Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1714) to clarify the boundaries of Coastal Barrier Resources System Clam Pass Unit FL-64P.

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. 1714 is noncontroversial legislation that would replace the Coastal Barrier Resources System map designated as Clam Pass Unit FL-64P to correct legitimate inaccuracies. This legislation is identical to noncontroversial legislation reported by the Committee on Resources during the 109th Congress.

The new map, dated July 21, 2005, that would be adopted by passage of this legislation, would remove approximately 48 acres of private land from the otherwise protected area, or the

OPA, that was established in 1990 to include the Clam Pass Conservation Area. Private land owners indicated that these lands were never held within the conservation area, and were erroneously included in the OPA. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after completing an exhaustive investigation, agreed that these areas, in fact, were added in error.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fully supports this technical correction legislation which will also add approximately 68 acres of undeveloped land to the OPA that were previously omitted. In addition, Mr. Speaker, the new map that would be adopted also has been certified as accurate by all local authorities.

Again, I ask my colleagues to support passage of this noncontroversial bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this legislation. Again, I want to thank my colleague from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) for supporting this noncontroversial piece of legislation, and I urge Members to support the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3227) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to continue stocking fish in certain lakes in the North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 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. 3227 authorizes the National Park Service to stock fish in the North Cascades National Park, the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. These lakes do not naturally contain fish, but fish stocking has been conducted in these lakes periodically since the late 1800s.

The North Cascades National Park is currently working on the Mountain Lake Fisheries Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates fish stocking in the park. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement found that fish stocking could only take place in these lakes if the National Park Service was granted the authority to do so by Congress. During committee consideration of H.R. 3227, changes were made to the bill to incorporate suggestions from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Mr. Speaker, we have no objections to H.R. 3227.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this legislation. Again, I want to thank the gentleman from South Carolina for his cooperation in managing these three bills this afternoon on the floor.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 984) expressing support for the designation of July 26, 2008 as ``National Day of the Cowboy''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I stand to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Res. 984 which supports the designation of July 26, 2008, as National Day of the Cowboy.

H. Res. 984 was introduced by Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona on February 13, 2008, and since then, the bill has garnered the support and cosponsorship of 52 Members of Congress, both men and women, from both sides of the aisle. The measure was considered and passed by voice vote out of the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2008.

Mr. Speaker, it is reasonable to assert that our great country wouldn't be what it is today without the significant influences of the cowboy. This is why each year a day is set aside for Americans to celebrate the contributions of the cowboy and cowgirl to our Nation's culture and heritage. With the advocacy of the National Day of the Cowboy Organization for the past several years, the National Day of the Cowboy has been celebrated by the public through education, the arts, special events, rodeos, and other community activities.

This year, July 26 has been selected as the day for honoring and preserving the rich history of the cowboy settlement in the American West, an act that forever changed the landscape of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona for introducing this thoughtful measure, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating the American cowboys and cowgirls by agreeing to pass H. Res. 984.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I thank my colleague from South Carolina for supporting this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4174, the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act. I commend our colleagues on the Science Committee for bringing forward this important legislation to enhance our understanding of this

phenomena, which is changing the very chemistry of the world's oceans.

Ocean acidification, which is caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, can negatively affect a range of organisms, from corals, to shellfish and plankton. These organisms and their habitats form the base of the food chain for many marine fish and mammal species. If not mitigated, ocean acidification could, therefore, have a cascading negative effect on important commercial fisheries, tourism and recreation, and other ocean-related industries.

The damage that ocean acidification could cause to our coastal economic and cultural livelihoods is alarming. Those who rely on oceanic resources for their food or their livelihood, as many of my constituents on Guam do, are already contending with the negative after-affects caused by coastal habitat degradation; overfishing; illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; and the worldwide decline of healthy coral reefs. We need to learn now everything we can about the dynamics, extent and implications of ocean acidification if we hope to be able to develop successful strategies to cope with this global threat.

I strongly support this legislation that would establish a comprehensive, interagency committee to coordinate and expand federal research on ocean acidification and marine ecosystems.

