unique opportunity to establish a new creative funding mechanism, for a limited period of time and at no cost, to provide a small amount of additional money to help save some of the most iconic species on this planet.

Finally, I would like to again thank the leadership of House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Natural Resources for allowing the House to vote on this important bipartisan wildlife conservation legislation. I would also like to again thank all the cosponsors of this bill and recognize my distinguished colleague and friend from Columbia, South Carolina, the Honorable Jim Clyburn, for assisting me in this effort.

I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1454, and let's work together to stamp out extinction.

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

Twice during the Revolutionary War, George Washington decided on Morristown, New Jersey, as the place to station the Continental Army for the winter lull in fighting. There were both military and civilian reasons to choose this area. With the Redcoats in firm control of New York City and the sea, it was essential that an inland route connecting rebel-held New England with the South be kept open. Morristown was positioned just right to keep this link from being severed.

Morristown was also the right place because George Washington had won over the local population to support the American cause. He won their support by insisting that his troops respect the property of the people, even the property of Tory sympathizers.

Not only did Washington give strict orders that forbade the Patriot forces

from looting, in sharp contrast to the practice of the British and Hessian forces, but he also gave the New Jersey militia as its major assignment the mission of protecting the property of New Jersey's farmers from the foraging parties of King George's army.

The leader of the militia in neighboring Somerset County at that time was a young, 23-year-old colonel named Frederick Frelinghuysen. So it is appropriate that this now 200-year-old family tradition of protecting the property rights of New Jersey citizens is upheld in the bill by a ``willing seller'' provision.

The Morristown National Historical Park was established in 1933 as the first National Historic Park. It includes Washington's winter headquarters and other preserved or reconstructed Revolutionary War encampments and artifacts. The park has reached its statutory size limit, but there are additional parcels that could be donated to the park. H.R. 118 authorizes an additional 100 acres for park expansion.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

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

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

Although many parts of this legislation are technical, there are a few extra ``want list'' items thrown in by the National Park Service. It is a bad practice for us to enact substantive changes in law or extensions of authority under the guise of a technical corrections bill.

I want to call the attention of the House to two of the provisions of this bill that should have been subject to hearings and thoughtful deliberation.

First, the reauthorization of the NPS Advisory Board is not a technical matter. The board has recently been reauthorized through annual appropriations bills, but issues such as conflicts of interest, membership qualifications, and the independence of board members who work for organizations that receive funds from the Department of the Interior should be addressed by Congress. The usefulness of the board itself came into question under previous Park Service Directors as it was routinely used to stall difficult decisions.

Second, the Concessions Advisory Board has received little if any oversight, and a 10-year reauthorization without any specific inquiry may be unjustifiable at this time.

Typically, these boards have been used as ``plums'' by sitting administrations, Republican and Democrat. The

National Park System has many strong supporters in Congress, including me, but I do not think we help the Park Service by enacting unexamined provisions of law buried in a technical corrections bill.

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

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

H.R. 3388 expands the boundary of the Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia and authorizes the exchange of approximately equal 1-acre parcels between the Secretary of the Interior and the Army. The boundary expansion adds an additional 7,000 acres that have been identified as core battlefield areas during the Union Army's long siege of Petersburg during the Civil War.

I want to compliment the sponsor of this bill, Congressman Forbes, for including ``willing seller'' language in the bill. Private land will fall within the expanded boundary of the park, and those property rights need to be protected.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, due to an illness, I was absent for votes on November 16, 17, 18 and 19. Please see a list of votes I missed.

Rollcall vote No. 889: S. 1314: To Designate the Facility of the United States Postal Service Located at 630 Northeast Killingsworth Avenue in Portland, Oregon, As the ``Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Post Office.''

Rollcall vote No. 890: H.R. 3539: To Designate the Facility of the United States Postal Service Located at 427 Harrison Avenue in Harrison, New Jersey, As the ``Patricia D. Mcginty-Juhl Post Office Building.''

Rollcall vote No. 891: H.R. 3767: To Designate the Facility of the United States Postal Service Located at 170 North Main Street in Smithfield, Utah, As the ``W. Hazen Hillyard Post Office Building.''

Rollcall vote No. 892: H.R. 3360: Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act: H.R. 3360.

Rollcall vote No. 893: H. Res. 841: Expressing Support for Designation of November 29, 2009, As ``Drive Safer Sunday.''

Rollcall vote No. 894: On Approving the Journal.

