Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions and life-time achievements of Mr. Jim Beatty. He is an outstanding member of his community who has shown dedication through his endless service and volunteer efforts.

After graduating from Adams State College in Alamosa, CO, he served in the Air Force as an intelligence officer during the Korean war. Following his service in the military, Mr. Beatty used the G.I. bill to attend law school at the University of Colorado.

Soon after receiving his law degree, Mr. Beatty became senior partner at the Fisher & Beatty law office. Mr. Beatty also became very involved in the Fort Collins community. He was a member of the Fort Collins Junior Chamber of Commerce and, at age 35, was youngest president of the Rotary Club. He was also actively involved in the Fort Collins PTA and coached Little League. Mr. Beatty frequently volunteered his legal services to local service clubs and organizations.

Mr. Beatty has been actively involved in State and local politics. In the 1960's and 1970's, he served as a precinct committee person and successfully motivated every Republican in his precinct to vote.

In 1980, Mr. Beatty was elected to the Colorado State Senate, where he served until 1988. During his time in the State Senate, Mr. Beatty proved himself to be an intelligent and very effective legislator. He served as chair or vice-chair of eight legislative committees, including the Judiciary, Finance, Legal Affairs, Appropriations, and Joint Budget committees.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent Mr. Beatty in Congress and I am very grateful for his unselfish and prolific service to his community. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the many contributions and achievements of Mr. Jim Beatty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero, Durward Lee ``Swede'' Reyman. Swede quit high school a week after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, at the age of 18. He volunteered to join the Army Air Corps to protect and defend the country he dearly loves.

After serving in various locations in the United States he was trained for Arctic Search and Rescue and was sent to serve 1 year in northern Quebec, Canada, where he was responsible for driving sled dogs. Upon returning to the States he volunteered for the paratroops and was assigned to the Army Parachute Infantry. He completed jump training in February of 1945 in Fort Benning, GA. Swede was then sent to the Pacific as part of the 11th Airborne, 188th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion where he made a combat jump on Luzon Island in the Philippines. Swede made a total of seven jumps during his time in the military.

Following the drop of atomic bombs in Japan in 1945, Swede's unit was the first to set foot in the country of Japan. They served as the Honor Guard for GEN Douglas MacArthur during his arrival in Japan.

Following the war, Swede returned home and married his sweetheart Hope, and together they raised four sons, D.L. Junior, William Craig, James Mark, and Jeffrey Charles. Jeffery served 4 years in the United States Air Force.

Swede has been actively involved in ceremonies marking the anniversaries of World War II events. He went to France for the 50th anniversary of D-Day in June 1994 and made a jump with several other WWII survivors. Additionally he made jumps in Russia and Australia in 1995 in ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of V-EDay.

Swede's favorite phrase that he says to himself daily is ``They gave their tomorrows for our todays.'' He doesn't know who to attribute this quote to, but he states that it always makes him think of the cemeteries full of veterans who died and were buried far from home. They had bravely fought and died for our freedoms.

Today I am proud to honor Swede for his courage, patriotism, and service to our Nation. He helped protect our democracy and kept our homeland safe by placing his life on the line. Swede truly is the embodiment of all the values that have molded America into the great Nation it is today.

Mr. Speaker, we maintain the blessings of our freedoms only because we have citizens like Swede Reyman who are willing to fight to defend them for us. It is for these reasons Swede deserves the very highest praise and deep appreciation from the residents of Colorado and from this esteemed body.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Harry and Darla Wyeno who were recently honored with the Crowley County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award. The Wyenos were described as making community service a labor of love. They have worked tirelessly for the benefit and promotion of Crowley County.

The Olney Springs couple was recognized for the volunteer work they do within the county, but especially for the work they do as members of the Crowley Heritage Society.

Although Darla is retired, she continues serving as the Town Clerk. Harry, who is also retired, still continues to work part time at the First National Bank of Ordway.

Whenever they are not working these jobs, they can be found volunteering. Darla is probably best known for her work as the President and Chief Procurer of Crowley County. She continues to gather, archive, and present the county's history. Through her efforts, grants for the Crowley Heritage Center have been procured so much of the historical collection can be catalogued and protected for future generations to enjoy.

As President of the society Darla has made certain that all cultural and ethnic groups in the region are recognized in the local museum. The couple has also been very involved in the Chamber of Commerce for many years.