Mr. Speaker, I commend our colleague from Maine, Mr. Allen, for introducing this legislation and for his leadership on ocean issues. I also commend the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Lampson, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, and the Ranking Member, Mr. Inglis, for advancing H.R. 41-74 through the Committee on Science and Technology. I thank them and Chairman Gordon for working with Chairman Rahall of the Committee on Natural Resources to address matters of mutual interest and shared jurisdiction with regard to the bill. I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 4174.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Kathleen Cepeda Sarmiento for her lifelong service to Guam's community. Kathleen, daughter of Jose Babauta Sarmiento and Maria Cepeda Sarmiento, was an educator who influenced many young people in Guam since 1981. We honor her for her dedication to her religious community and service to our community.

In 1976, Kathleen graduated from the Academy of Our Lady of Guam, and subsequently attended the College of San Mateo in California. She returned to Guam to begin her career as an educator. At this time, she also made the decision to become a member of the Catholic religious order of the Sisters of Mercy as Sister Mary Kathleen Cepeda Sarmiento.

Kathleen pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Guam, and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1986. In 1995, she graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Master of Arts degree in School Administration.

Kathleen served in several positions within Guam's private Catholic school system, all culminating into her role as a leader to both teachers and students. She taught Theology and Art at the Academy of our Lady of Guam, Bishop Baumgartner Junior High School, and finally at Saint Anthony School. During the latter part of her life, Kathleen served as Vice Principal and Principal of St. Augustine School in Laredo, Texas.

Kathleen was an innovator. At Saint Anthony School on Guam, she initiated the After School Extended Care Program allowing students greater opportunities for enhancing their educational interests. She implemented the Rainbows Program to help students with social and emotional difficulties. She also promoted the Student Cultural Exchange Program with students of Ako City, Japan and the Chamorro language and culture program.

Kathleen helped to develop the academic strengths of students by encouraging their participation in extracurricular activities. Under her guidance, her students excelled in the Academic Challenge Bowl, Spelling Bee, Geography Bee, Math Olympiads, Best of Carols Program, and several competitions in art, essay, and speech. Her leadership and emphasis on academic performance contributed to the accreditation of Saint Anthony School by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. At St. Augustine High School, Kathleen was credited for enhancing the fine arts program. She helped to advance information technology at the school by implementing a laptop ``lease-to-own'' program for high school students and by encouraging teachers to integrate more technology into their lessons.

Kathleen was blessed with many talents. Her artistic and musical abilities were appreciated throughout the community. As a visual artist, her work was featured in numerous displays such as the American Cancer Society Art Auction, Guam Micronesia Island Fair, and displays by the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities. She was also talented in playing the guitar. Her music was an important part of her ministry and a means for reaching out to young people and senior citizens.

Kathleen has been recognized for her many achievements. She has been honored through the Marquis Who's Who Publications Board; Who's Who in American Education; 1991 Outstanding Young Women of America; 1990 Governor's Art Awards Program; Service Award from the Department of Parks and Recreation; and the Special Olympics.

Kathleen Cepeda Sarmiento will be remembered for her dedication and commitment to young people and her service to our community. The people of Guam join her religious community, her family and friends in honoring her and remembering her contributions as an educator and community leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5741) to amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management

Act to improve the conservation of sharks, 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 rise in support of my bill, H.R. 5741, the Shark Conservation Act of 2008.

Sharks are vital to the health of marine ecosystems, but the practice of shark finning is driving their decline worldwide. Eight years ago, Congress passed the Shark Finning Prohibition Act to protect these critical species. H.R. 5741 reconfirms the original intent of Congress to prevent both shark finning and the transshipment and landing of shark fins without carcasses. It also provides an important new enforcement mechanism requiring that sharks be landed with their fins naturally attached.

Reducing shark finning is imperative to conserving sharks and the marine ecosystems of which they are a part. I am grateful that the bill has the strong support of my colleagues from the Western Pacific, namely Congressman Abercrombie from the State of Hawaii and Congressman Faleomavaega from American Samoa, as well as the ranking member of the Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee, Mr. Brown from South Carolina.

I would note that last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration raised some concerns with the narrow aspect of the bill as it might relate to shark fishing on the west coast. We are waiting for additional information from the agency and will work with them as the bill proceeds to determine how this concern can be addressed without creating any unintended loopholes in the shark finning ban.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5741 is a timely bill, and it's an important bill, and I ask my colleagues to support its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for his support of this particular piece of legislation.