Rollcall vote No. 895: H. Res. 891: Expressing the Gratitude of the House of Representatives for the Service to Our Nation of the Coast Guard and Marine Corps Aircraft Pilots and Crewmembers Lost Off the Coast of California on October 29, 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 896: H. Con. Res. 214: Providing for a Conditional Adjournment of the Two Houses.

Rollcall vote No. 897: Previous Question on H.R. 3791, Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 898: Rule for H.R. 3791, Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 899: Perlmutter of Colorado Amendment to H.R. 3791.

Rollcall vote No. 900: Flake of Arizona Amendment to H.R. 3791.

Rollcall vote No. 901: H.R. 3791: Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 902: Previous Question on H.R. 2781 to Amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to Designate Segments of the Molalla River in Oregon, As Components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for Other Purposes.

Rollcall vote No. 903: Rule for H.R. 2781 to Amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to Designate Segments of the Molalla River in Oregon, As Components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for Other Purposes.

Rollcall vote No. 904: S. 1599; Reserve Officers Association Modernization Act of 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 905: H.R. 2781: To Amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to Designate Segments of the Molalla River in Oregon, As Components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for Other Purposes.

Rollcall vote No. 906: H. Con Res. 212: Expressing the Sense of Congress on the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of Historic Events in Central and Eastern Europe, Particularly the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, and Reaffirming the Bonds of Friendship and Cooperation Between the United States and the Slovak and Czech Republics.

Rollcall vote No. 907: Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 3961: Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 908: Motion to Recommit H.R. 3961: Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 909: H.R. 3961: Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.

Rollcall vote No. 910: H.R. 1834: Native American Business Development Enhancement Act of 2009.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to personally thank members of the Charleston Tea Party and all residents of South Carolina's first district who took time out of their busy schedules and made the long bus trip to Washington to participate in the Health Care ``House Call'' on Washington on Thursday, November 5, 2009.

I was proud to stand with my constituents on the steps of the Capitol as we voiced our opposition towards the Democrats' health care bill. I greatly appreciate the time and effort of my constituents who are dedicated to the future of health care in South Carolina and I am proud to say I voted no on H.R. 3962.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 94 World War II Veterans from South Carolina's First District that participated in the Lowcountry Honor Flight on Saturday, November 7, 2009.

The Honor Flight Network brings America's senior veterans to Washington, DC to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Today I had the honor to meet with World War II Veterans from my district and I felt privileged to shake the hands of some of our greatest heroes as they gathered around the World War II Memorial.

This month we are reminded of the selflessness and sacrifice of many of our uniformed men and women and I was grateful to have the opportunity to personally thank World War II Veterans from South Carolina's First District for their dedicated service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Republican amendment and true health care reform. Our plan makes the cost-saving changes so sorely needed in our health care system without forcing our children and grandchildren into unending debt.

This amendment will allow insurance to be bought across State lines to drive down costs and allow small businesses to band together in order to negotiate fair and affordable coverage. Furthermore, this amendment improves quality, putting you and your doctor in charge of your care by removing the powers of insurance companies and trial lawyers.

Finally, this amendment ensures that the taxpayer dollars my constituents in South Carolina's First Congressional District pay into the Federal Treasury never find their way into abortion clinics.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans have a better plan. I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment and urge them to vote ``no'' on final passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the efforts of one of my constituents. After hearing the story of three endangered sea turtles struck by the sudden freezing coastal waters in New England, Mr. Ronnie Santos, who is proud member of the East Cooper Pilots Association, volunteered his time and resources to conduct an Angel Flight in his own personal aircraft to rescue the sea turtles and bring them back to the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital in Charleston where they will be cared for.

I would like to commend Mr. Santos for leading by example and I thank him and all the hardworking staff and volunteers at the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital in Charleston for putting in the long hours and doing the sometimes thankless work. Thank you for all that you do, you are all truly a symbol of what makes coastal South Carolina such a special place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of all South Carolinians who will be harmed by the Democrats' $1.3 trillion proposed health care bill, H.R. 3962.

The majority's health care bill will increase the health care costs, use taxpayers' dollars to pay for abortions and create bigger government in the form of 111 new bureaucrats. Worse yet, in the First District of South Carolina, this bill would increase taxes for 8,700 small businesses, cut benefits for over 11,000 seniors and burden South Carolinian veterans with a debt that they will never be able to repay.

Republicans have focused on the concerns of the American people and have created a strong Republican alternative that advocates smaller government and increases health care coverage while decreasing costs. The Democrats in Congress must listen to the people and work with us to create a health care plan that South Carolinians and all American families want and need.