Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 688) expressing support for the goals and ideals of the first annual National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day taking place on September 26, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution that is now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 688, introduced by the gentlewoman from Nevada, Representative Dina Titus, expresses support for the goals and the ideals of the first annual National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day, which takes place on September 26, 2009.

In 1971, Congress passed the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act, which sought to prevent the disappearance of these horses and burros from the western range and created the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program.

H. Res. 688 supports the first annual National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day. It recognizes that a successful adoption program is vital to managing these animals, and that more must be done to promote the program and educate the public. I would also note that in support of the goals of that 1971 act, I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 1018, the Restore our American Mustangs, or ROAM Act, introduced by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rahall and passed by this House in July.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 688 is important in drawing attention to the vital role of adoption in saving America's wild horses and burros. I commend Representative Titus for shining a light on this important event, and I ask my colleagues to support passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to Representative Titus, the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 670) congratulating and saluting the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for celebrating its 75th anniversary, commending the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for its contributions to the preservation of wildlife and the native ecology of the Appalachian Mountains and eastern Pennsylvania, and commending the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for its dedication to educating the public and the international community about wildlife conservation.

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

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a critical wildlife sanctuary, a research area, and environmental education center. Established in 1934 as the first refuge for birds of prey in the world, the sanctuary, which is located in eastern Pennsylvania, provides a rest area for over 12,000 raptors every year during their migrations. It also attracts scientists and students to explore new conservation strategies for birds of prey. The sanctuary's 2,600 acres also provides year-round public access to pristine woodland trails, overlooks,

and education programs that give students an up close and personal view of these majestic birds.

I commend Congressman Dent from Pennsylvania for introducing this resolution, and I urge its passage.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill.

I want to thank my colleague from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) for managing the bills on the floor today with me.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of former Guam Senator Jose ``Ping'' Andres Ramirez Duenas, a lifetime resident of the village of Dededo, Guam. Senator Duenas passed away on August 31, 2009 after a long illness. He was 78.

Born on October 17, 1930, in Hagatna, Guam, Ping was the oldest of four sons of Juliana Ramirez Duenas and Jesus Camacho Duenas. Ping and I were classmates at George Washington High School, where we both graduated from in June of 1951. On April 19, 1954, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he married his high school sweetheart, Rosario Cruz Perez, fondly known as ``Ling''. Ping enrolled in Marquette University and later received his bachelor's degree in accounting from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

After graduation from college, Ping returned home and began his twenty-eight year career of public service with the Government of Guam. Ping started as an auditor with the Department of Administration before being promoted to chief accountant. In 1962, Ping and nineteen others joined together to form the Government of Guam Employees Federal Credit Union (GGEFCU). From an initial membership of twenty founding members, the GGEFCU has grown to over 40,000 members, three branches, and is an important resource for financial services to the Government of Guam employees.

Ping sought political office in 1970 and was elected to four consecutive terms as a Senator in the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Guam Legislature from 1970 to 1978. He served on the Rules Committee; the Committees on Finance and Taxation; Federal and Foreign Affairs; and Natural Resources, Land and Community Development. He also served on the 1975 Legislative Task Force for the review of the federal- territorial political relationship with its findings to be reported to the White House. After serving as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Guam, Ping and I joined together as running mates in the 1990 gubernatorial election. While unsuccessful in our bid for Governor

and Lieutenant Governor of Guam, Ping would go on to continue his service to our community as Vice President of Financial Affairs for the University of Guam. While there, he helped in the growth of the university and was instrumental in the establishment of the Marine Laboratory.

I join our community in mourning the loss of former Senator Jose Ramirez ``Ping'' Duenas. Ping was a good friend of Guam, and he devoted his life to serving our people. We extend heartfelt condolences to his wife, Rosario ``Ling'' Perez Duenas; his children, Joseph, Daniel, Anthony, Gerardlyn, Carina, Thomas, Marcella, and Julienne; his 25 grandchildren; his 16 great grandchildren; and his many family and friends.

God bless the family and friends of Senator Duenas. He will be missed dearly.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and sacrifice of

United States Army 1st Sergeant Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo. 1st SGT Crisostomo, originally from the village of Inarajan, Guam, was assigned to International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan. 1st SGT Crisostomo passed away on August 18, 2009 while on duty in Afghanistan. He was 59 years old and the oldest servicemember to perish in Afghanistan.