I have no additional requests for time and would reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would just simply say to the gentleman that it is not only the sharks in the sea who fear being de-finned, it is also the American people who are being fleeced at the pump by Big Oil. And further, Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman that during this summer as many Americans flock to the beach, they have a greater chance of being bitten by Big Oil than by a shark.

Also, Mr. Speaker, our colleague from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) is attending to official business in his district today and is therefore unable to be here on the floor for this debate. I note, however, for the record his involvement in drafting and advancing this legislation in committee.

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

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. 3981) to authorize the Preserve America Program and Save America's Treasures Program, 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, both the Preserve America and the Save America's Treasures Programs provide Federal matching grants for important historic preservation projects. Preserve America provides grants for interpretation and education regarding historic resources, while the Save America's Treasures Program provides grants for rehabilitation in restoration work.

Both programs, Mr. Speaker, are enormously successful because they leverage limited Federal dollars for much larger State, local, and private investment in preserving and interpreting our history and our heritage. These programs were created by executive order, and this legislation simply provides statutory authorization for both of these programs. H.R. 3981 is a top priority for the Bush administration.

I ask my colleagues to support passage of this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller), the bill's sponsor.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the Democrats have been on this floor for weeks watching our colleagues from across the aisle defend multinational oil conglomerates. The fact of the matter is that the energy challenges that our Nation faces demand more than rhetoric and battles on the floor of the House. Certainly, our constituents who are feeling the energy pinch deserve more.

We need to put our energies into finding common ground to achieve real, workable solutions to our energy problems, and toward that end, we need to be working on our energy challenge from two ends at the same time, furthermore, the supply end and the conservation end. By doing so, we can work without partisanship to bring relief to the American people. And that, just like the underlying bill, would preserve America's true treasures and the treasures are our people.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman keeps talking about opening up more land. Well, the fact is 80 percent of the oil available on the Outer Continental Shelf today is already open for leasing, but the oil companies haven't decided it's worth their money to drill there.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1423) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease a portion of a visitor center to be constructed outside the boundary of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Porter County, Indiana, 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. 1423 would allow the National Park Service to share visitor center facilities for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with the Porter County Indiana Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission.

The bill also allows the National Park Service to construct exhibits at the visitor center and authorizes National Park Service employees to work there. Congress must approve the spending and the use of personnel because the visitor center lies outside the established boundaries of the park.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1423 would clarify the definition of ``contiguous lands'' in the park's original legislation so that the National Park Service could accept donations of contiguous land even if that land is separated by a right-of-way such as a road, a railway line or utility corridor.

I commend the sponsor, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), for his work on the legislation, and I ask my colleagues to support passage of this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana, the bill's sponsor, Mr. Visclosky.

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

First and foremost, I would like to remind my colleagues across the aisle that I feel that all legislation that is heard in the U.S. Congress is important legislation. I want to go on record saying that.

And I would remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that in 2005, just 3 years ago, 2005, when you were in the majority, you passed an energy bill that you claimed would produce America's energy independence. It did not work, did it? What were gas prices then in 2005, and what are they today?

So I would again say the blame game is not working and we should truly sit down and get serious, dispense with the rhetoric, and address the issues facing the American people.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues, all of the Members of Congress, to support this very important piece of legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4199) to amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to add sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 4199 adds two sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. The bill also renames the park as the Wright Brothers- Dunbar National Historical Park.

Mr. Speaker, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to preserve sites associated with Wilbur and Orville Wright and the early history of aviation. The park also honors the life and work of African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, a business associate and a friend of Orville Wright.

H.R. 4199 would add Hawthorn Hill, the mansion designed by the Wright Brothers, and the Wright Company factory to the park. The factory, completed in 1910, is the site of the first American facilities specifically designed and built for the manufacture of airplanes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support passage of this measure.

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

I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Miller).

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

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

I thank the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, today the teaching of history to our children and young adults is an integral part of the learning experience and the American elementary and secondary education system. History is a formidable, important part of the curriculum and the intellectual development of our youth. It is through history that we learn about, recall, and reflect upon lessons of the past and it is through history that we learn to responsibly recognize and seize the opportunities of the future. History is an exercise of self-awareness. It helps each citizen understand his or her place and role in our society, and it helps us establish a continuity for progress.