In addition, the Wyenos can be found volunteering for their church, where among other things, they have been faithful choir members for over 50 years at the United Methodist Church of Ordway.

Harry and Darla Wyeno are two people whose strengths of love, devotion and community service are wonderful examples for all of us to follow. As a Member of Congress I am proud to represent such fine citizens from Colorado's Fourth Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert ``Sonny'' Smith who was recently inducted into the Babe Ruth Baseball Hall of Fame. Babe Ruth Baseball was started as a ``grass roots'' movement in the small, rural communities of Colorado. The town of Las Animas is no exception, and like most towns, the Babe Ruth program has flourished because of the efforts and actions of volunteers like Sonny who stepped up to the plate to serve others.

Sonny's involvement with Babe Ruth began around 1982. He was the District 2 Commissioner for 10 years and then became the Assistant State Commissioner for the 15 year-old Babe Ruth program. He has held that position from 1992 to the present time.

Sonny has not just been active in Babe Ruth in his community, but in other endeavors as well. He was the Las Animas Ball Association Vice President from 1978-1980. He served as a Las Animas City Councilman from 1982-1986 and was the chairman for the Parks and Swimming Pool committees. Sonny was a member of the Las Animas School Board from 1996-2000. He has been a member of the Bent County Recreation Committee from 1978 to the present time. He served on the St. Mary's Catholic Church Council from 1988-1992, and he has served as a football, baseball, softball, and basketball official from 1978 to the present time.

One of Sonny's most notable achievements was his work on the Ad-Hoc Committee for building the new baseball field in Las Animas from 1998- 2004. This field has hosted many

area tournaments, as well as the local Babe Ruth League games.

Where does this man get the energy to accomplish these feats? I believe it comes from a strong desire to see the young people in his community and around the state have an opportunity to participate and excel in the great game of baseball.

Sonny has been a very valuable member of the Colorado Babe Ruth League, Inc. management team. His good-natured attitude and ``laid back'' style have served him well when handling issues that come up at the various levels of tournament play. He has even worked on Babe Ruth Tournaments for the Midwest Region.

Because of Sonny's love for kids and his commitment to the Babe Ruth program, he has been welcomed into the Colorado Babe Ruth Hall of Fame, and I am proud to represent such a fine individual in the U.S. Congress. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Robert ``Sonny'' Smith for his outstanding contributions to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional public servant, Mr. Scott Doyle of Fort Collins, Colorado. Throughout his tenure as Larimer County's Clerk and Recorder, Mr. Doyle has distinguished himself as an innovator and a natural leader.

Mr. Doyle was recently named the 2005 Public Official of the Year by the National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials, and Clerks. This award honors an individual who has made exceptional contributions to both his profession and community.

Two of Mr. Doyle's initiatives as County Clerk and Recorder have received particular recognition. In an effort to provide Larimer County residents more convenient access to county services, Mr. Doyle created the Citizen Information Center. The Citizen Information

Center is located on the first floor of the county courthouse and provides a one-stop-shop for many county services. Furthermore, Mr. Doyle spearheaded the development and implementation of Larimer County's innovative Vote Center concept. This concept has earned national recognition as a cost effective way of implementing the goals and requirements of the Help America Vote Act.

During Mr. Doyle's remarkable career, his commitment to public service has been unmistakable. While serving our country in the Navy, Mr. Doyle worked on nuclear submarines and for Naval Intelligence in Washington, DC. He has also served as a Wyoming State Patrol officer, Public Information Officer for the Wyoming Air and Water Quality Division, and Hazardous Waste Manager for the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Larimer County Clerk and Recorder Scott Doyle's dedication to his community and urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Doyle's unrivaled commitment to public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Rawlings Museum in Las Animas, Colorado, and to pay tribute to the man whose legacy made this dream possible.

The Pioneer Historical Museum, which celebrates the history of Bent County, will be housed in the newly restored 106-year-old Odello Lodge building. The project is being spearheaded by the local Pioneer Historical Society and the Bent County Development Foundation, and is funded by a generous gift from Robert Hoag Rawlings, publisher of the Pueblo Chieftain. The gift was given in honor of Mr. Rawlings' late father and civic leader, John W. Rawlings.