1st SGT Crisostomo was born on August 29, 1949 to Joaquin and Joaquina Crisostomo and lived a life of honor, service, and dedication to preserving his culture. Known to his friends and family as ``Joe'' or ``Uncle Sinbad,'' 1st SGT Crisostomo is remembered for his altruism, patriotism, and vibrant personality. He was active in promoting the Chamorro culture and was a founder and former president of ``Grupun Minagof,'' an organization established to help Guamanians living in Washington state. His leadership and dedication to his community and his family will remain an enduring legacy.

A longtime member of the U.S. Army, 1st SGT Crisostomo re-enlisted in 2008 after previously serving for 24 years, which included tours of duty in the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War. 1st SGT Crisostomo was a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star for combat valor and received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. He was also awarded the Kuwait Liberation Medal in 1991.

I join our community in mourning the loss of 1st SGT Crisostomo and in offering condolences to his wife, Patricia Leon Guerrero Crisostomo; his children, Tricia Renee, Jeffrey Joe (``Jay''), and Dominic Jay; his 10 grandchildren and to his many family and friends. 1st SGT Crisostomo served with honor and distinction, like the many sons and daughters of Guam who served before him, and he gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

God bless the family and friends of 1st Sergeant Jose San Nicolas Crisostomo, God bless our men and women in uniform protecting our country, God bless Guam, and God bless the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, on July 21, 2009, our community on Guam marked the 65th anniversary of our liberation from enemy occupation. It was a day of commemoration and celebration as we recalled the sacrifices made for our freedom by our elders who survived this brutal occupation and of the servicemembers who landed on our beaches to liberate us from the oppression of the

enemy during war. My predecessor, General Ben Blaz, penned a narrative about the history of the Tiyan airfield on this occasion. Today, the Tiyan airfield is the site of the Antonio B. Won Pat Guam International Airport and General Blaz' narrative was printed in this year's Liberation Day Special Edition of the Pacific Daily News. I submit this narrative for print in the Congressional Record. It helps us connect the past with the present. It also helps us gain an appreciation for the history of the landscape that continues to serve today as an important transportation link for our island. This is one story of many through which we can understand and interpret the period of occupation, and the trials experienced and endured by the Chamorro people.

nihi ta tasso . . .

Time and tide have eroded and buried remnants of the

barricades and trenches on the beaches of our island. The

verdant jungle has reclaimed the old concentration camp sites

over the past six and a half decades. Heavy foliage and

buildings now camouflage pillboxes and fortifications

anchored along expected landing sites to obstruct the advance

of liberating forces.

In contrast, a modest landing strip, built at Tiyan under

extreme duress and a pervasive sense of personal insecurity

by the Chamorros during the occupation in World War II, has

risen from the ashes of war, a la the legendary Phoenix. It

continues to grow with each passing year and now accommodates

millions of visitors and handles thousands of tons of food

and cargo so vital to the island's economy. Remarkably, Tiyan

is the Chamorro word for stomach and the airfield there

serves as Guam's breadbasket. Visitors from Asia, North

America, and elsewhere as well as local citizens routinely

arrive and depart from the airport, seemingly oblivious to

how dearly we paid, with blood and tears, to carve its

foundation out of a jungle for the enemy.

The latte stones of antiquity enjoy a special place in our

history. Considering the circumstances under which the

original landing strip was built and its indispensability to

the island's future, it has attained memorial stature at

least among those who wielded the primitive tools to build

it. It makes a worthy companion to the latte stone which,

interestingly enough, was also used as foundation stone,

among others, by our ancestors.

The airport today dwarfs what we achieved during the

occupation but it was built with earth movers, bulldozers,

backhoe, and steamrollers. If, during the occupation, we had

known the wonders that modern technology could perform, we

might have said that what was being asked of us was

impossible. And, having decided that, we might never have

completed the airstrip. We would never have been able to

overcome the psychological barrier that we would have created

between us and the job's completion. There would have been

nothing that the Japanese could do to make us get the project

done. It would not be that we would have worked more slowly.

In the actual construction, our lack of enthusiasm translated

to a snail's pace in any event. Rather, we would have been so

daunted by our perception of the enormity of the task that we

simply wouldn't have been able to do it. Our naivete then

worked to the Japanese's advantage. We got the job done

simply because we didn't know that we couldn't!

As we were finishing the airstrip, it was not possible to

simply dismiss it as something we were forced to do.