It is through history that we learn about and come to appreciate our roots, our heritage, our culture, our progress as a society, and our relationships to one another and about how our family and our community relate to the broader world and to the generations that have come before us and those that follow us. Through history, our children learn about people and the faces and the stories behind the names that have helped shape our great democratic experiment.

The teaching of United States history is fundamental to the American classroom. Yet, the teaching of history can be elevated today with greater incorporation of facts related to the territories and our fellow Americans who call the territories home. Integration into the modern day curriculum of the accounts of relationships and the circumstances surrounding the entry of each of the territories into the American family is both appropriate and needed if our teaching of American history is to be complete and meaningful. Learning about the contributions of illustrious persons from the territories complements this goal and is a proven, effective means of sharing our history.

Today, American children, for example, learn about Squanto, George Washington, Paul Revere, Lewis and Clark, Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, Francis Scott Key, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Rosa Parks, and many, many other notable Americans. But, Madam Speaker, the names and the stories of historic figures in the territories are not known, and we have many historic leaders, as my colleague pointed out from her own territory of the Virgin Islands.

Today, our school children learn the capital cities of Jefferson City, Boise, Concord, Tallahassee, and many others. But San Juan, Pago Pago, and Hagatna, for example, they are unfamiliar to their ear and rarely can be pinpointed on the map. Our territorial flags, seals, trees, flowers, birds, et cetera, they are all too frequently overlooked or a mystery, our history under appreciated.

How many young students today know that Guam was discovered by Magellan in 1521, and Guam was governed under Spain for 100 years. Today, too few Americans know and realize that the territory of Guam was bombarded, attacked and invaded by Imperial Japanese forces concurrent with the attack on Pearl Harbor. Too few Americans know and learn about the loyalty and courage of the people of Guam in suffering at the hands of a brutal enemy, while their homeland, sovereign American soil, was occupied. Guam is the only American community to have been occupied since the War of 1812.

This resolution is an exercise about learning to appreciate the cultures and the history of our islands, where our U.S. flag flies. House Concurrent Resolution 2 expresses the sense of this Congress that schools and educators all across these 50 United States and right here in our Nation's capital city should strive to teach our children about the territories and should in their noble profession seek to honor the contributions of individuals from each of these territories.

For over a century now individuals from Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands have contributed to the growth and development of our country. Individuals from the territories have stood shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters in harm's way, and I am speaking about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have worn the uniform in times of war, and boast some of highest enlistment rates in our military. Many have paid the ultimate sacrifice from World War I to the present day war against terrorism.

Some have gone on to distinguished military careers as officers. Others have made contributions in the fields of medicine, law, music and the arts. Some have become incredible teachers in their own rights, and work to preserve our history and expand the circle of awareness about the beautiful tapestry and the rich history of the people of the United States territories.

The textbooks, the classroom discussions, the maps, the globes, the technology, the learning games, all could stand to include more pages, more study questions, and more focus on the territories.

I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Christensen, for her leadership in working to incorporate the

territories into history for America's schoolchildren.

I stand here today proud of our own schoolchildren on Guam. This debate is on the heels of their participation last week for the first time in the national competition for National History Day, and my colleague spoke about this. His office is located right across from mine, and they all performed in the hallway. History students from George Washington High School, Untalan Middle School, Agueda Johnston Middle School and Guam High School all competed with students from all across the United States at the University of Maryland, College Park, in the national competition with research papers, exhibits, performance and documentaries. This occurred, as I said, just last week. And they also went on a field trip in Washington, DC.

So, Madam Speaker, I stand in full support, in strong support for the passage of this very important House Concurrent Resolution 2.

Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to protect the United

States from harm caused by invasive species. The bill, entitled the ``Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act,'' constitutes a proactive approach to combating invasive wildlife species by preventing their entry at the border.

Currently there is no federal law prohibiting the importation of invasive species into the United States. Yet, nonnative plants and animals are known by scientists to have been introduced into ecosystems in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories. Invasive, nonnative species can harm the economy, human health, and the health of other animal species. Such harm ranges, for example, from depreciating farmland property values to the spreading of disease and loss of irrigation water. Additionally, collapse of buildings; competition with native animals; sport, game, and endangered species losses; habitat alteration; and other ecosystem disturbances; have resulted from the introduction of invasive species.