Mr. John W. Rawlings served in the Army during World War I and was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant shortly thereafter. While in the service, he met Dorothy Hoag who he married in April 1920. After Mr. Rawlings and his wife were discharged in 1919, they took residence in Monte Vista, Colorado and had three children: John William Jr., Robert Hoag, and Dorothy Louise.

In 1941, Mr. Rawlings became president of First National Bank in Las Animas and later became chairman of the board. He was active in the community and sought to promote progress in southeastern Colorado. Mr. Rawlings served as president of the Las Animas Chamber of Commerce. Moreover, Mr. Rawlings was an influential member of the Agriculture Committee of the Colorado Bankers Association and served as the president of the local Lions Club.

As the Rawlings Museum progresses and exhibits begin to open, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Mr. John W. Rawlings and honoring his lifetime of contributions to the Las Animas community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Clair Orr, a fellow Coloradan who has served with distinction on the State Board of Education. Since 1994, Clair has endeavored to provide students around the state with greater opportunity in life by obtaining high quality educations in our state's public schools. On this eight-member Board, Clair served as its Chairman and represented the 35,000-square-mile Fourth Congressional District.

Over the course of his tenure, Clair was instrumental in advancing initiatives because of his heart for service, dedication to helping students, and his ability to make tough stands for policies he knew would make a real difference.

It has been said that Clair measures his success by upholding the Colorado Revised Statutes, the U.S. Constitution, and the legal authority given to the Board. For these reasons, it is no wonder that Mr. Orr received the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of States Board Educators (NASBE) after being nominated by his colleagues in his second term.

Shortly after beginning his service on the Board, Clair Orr successfully challenged Colorado Governor Roy Romer, standing up to his proposed constitutional amendment to change the Colorado Children's Trust Fund Board. Later, in 2000, he was appointed to this Trust by Governor Bill Owens.

Because of his leadership on the Board, however, Governor Romer appointed Clair to the Principle and Administrators Standards Board as well as the Colorado Achievement Task Force.

In the wake of the devastating Columbine shooting that shook our nation, Clair Orr organized an emergency Board meeting and led the bipartisan group to take unanimous action.

Among his other notable contributions over his 11 year term were the design and implementation of the Colorado Student Assessment Program, which is now the longest-standing standards-based assessment in the country. While serving on the Board, Clair oversaw the creation of an accreditation system where the state accredits local school districts using an 11 point system, which in-turn accredit local schools.

Clair Orr helped implement the School Accountability Reports program, which was considered the largest administrative task undertaken by the Colorado Department of Education. Additionally, he played a critical role in reviewing Colorado's plan to implement President Bush's No Child Left Behind.

In addition, Clair served on the Colorado Civics Task and helped secure a multi-million dollar grant for its projects. He was also selected by other Board members to serve for four years on the Nominations Committee for the NASBE.

Throughout Colorado, Clair Orr is revered by the education community and he has received high remarks from those who he has

served alongside. Here are some of the comments of his peers:

``Mr. Orr brought both grace and wisdom to his work for the

children of Colorado. His experience, integrity and faith

informed his positions and gave meaning to his comments. On

behalf of my constituents, I thank him for his efforts to

better the education of every child. On behalf of myself and

my family, I thank him for being a stellar example of a true

public servant.''--Rico Munn, 1st Congressional District,

Colorado State Board of Education.

``Clair Orr is a kind and gentle man, one of great

integrity and conviction. I will remember him most for these

things: his insistence on abiding by the words of the

Constitution, his deep-felt admiration for the soldiers who

gave their lives for our country, his joy in reciting the

Gettysburg Address, his stories about raising his three

daughters, and his wonderful sense of humor. What I

appreciated most about working with him was that even when he

had a strong opinion about something, he was willing to

listen to others' points of view, give them serious

consideration, and compromise.''--Evie Hudak, 2nd

Congressional District, Colorado State Board of Education.

``During Clair's tenure on the Colorado State Board of

Education he never wavered in his oath of office to uphold

the Constitution of the United States, he also referred to

the Constitution quite frequently, keeping us on track.