Surprisingly, most of us looked at it with a kind of pride of

proprietorship. It was ours. We made it--not only the

construction but survived the incredibly taxing ordeal. This

was possible because of the older men in our forced labor

groups who rose to lead us. There were many such men but I

remember two of them in particular because they were my

immediate leaders--Frank D. Perez and Nito Cristobal. We

worked together, we prayed together and, on occasion, we

laughed together. It was 1944 and I was 16.

Evidently, American reconnaissance planes noticed that the

airstrip was nearing completion and it became a daily target

for bombing. Seeing the American planes bomb the airstrip in

daylight was a tonic beyond description even though we knew

we had to repair the runway that same night guarded by

soldiers angered similarly beyond description. One of the

ironies of our forced labor was how it played against one of

the most cherished of Chamorro traditions, adalak, whereby

neighbors helped one another build houses or prepare fields

for crops. We participated in adalak willingly and from our

hearts in keeping with our custom and tradition. The closest

English translation of the word is ``happy labor.'' This was

not so when we were digging caves, constructing barricades

and felling the jungle to build an airstrip.

In an incredible twist of fate, on June 20, 1944, during

the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Japanese lost more than

400 planes in a resounding defeat in air combat which U.S.

Naval aviators referred to as the Great Marianas Turkey

Shoot. A month later, Guam was liberated by U.S. Marines,

soldiers, sailors and airmen. Following the capture of the

Tiyan airstrip, we watched with astonishment and great

delight as U.S. Navy Seabees widened, extended, and surfaced

the runway with remarkable efficiency in but a few days.

Seeing U.S. planes land and take off from ``our'' airstrip to

continue the war against Japan made grown men cry. And

teenagers, too.

Poetic justice comes to mind.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 288) recognizing the importance of park and recreation facilities and expressing support for the designation of the month of July as ``National Park and Recreation Month''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 288 was introduced by our colleague from Georgia, Representative John Barrow, and would recognize July as National Park and Recreation Month. Federal, State, territorial, and local parks and recreation facilities across our Nation play a vital role in creating healthy communities. They improve our quality of life, they keep our children active and safe and connected with nature, and they create economic opportunities by attracting businesses and jobs and increasing home values.

House Resolution 288 recognizes the importance of our valued parks and recreation facilities by encouraging the designation of a National Park and Recreation Month. I commend my colleague, Representative Barrow, for his diligent work on this resolution, and I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1376) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Waco Mammoth National Monument in the State of Texas, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1376, introduced by our colleague Chet Edwards, will establish a new national monument to protect the burial site near Waco, Texas, of several herds of mammoths that appear to have died in one or more floods some 68,000 years ago. The 107th Congress authorized a study of the site, and H.R. 1376 implements the results of that study. Specifically, the bill provides that the 109- acre site be managed under a cooperative agreement among the National Park Service, Baylor University and the City of Waco. Representative Edwards has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the preservation and interpretation of this invaluable historic site. He is to be commended for his tireless efforts. I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1121) to authorize a land exchange to acquire lands for the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1121 is sponsored by our colleague Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina. The bill authorizes the exchange of approximately 192 acres of land owned by the Town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, for roughly 20 acres of land within the Blue Ridge Parkway, a unit of the National Park System. Both the town and the National Park Service support this exchange. All applicable laws and policy regarding environmental compliance and equalization of values will be followed.

This is a good bill, Mr. Speaker, that resolves a longstanding management issue for both parties, so I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time and would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 556) to establish a program of research, recovery, and other activities to provide for the recovery of the southern sea otter, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, growth of the southern sea otter population has been slow over the last decade because of high mortality rates. Otters die from many causes, including disease and parasites, malnutrition and entanglement in fishing gear. Additional action is needed to ensure the recovery of these animals is a success.

H.R. 556, introduced by our colleague Congressman Sam Farr of California, would direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to implement a program that would address the decline of the southern sea otter by looking at health, mortality, and life history parameters, develop measures to reduce factors impacting marine ecosystems, health and human activities that limit sea otter populations, and to do so in accordance with consensus recommendations made by the Service's published Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan.

H.R. 556 has been substantially revised since it was introduced, largely

to address concerns of coastal fishing interests. The bill also benefited from further changes to streamline the recovery and research grant program and clarify its scope as it advanced through the committee process.

H.R. 556 is necessary to provide a stable and reliable source of funding for critically needed research, monitoring, and implementation of recovery actions. Its provisions would apply directly to southern sea otters, but because these otters are a keystone and a sentinel species, H.R. 556 would also benefit the California coastal ecosystem as a whole.