Scientists and economists estimate the cost of damages caused by invasive species in the United States to amount to over $123 billion annually. The risks associated with the introduction and establishment of invasive species, and the costs of mitigation, will continue to rise concomitantly with the expansion of trade and increased speed and frequency of travel. The sheer volume of cargo shipped and exchanged worldwide continues to increase, and many communities across the United States are experiencing growth in tourism and in their visitor industries. These factors are reason alone to develop protocols and a system for assessing the risk of all nonnative wildlife species that could be imported or introduced into the United States.

Preventing the introduction of invasive species is a significant challenge and priority for many communities across the country, including my district, Guam. Invasive species, for example, threaten the biodiversity and the ecology of the Florida Everglades, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and the Great Lakes, among other national environmental treasures in our country. On Guam, the brown tree snake has caused the extirpation of many native, endemic forest birds and lizards. The coqui tree frog and the coconut rhinoceros beetle are the latest species to have entered Guam. Although the brown tree snake was accidentally introduced through cargo shipments several decades ago. intentional introduction of invasive species today is something that can and should he controlled. The bill introduced today would protect citizens, the economy, and the environment from imported wildlife species that have the known potential to and that would likely harm our interests in the United States.

Absent a comprehensive federal law addressing the importation of nonnative species, the only is protection provided by the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. This law authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to designate wildlife species considered ``injurious'' to humans and prohibit importation of such species into the country. The process, however, to designate a species as injurious can take four years on average, at which point in most cases harm has already been caused and realized.

The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act authorizes the establishment by regulation of a risk assessment process to control the importation of wildlife species. The bill adopts a preventative approach by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to develop with public notice and public input a ``green list'' of species allowed to be imported and a ``black list'' preventing invasive species from entering the country. Prior to approving a species to be imported, the Secretary must evaluate its potential risk to humans, other animal species, and environmental health. Any imports of ``black list'' species will be subject to penalties under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. The Secretary, however, may permit importation of an animal of such other prohibited species for educational, scientific research, or accredited zoological or aquarium display purposes. Finally, import fees will be collected to cover the costs of the risk assessment process.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation and to strengthen the abilities of the federal government to more effectively manage and prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species.

I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) for yielding me the time and for his leadership in working toward permanent protection of whale populations around the world. I join him in these efforts.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 350, authored by our committee chair, Mr. Rahall, which calls for an end to commercial whaling in all its forms and for renewed United States leadership for conservation of whale species. Consideration of this resolution today could not be more timely or needed in advance of next week's meeting of the International Whaling Commission, or the IWC, in Chile.

House Concurrent Resolution 350 calls the United States delegation to the IWC to maintain the commercial moratorium, close existing loopholes that have allowed more than 11,000 whales to be killed under the guise of scientific whaling, and oppose any effort that would undermine the moratorium or resume commercial whaling. The United States has an opportunity and a responsibility to help refocus the IWC toward its important conservation aims.

Established under the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling as an international body to conserve whales for future generations and to regulate the whaling industry, the International Whaling Commission initially focused on the allocation of whaling quotas to member countries. When these quotas were routinely exceeded and whale populations plummeted, the United States successfully proposed a whaling ban, which, in turn, led to the international moratorium on commercial whaling.

The moratorium has saved thousands and thousands of whales and has prevented some species from extinction. Under the convention, however, members lodging a formal objection are not bound by the moratorium. Both Norway and Iceland used this process to escape the moratorium. Similarly, the convention allows for the killing of whales for research purposes under self-awarded special permit quotas, and there are no limitations on the commercial sale of the meat.

Both Japan and Iceland kill whales under the guise of scientific whaling. The IWC scientific committee has consistently challenged the science behind Japan's special permit whaling programs, questioning the need to kill, while also reinforcing the value of nonlethal methods to study whales.

Despite this, Japan continues to increase the quotas and the species of whale it targets. The continued development of the IWC as a whale conservation body is at risk. Today pro-whaling countries are increasingly working to convince IWC members that the body is unworkable. They do so through vigorous country recruitment and a gradual erosion of the will of conservation-minded IWC members.

The IWC, now divided almost equally in favor for and against commercial whaling, declared itself at a deadlock in 2007. The meeting next week is therefore pivotal and consequential to the success and the future effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission.