Always the Gentleman, he demonstrated quality leadership with

strong convictions. His devotion and dedication to the

academic achievement for all of Colorado's Children was

without a doubt exemplary. The Citizens of Colorado are truly

indebted to Clair for his service on our Colorado State Board

of Education. I personally want to thank Clair for his

mentorship, leadership and most of all friendship!''--

Pamela Jo Suckla, Chairman 3rd Congressional District

Colorado State Board of Education.

``Clair Orr is a unique education leader. His special

attention to rural schools has opened doors of academic

opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Colorado youngsters.

Clair's commonsense approach to pressing issues and sweeping

changes in public education has made him a true statesman

among education leaders. Clair's example of hard work,

boundless dedication and compassion will long be the template

for how the State Board of Education operates in the

future.''--Bob Schaffer, State Board of Education and Former

U.S. Congressman, 4th Congressional District.

``CLAIR stands for: Concern for all children, not just a

few; Leadership by moving boldly forward; A passion for

service in his unwavering commitment to make Colorado schools

move towards excellence; Integrity drove every decision he

made during his eleven years on the board; Righteousness

exudes from his very presence. There was never any question

of Clair's motives.''--Peg Littleton, State Board of

Education, 5th Congressional District

``I am honored to have served my first year on the Colorado

State Board of Education with my colleague Clair Orr. As the

newest member of the board, I found that his perspective, his

respect for history and his vision for the State Board of

Education was critical to our success as an elected board and

a cohesive working group. Without his sense of history and

where we had come, we would have--and now will--lacked a

critical viewpoint in our deliberations. Clair Orr will be

sorely missed and I wish him all the best in his next

endeavors.''--Karen Middleton, State Board of Education, 7th

Congressional District.

``Clair Orr has volunteered for the state of Colorado and

its schoolchildren for eleven years on the State Board of

Education. He has served as Chairman, and was also recently

acknowledged by the National Association of State Boards of

Education for his many years of distinguished service. The

example that Mr. Orr has set raises the bar for all of us and

serves to encourage others to give back to this great

Democratic Republic. When I was first elected to the board,

Mr. Orr helped get me caught up on the many issues we faced

and always had time to help me out with questions. The state

of Colorado owes Mr. Orr a debt of gratitude for his time and

efforts.''--Jared Polis, Member-At-Large, Colorado State

Board of Education.

For Clair, though, it is not about appointments, awards or public recognition, it was about keeping students front and center. For this reason, he often traveled the hundreds of miles needed in order to speak at town hall meetings, meet with parents, hear from school boards, and visit with educators around Northern and Southeastern Colorado. Mr. Orr utilized the media to get his message out. He had regularly scheduled radio appearances and frequently wrote editorials for the many small town papers throughout the district.

Clair Orr is also a dedicated family man and a successful business man. He has been married over 30 years to his wife Deb and has three grown daughters. Clair is a native Colorado resident and a fourth generation farmer. Mr. Orr is founder and is Chief Executive Officer of Agtown Technologies, which specializes in water accounting programs and web development for agro-businesses. One of his top clients is the renowned Western Stock Show. He also is a real estate broker who specializes in water rights sales as well as farms and ranches.

In 2004, Clair was nominated by the Northern Colorado Business Report as an Emerging Entrepreneur. In 2003, he was named Businessman of the Year by the National Republican Committee. In 2002, he was appointed to the Presidential Business Commission.

As a former member of the Board of Education in Morgan County, Colorado, I have seen Clair Orr work firsthand, and I have witnessed his drive to improve the quality of teaching in Colorado's classrooms. Mr. Speaker, I ask that this legislative body recognize the talents and successes of Mr. Clair Orr and join me in congratulating him on two successful and challenging terms as a State Education Board member.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert ``Sonny'' Smith who was recently inducted into the Babe Ruth Baseball Hall of Fame. Babe Ruth Baseball was started as a ``grass roots'' movement in the small, rural communities of Colorado. The town of Las Animas is no exception, and like most towns, the Babe Ruth program has flourished because of the efforts and actions of volunteers like Sonny who stepped up to the plate to serve others.

Sonny's involvement with Babe Ruth began around 1982. He was the District 2 Commissioner for 10 years and then became the Assistant State Commissioner for the 15 year-old Babe Ruth program. He has held that position from 1992 to the present time.