So I urge Members, Mr. Speaker, to support the bill and reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 509) to reauthorize the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, marine sea turtles are threatened by intentional and accidental capture in fisheries, by the destruction of essential nesting habitat through coastal development, by the poaching of eggs, meat and shells, by the entanglement in marine debris, by ship strikes, and by ocean pollution.

The Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009, introduced by my friend and ranking member, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, provides a simple extension of an existing program which helps enhance our conservation of marine turtle species. While progress has been made, the status of these turtle species remains tenuous, justifying the need to reauthorize this act.

So I ask my colleagues, Members on both sides of the aisle, to support its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I support this bill to restore and to protect marine sea turtles, and I urge Members to support both the turtles and the otters.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, the events of World War II seem to be lost in translation, interpreted as events that occurred rather than events that affect. For many, the events of the past no longer shape our views of the future. For this reason, I come to the Chamber this morning to speak about an important chapter in American history. A chapter that too few Americans know.

Early this morning, Congressman Sablan and I were joined by the Honorable David Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Major General Donald Goldhorn, former Congressman Ben Blaz, Congressman Joe Wilson, and friends of Guam in laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington. We honored the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen, the marines, and Coast Guardsmen who participated in the battle in the liberation of Guam and the Northern Marianas during World War II.

Our ceremony also honored the liberated, the Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam, who remained steadfast in their loyalty to the United

States during the war and who endured enemy occupation.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009, marks the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Guam. Guam was attacked by the Imperial Japanese forces on December 8, 1941, at the same time that Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was attacked, the different dates owing to the international dateline. Guam was subsequently invaded by the Imperial Japanese forces on December 10, 1941, and occupied until liberation on July 21, 1944.

The story of the people of Guam and the campaign to liberate them from occupation is an American story of courage and sacrifice. It is an important part of American history, and one of pride and determination in the face of overwhelming obstacles, barriers constructed by the Japanese war machine in the form of forced labor, forced marches, internment and public executions, and a true test of loyalty, a test that had not been asked but for a very few civilian communities under the American flag in the 20th century.

So I come to the floor today to bring honor to the Chamorros who were occupied, and to the servicemen who liberated them. The liberation of Guam from enemy occupation during World War II marked a pivotal point in Guam's history and was a key battle for the Allied Forces in ending the war in the Pacific.

The liberation of Guam by the United States Armed Forces from the Imperial Japanese Empire allowed for the first time the installation of air bases that would house land-based aerial bombers, putting them in reach of the main island of Japan. The air offenses launched from the Mariana Islands were effective in subduing the Imperial Japanese war effort, bringing the war to an end and saving the lives of many.

Prior to the Japanese invasion, Guam Armed Forces consisted of 153 marines, 271 U.S. Navy personnel, 134 civilian construction workers, and 247 Chamorro members of the Insular Guard. The Insular Guard protected the community on Guam during the invasion. During the occupation, the Imperial Japanese Forces attempted to turn the Chamorro people against the United States. But the Chamorro people remained steadfastly loyal to the United States through the 32-month occupation.

On the eve of the American landings on the island in 1944, all 22,000 Chamorro inhabitants of Guam were forced to march to Mannengon Hills and other locations to be interned in concentration camps to maintain control of the population in fear of an uprising.

This is a true story of American courage. The Chamorro people of Guam were loyal Americans at the time, and it was the first time that a foreign power invaded U.S. soil since the War of 1812. Despite fear of their captors and their will, the Chamorro people remained steadfast in their loyalty, and were brave in providing aid to the American soldiers hiding from enemy capture. These acts of courage were punishable by death. Some experienced horrific events, massacres at Malesso' and Tinta and Faha' where Japanese soldiers herded families into caves and threw hand grenades and delivered small arms fire until dozens lay dead. Their loyalty was put to the extreme test of sacrifice.

So as we approach Liberation Day next week on Guam, we remember our elders who lived through the occupation and also the several thousand members of the U.S. Armed Forces who gave their lives while defending and liberating Guam.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1044) to provide for the administration of Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1044 provides that the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial be managed as a unit of the National Park System. Currently the area is managed as an affiliated site by the National Park Service.

On July 17, 1944, 320 men were killed in an explosion at the Port Chicago Navy ammunition loading base in the San Francisco Bay area. This was the largest homeland disaster during World War II.