Pro-whaling countries will repeatedly ask for a resumption of commercial whaling. Such countries are also pushing for the approval of coastal or community-based whaling, which should not be confused with subsistence whaling for our native peoples and which have been determined to be another label for commercial whaling. The world's whale population cannot afford a compromise on the commercial whaling moratorium, nor should the United States be intimidated by countries who threaten to leave the IWC if their requests are not met.

The world's remaining whale populations, many of which have yet to fully recover from historic overexploitation, face modern threats from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, pollution, overfishing or prey species, and the emerging impacts of climate change. This warrants greater, not lesser, leadership from the United States in whale conservation.

It is for these reasons that I have cosponsored House Concurrent Resolution 350. I commend Chairman Rahall for introducing this resolution and his invaluable leadership in working to strengthen the

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2964) to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to treat nonhuman primates as prohibited wildlife species under that Act, to make corrections in the provisions relating to captive wildlife offenses under that Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

H.R. 2964, the Captive Primate Safety Act, was introduced by our colleague from Texas, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. This bill amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit the import, export, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce of nonhuman primates.

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

In that case, then, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Yes, Mr. Speaker, people indeed are being bit by monkeys, and they are also being bit at the gas pumps. I would just like to note a few statistics regarding monkey risks to the public.

In June of 2008 in New York, a 22-month-old girl playing in her backyard put her fingers through a fence into a neighbor's yard and was bitten by their pet monkey. Doctors spent 12 hours trying to reattach her finger.

In March 2008 in Indiana, a child visiting a home was bitten by a pet capuchin monkey.

In February 2008 in Arizona, a 3-year-old boy was bitten by a pet lemur his family just got 2 weeks before.

In February 2008 in Washington, a pet monkey escaped from a home and bit three people.

In December 2007 in North Carolina, a clerk at a convenience store was bitten by a customer's pet monkey.

In September 2007 in Missouri, two children were bitten by a pet monkey at a park. The woman who owned the monkey ran off with the animal.

In August 2007 in Wisconsin, a woman was bitten by a pet monkey a man had on a leash.

In April 2007 in Mississippi, a Federal agent approached a home and was attacked by a monkey.

Mr. Speaker, from January 2007 right here on my list until March 2005, there are nine other listed cases. So yes, people are being bitten by monkeys.

And this is how they are getting bitten at the pumps. Currently oil and gas companies hold leases on nearly 68 million acres of Federal land both on shore and under OCS waters that they are not, I say that they are not developing. That is roughly the size of the State of Colorado. That 68 million acres of leased but stockpiled, inactive Federal oil and gas lands could produce an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil and 44.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day. I would point out that would nearly double total U.S. oil production and increase natural gas production by 75 percent.

Let me reiterate that if drilling took place on the 68 million acres of Federal lands currently under lease to oil and gas companies, an area the size of Colorado, we would nearly double total domestic oil production. It would also cut U.S. oil imports by one-third and it would be more than six times the estimated peak production from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. So that is where the problem lies, the industry is simply not using what it already has.

And one must wonder, is this done on purpose? Is it being done to keep supply off the market in order to keep record-level prices and world- record profits?

Let me remind my colleagues that the number of Federal onshore drilling permits has exploded in recent years. Between 1999 and 2007, the Interior Department increased the number of those permits it issued by 361 percent. I would also note that of all the oil and gas believed to exist on the Outer Continental Shelf, 82 percent of the natural gas and 79 percent of the oil is located in areas that are currently open to leasing.

So the gentleman is correct, we have a problem here; but the solution is to prompt the holders of these valuable energy leases to develop them. The chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Nick Rahall, has put forth a solution, drill it or lose it.

The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act of 2008 would compel oil and gas companies to either produce or give up Federal onshore and OCS leases that they are stockpiling by barring the companies from obtaining any more leases unless they can demonstrate that they are producing oil and gas or are diligently developing the leases they already hold during the initial term of the leases.

Companies could avoid this new lease prohibition by relinquishing their non-producing leases, creating an opportunity for another company to explore for and perhaps produce oil or gas from them. Under the bill, the terms of leases which are in production or which can demonstrate diligent development are extended. Companies which lease Federal coal resources are by law required to diligently develop these leases. This requirement has discouraged the rampant speculation that once existed in the Federal coal leasing program, the same type of speculation that now appears to be plaguing the Federal oil and gas leasing program.