Sonny has not just been active in Babe Ruth in his community, but in other endeavors as well. He was the Las Animas Ball Association Vice President from 1978-1980. He served as a Las Animas City Councilman from 1982-1986 and was the chairman for the Parks and Swimming Pool committees. Sonny was a member of the Las Animas School Board from 1996-2000. He has been a member of the Bent County Recreation Committee from 1978 to the present time. He served on the St. Mary's Catholic Church Council from 1988-1992, and he has served as a football, baseball, softball, and basketball official from 1978 to the present time.

One of Sonny's most notable achievements was his work on the Ad Hoc Committee for building the new baseball field in Las Animas from 1998- 2004. This field has hosted many area tournaments, as well as the local Babe Ruth League games.

Where does this man get the energy to accomplish these feats? I believe it comes from a strong desire to see the young people in his community and around the state have an opportunity to participate and excel in the great game of baseball.

Sonny has been a very valuable member of the Colorado Babe Ruth League, Inc. management team. His good-natured attitude and

``laid back'' style have served him well when handling issues that come up at the various levels of tournament play. He has even worked on Babe Ruth Tournaments for the Midwest Region.

Because of Sonny's love for kids and his commitment to the Babe Ruth program, he has been welcomed into the Colorado Babe Ruth Hall of Fame, and I am proud to represent such a fine individual in the U.S. Congress. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Robert ``Sonny'' Smith for his outstanding contributions to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cardon and Joyce Berry, the 2005 4-H Meritorious Service Award winners. At the 2005 Kiowa County 4-H Achievement Banquet on Friday, November 4, 2005 the Meritorious Service Award was presented to a couple that believe in the 4-H program and the benefits and opportunities it offers to youth. They were both ten-year 4-H members and have devoted numerous years as leaders. They raised two children who were very active in 4-H and are now assisting their grandchildren who are active members in a local club today.

The Berrys made an important decision to have their children participate in 4-H, knowing how much it had meant in their youth. Cardon grew up in Kiowa County and raised his own family in the same home in which he had lived. The 4-H Club he participated in was no more, but the community had once again found itself with many youngsters. The Berrys helped to reinstate the Prairie Queen 4-H Club for the kids who benefited from the experience.

The Berry family is faithful in attending numerous 4-H activities, and have sponsored many trophies over the years. They are both active in many different civic roles within Kiowa County and they make their community a better place.

I am honored to be representing Cardon and Joyce Berry in the U.S. Congress. Individuals like this make 4-H and the youth who participate a valuable asset to the community. I'm sure Kiowa County will be blessed for many more years because of the selflessness of the Berry Family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the patriotism and heroism of Mr. Mel King.

Mr. King served with distinction in the Army Air Corp during the harrowing days of the Second World War. As a B-17 crew member in the 815th Squadron of the 483 Bombardment Group, Mr. King and his fellow crew members played an integral role in the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany.

The crew of the Good Deal formed in November 1943 with Mr. Melbourne King of Crook, CO as one of the thirteen member crew, which included Paul E. Ray, Warren O. Griffin, Carl B. Hardy, Gerald Kramer, Foster F. Knight, James I. Korshak, Walter J. Gladieux, August O. Bresciz, Theodore Engelun, Fred A. Clark, Jr., Robert J. Dalzin, and John M. Spear.

On April 12, 1944 Mr. King and the crew of the Good Deal participated in their first mission to Split, Yugoslavia. In the following months, the crew of the Good Deal saw action over Toulon, Milan, Weiner Neustadt, Vienna, Budapest, Blechhammer, Ploesti, and Memmingen.

Despite the fact that fourteen of twenty-six American B-17s were lost over the German town of Memmingen on July 18, 1944, Mr. King and his crewmates successfully downed seven German fighters.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of Mr. King's distinguished service and humbled by his courageous patriotism. The sacrifices he and the men of the Good Deal made to ensure the liberty and freedom of future generations will never be forgotten. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Melbourne D. Ring and the crew of the Good Deal.

Mr. Speaker, in July of this year, I introduced H.R. 3443, a bill authorizing the transfer of title of three Colorado-Big Thompson projects single-purpose water conveyance facilities from the United States to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.

The Colorado-Big Thompson project is one of the largest and most complex natural resource developments undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation. The transmountain water diversion system consists of over 100 integrated structures and provides multiple benefits to the people of my district. This project spreads over approximately 250 miles in the State of Colorado. It stores, regulates and diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Continental Divide to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains.