Of the dead, 202 were African American enlisted men who were assigned to moving ammunition, a highly dangerous job for which they had not received adequate training. Fearful of another explosion, 258 of their surviving fellow sailors refused to work without more training. In response, the Navy charged 50 men with mutiny, and all were convicted.

The public outrage over the unjust convictions was a key factor in the Navy's 1946 decision to end race-based assignments and President Truman's 1948 order to integrate all of the Armed Forces.

In 1992, Congress designated the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. The pending measure furthers that commitment by providing that the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial be managed as a unit of the National Park System, a change that acknowledges the actual role the NPS is playing on the ground in maintaining and interpreting the memorial.

The sponsor of this measure, Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, has worked tirelessly with the Army and the Navy, as well as the National Park Service, to move this legislation forward. Chairman Miller is to be commended for his hard work on this bill.

I support H.R. 1044 and urge its adoption by the House today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the following exchange of letters between the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Armed Services concerning H.R. 1044.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Armed Services,

Washington, DC, June 22, 2009.

Hon. Nick J. Rahall II,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Dear Nick: On February 12, 2009, H.R. 1044 was introduced

and referred to the Committee on Armed Services for a period

to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, for

consideration of such provisions as fall within the

jurisdiction of the Committee.

Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 1044 and

the need for the legislation to move expeditiously.

Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over

this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive

further consideration of H.R. 1044. I do so with the

understanding that by waiving further consideration of the

bill, the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional

claims over similar measures. In the event of a conference

with the Senate on this bill, the Committee on Armed Services

reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees.

I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy

of your response in the Congressional Record during

consideration of the measure on the House floor.

Very truly yours,

Ike Skelton,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 934) to convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I call up for the consideration of the House H.R. 934, which is the first bill introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Mr. Kilili Sablan. I thank the gentleman for bringing the subject matter of this bill to our attention.

This measure provides equity to the CNMI. It is the only U.S. territory that does not control its submerged lands. The bill before us would simply convey the submerged lands surrounding the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands extending out to 3 nautical miles to the Government of the CNMI. This is the same treatment of submerged lands afforded to Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

I would like to thank Mr. Sablan for introducing this legislation and for making H.R. 934 one of his first legislative priorities as the delegate from the CNMI.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the author of the bill and the gentleman from the CNMI, Mr. Sablan, for as much time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time and would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 762) to validate final patent number 27-2005-0081, and for other purposes.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 762, introduced by Congressman Dean Heller, would validate the final patent to lands in Clark and Lincoln Counties in Nevada. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has also worked to advance this bill.

In 2005, the Bureau of Land Management issued a final patent to reconfigure certain leased and patented lands slated for development. This adjustment was intended to provide habitat for the conservation of the endangered desert tortoise.

However, several groups objected to the process that the BLM used to adjust these lands, claiming that it failed to comply with Federal law and that it failed to provide appropriate habitat for the tortoise. The group sued the BLM and the property owners.

In 2007, the parties agreed to settle the lawsuit. H.R. 762 will implement one of several settlement stipulations by validating the final patent to the reconfigured land. All parties to the litigation support this legislation.

In addition to Congressman Heller, I would like to highly commend Congresswoman Shelley Berkley for her leadership and tireless efforts in getting this bill to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, we support H.R. 762, and urge its adoption by the House today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time and would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge all Members to support this very good bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1442) to provide for the sale of the Federal Government's reversionary interest in approximately 60 acres of land in Salt Lake City, Utah, originally conveyed to the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association under the Act of January 23, 1909, as amended.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the House for its consideration this legislation sponsored by the gentleman from Utah, Representative Jim Matheson.

In 1909, Congress authorized the transfer of 60 acres of Federal land in Salt Lake City, Utah, to the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association for use as a public cemetery. The legislation contained a reversionary clause to the Federal Government if the land were not used for the purpose of a cemetery.

Today, in order to raise revenue to operate the cemetery, the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association hopes to sell 13 undeveloped acres of this parcel to an adjacent school, and it has requested that the Federal Government relinquish its reversionary interest.

This noncontroversial bill, which was favorably reported out of the Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent, authorizes the conveyance of the reversionary interest to the association in exchange for appropriate consideration based upon a survey and appraisal of the property.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Matheson has worked diligently on behalf of this legislation. The administration supports the bill, and I ask my colleagues to support its passage as well.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.