So I say, let's set the Big Oil monkey off the people's backs; drill it or lose it.

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

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman stated that if you were an oil company, would you drill where there is no oil; of course not. And that is not the situation. The oil companies bid on these Federal leases. They pay for them because they believe there is oil on this acreage. The oil companies are paying rental fees on these leases. Why, because they believe they hold oil. Drill it or lose it.

I do have another comment on the gentleman's comments that he made earlier.

Mr. Speaker, monkeys do pose a disease risk. Some monkeys used as pets often carry the deadly Herpes B virus, and the CDC concludes that makaks are unsuitable as pets because of this health risk.

And the gentleman mentioned dog bites. Of course there are more dog bites, Mr. Speaker, there are 75 million dogs in the United States, but only 10,000 to 15,000 monkeys.

But every monkey bite causes unnecessary disease risk to those who are bitten.

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

Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that a bill that was approved by the Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent is suddenly objectionable to the minority. But I urge Members to support it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3702) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, to Jefferson County, Montana, for use as a cemetery, 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 yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 3702 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convey approximately 9.67 acres of land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, to Jefferson County, MT for use as a cemetery. The parcel to be conveyed to Jefferson County is currently being used for these same purposes, and is known as ``Elkhorn Cemetery.'' The conveyance will provide land to accommodate all known grave sites and any additional sites that may be outside of the concentration of known graves.

The bill also provides for the continued protection of the historic and cultural values associated with the property.

Mr. Speaker, we have no objections, and it is time to put this bill to rest.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, 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 agree to the

resolution (H. Res. 1247) supporting the goals and ideals of ``American Eagle Day'', and celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, 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 material on the resolution under consideration.

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

House Resolution 1247, as amended, celebrates the recovery of the American bald eagle, the symbol of our country displayed on American currency and government agency seals, including the seal of the United States Congress. The bald eagle's recovery is a huge success story for the Endangered Species Act and the conservation laws which preceded it.

In 1963, there were just 487 pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 States. Today, Mr. Speaker, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are an estimated 9,789 breeding pairs.

Effective August 8, 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, demonstrating that it had truly recovered. At the same time, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act continue to provide important protections for this magnificent bird.

I commend our colleague, Congressman David Davis from Tennessee, for introducing this resolution encouraging organizations and government agencies working on the conservation of endangered species to collaborate on educational information for use in our schools.

The resolution further encourages the American people to observe American Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies.

This resolution merits our support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

In that case, Mr. Speaker, I also reserve the balance of my time.

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

I would say to the gentlelady that we are here to salute the American eagle. I would say that the American eagle would not be proud that 68 million acres of Federal energy lands are being held hostage by big oil companies.

To respond to the points just made, number one, current law allows leaseholders 10 years to develop oil or gas. The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act cuts that down to 5 years. While existing leases can be canceled if leaseholders fail to comply with lease provisions, laws, or regulations, such as public safety and environmental requirements, there is no law or regulation that requires diligent development of Federal oil and gas leases.

The next point. As long as leaseholders pay the required annual rental fee, the government cannot compel diligent development of the lease lands.

Next. The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act requires oil and gas operators to diligently develop Federal oil and gas leases as is currently required of coal leaseholders. This requirement was enacted in the 1970s to

prevent coal operators from using Federal resources for speculation that would drive up prices.

And finally, no such requirement is placed on oil and gas operators. And H.R. 6251 corrects that situation.

And again, I would like to repeat, and I would say to the previous speaker, that we are here this afternoon to salute the American eagle. And I would say that the American eagle would not be proud that 68 million acres of Federal energy lands are being held hostage by big oil.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to say, as Mr. Welch stated, ANWR, everybody keeps talking about ANWR. But if you opened

ANWR today, you would not get any energy production tomorrow. You wouldn't get any for a decade or more. Whereas right now, the oil companies have 68 million acres of land available for development, and they are not exploiting them.

I don't care how much rhetoric goes on here today, there is still the 68 billion acres of land available for development. They have access to enough acreage to produce six times the amount of energy that we might get from ANWR. So again, I'll repeat over and over, ``use it or lose it.''

I urge support for House Resolution 1247.

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