The project diverts approximately 260,000-acre feet of water annually from the Colorado River headwaters on the western slope to the Big Thompson River, a South Platte River tributary on the eastern slope, for distribution to farming and communities.

The water system is vital to the people of my district. It provides drinking, irrigation and recreational waters. Without this water system, many cities and towns in my district could not exist.

The water that the Colorado-Big Thompson project diverts from the western slope travels through a series of storage reservoirs, pumping plants, tunnels and hydroelectric generating plants until it enters one of the two eastern slope terminal storage reservoirs, Horsetooth and Carter Lake Reservoirs.

From these terminal storage reservoirs, the water is delivered to water users through distribution facilities. These distribution facilities consist of single-purpose water conveyance facilities located downstream from the two terminal storage facilities.

The Northern Colorado Water Conservation District has been responsible for these facilities since the project was operational in 1957. The District has proven to be a faithful steward of operation, maintenance and administration of the conveyance facilities. The three facilities that would be conveyed to the District by this legislation are the St. Vrain Supply Canal, the Boulder Creek Supply Canal and the South Platte Supply Canal.

This bill is very similar to legislation passed by my predecessor, Representative Bob Schaffer, in 2000, which transferred four single- purpose water conveyance facilities of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project located downstream of the Horsetooth Reservoir. This legislation would complete the transfer of all the single-purpose water conveyance facilities within the project. This transfer would allow the District to more cost-effectively manage the facility and reduce the burdensome bureaucracy of the Federal Government. The District has met its financial obligation of repayment of capital costs, and the title transfer is now appropriate. I believe that this transfer is in the best interest of the constituents of my district.

I would like to thank Chairman Pombo and his staff for moving this bill so quickly through the Resources Committee, with special thanks to Kiel Weaver for his assistance on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 584) to require the Secretary of the Interior to allow the continued occupancy and use of certain land and improvements within Rocky Mountain National Park, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1564) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain

buildings and lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, to the Yakima- Tieton Irrigation District.

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 bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 1564, sponsored by our colleague Doc Hastings, conveys 9 acres of federally owned land and administrative buildings to the Yakima- Tieton Irrigation District in Washington State. No project facilities such as dams, diversion structures, or canals are included in this title transfer.

The transfer has been in the works for almost a decade. This legislation, also introduced by the junior Senator from Washington, will enhance more private ownership and decrease the Federal Government's liability. It is a win for the local community and a win for the American taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, 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 pass the bill (H.R. 1972) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of including in the National Park System certain sites in Williamson County, Tennessee, relating to the Battle of Franklin, 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 bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 1972, introduced by Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, would direct the Secretary of the Interior to determine the suitability and feasibility of including sites related to the Battle of Franklin into the National Park System. This study area will include the cities of Brentwood, Franklin, Triune, Thompson's Station and Spring Hill, Tennessee. The Secretary will determine if the sites within the study area have national significance and if they may be included in an existing national park or another federally designated unit.

I urge adoption of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3507) to transfer certain land

in Riverside County, California, and San Diego County, California, from the Bureau of Land Management to the United States to be held in trust for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, and for other purposes.

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 bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3507 is a noncontroversial bill to transfer two parcels of public land to the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians. Located in Riverside County, California, these lands total 991 acres in size.

The lands subject to the transfer are currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management, but they contain archaeological, cultural and wildlife resources that are extremely valuable to the tribe.

In the last Congress, the Resources Committee held a hearing on a similar bill to transfer the same lands. In this hearing, both the tribe and the Interior Department testified that these lands belong in Tribal ownership.

After reporting that legislation, it was learned that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had certain concerns relating to the management and use of the lands, and Congress adjourned before the problem could be resolved. These concerns have been addressed through a memorandum of understanding between the tribe and the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the sponsor of last year's bill has introduced H.R. 3507 to reference the MOU.

Because the lands are part of the Pechanga's ancient heritage, the tribe has adopted a resolution to zone them for conservation purposes. To reinforce the Tribe's intent, this bill requires the tribe to use the properties only for the protection and preservation of cultural, archaeological and wildlife resources.

The Pechanga Tribe should be commended for seeking to care for lands that are so important to preserving the heritage of its tribal members. In this spirit, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3507.

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

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