Floor Statements

Under clause 2 of rule XII, bills and reports were delivered to the Clerk for printing, and bills referred as follows:

[Omitted from the Record of March 6, 2008]

Mr. RAHALL: Committee on Natural Resources. H.R. 2176. A

bill to provide for and approve the settlement of certain

land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community, with an

amendment; referred to the Committee on Judiciary for a

period ending not later than April 4, 2008, for consideration

of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within

the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(k) of

rule X (Rept. 110-541, Pt. 1). Ordered to be printed.

Mr. RAHALL: Committee on Natural Resources. H.R. 4115. A

bill to provide for and approve the settlement of certain

land claims of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa

Indians, with an amendment; referred to the Committee on

Judiciary for a period ending not later than April 4, 2008,

for consideration of such provisions of the bill and

amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee

pursuant to clause 1(k) of rule X (Rept. 110-542, Pt. 1).

Ordered to be printed.

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, or the FLAME Act.

Last year, our country saw the devastating effects of catastrophic, emergency wildland fires in southern California. For the past several years, we have witnessed tragic fire seasons that have put American lives and our

treasured public lands in harm's way. Fire seasons are getting longer and more intense due to climate change, drought, and other factors.

As a result, Federal fire suppression spending has increased substantially over the past 10 years and projections appear to indicate that this trend will continue into the foreseeable future.

The dramatic rise in these costs is eroding other nonfire programs and impacting the core mission of the Federal land management agencies. In the case of the Forest Service, for example, wildland fire suppression activities now account for approximately 48 percent of its budget. This year's alarming and irresponsible budget request from the Forest Service, which cuts over half of the funding for State and private forestry, continues the sad trend: our Forest Service is turning into the fire service.

Furthermore, both the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior have had to ``Rob Peter to Pay Paul'' by borrowing funds from other agency accounts to cover the escalating costs of wildland fire suppression. Last year, for example, the Forest Service spent $741 million more than was budgeted for wildland fire suppression, and the Department of the Interior spent $249 million more than was budgeted for wildland fire suppression. And in the case of the Forest Service, the costs of catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities account for the vast majority of suppression expenditures, as 2 percent of fires account for 80 percent of costs.

Madam Speaker, it is clear that something needs to be done to resolve this problem. That is why today I am introducing the FLAME Act.

The FLAME Act establishes a Federal FLAME fund for catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities. The FLAME fund would be separate from the budgeted and appropriated agency wildland fire suppression funding and is to be used only for catastrophic, emergency wildland fires. The Federal land management agencies will continue to fund anticipated and predicted wildland fire suppression activities within their annual budgets.

The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior may declare catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities eligible for the FLAME fund by issuing a Suppression Emergency Declaration. The declaration will evaluate the size, severity, and threat of the individual wildland fire incident.

The FLAME Act continues our stewardship of all lands by making funds available for catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities on State and private land consistent with existing agreements. Funds will also be available for catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression on Indian lands.

The FLAME Act also requires that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior submit a long-overdue report to Congress containing a cohesive wildland fire management strategy. This report will improve efforts to prevent fires on our public lands. This report will address critical fire prevention issues such as identifying a system for assessing the level of fire risk to communities, and indentifying a system to ensure that the highest priority fuels reduction projects are being funded first.

Madam Speaker, catastrophic, emergency wildland fires can cause tragic loss of life. and property. I am proud to be joined in introducing the FLAME Act today by my colleagues Mr. Norm Dicks and Mr. Raul Grijalva. I look forward to working together to ensure that our country has the necessary tools to combat catastrophic, emergency wildland fires.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1143) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National 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 resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1311) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Alta-Hualapai Site to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, for the development of a cancer treatment facility, 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 resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1311, introduced by our colleague from Nevada, Representative Shelley Berkley, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey 80 acres of land in Las Vegas, Nevada, to the nonprofit Nevada Cancer Institute. The bill also authorizes a limited conveyance to the city of Las Vegas for the development of medical facilities affiliated with the cancer institute.

I commend our colleague, Representative Berkley, for her leadership on this matter and her willingness to work with the committee to address a number of issues raised with the legislation.

I support passage of H.R. 1311 and urge its adoption by the House.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3111) 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 resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the House for its consideration this legislation that's sponsored by the former chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources and current chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Representative George Miller.

This bill provides that the Port Chicago Naval Magazine 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, 202 of whom were African American sailors, 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.

In 1992, Congress designated the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial. The pending measure furthers that commitment by providing that the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial be managed as a unit of the National Park System.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 3111, and I submit the following exchange of letters for the Record.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Armed Services,

Washington, DC, January 31, 2008.

Hon. Nick J. Rahall II,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 10, 2007, the Committee on

Natural Resources ordered H.R. 3111, the ``Port Chicago Naval

Magazine National Memorial Enhancement Act of 2007,'' to be

reported. As you know, this measure contains certain

provisions that are within the jurisdiction of the Committee

on Armed Services, and thus, was sequentially referred to the

Committee on Armed Services by the Parliamentarian for the

House.

Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 3111 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. 3111. 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 the response in your Committee's report on H.R. 3111 and

the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure

on the House floor.

Very truly yours,

Ike Skelton,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5137) to ensure that hunting remains a purpose of the New River Gorge National River.

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, the New River Gorge National River in southern West Virginia was designated as a unit of the National Park System in 1978. At times referred to as the ``Grand Canyon of the East,'' we in West Virginia refer to the Grand Canyon as the ``New River Gorge of the West.''

The national river is comprised of over 70,000 acres of mostly rugged terrain and is renowned as a destination for its world-class whitewater recreation, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities. But it is also a place where generations of West Virginians have hunted and fished.

Unfortunately, the National Park Service, as part of the development of a new general management plan for the park unit, has included a no- hunting alternative. It is doing so because legislation which establishes the New River Gorge National River states that hunting ``may'' be permitted.

The enabling statute for the nearby Gauley River National Recreation Area, on the other hand, states that hunting ``shall'' be allowed. In fact, this is the case for the vast majority of the 62 units of the National Park System in which hunting is permitted.

The bill we are considering today simply changes the ``may'' to a ``shall'' in the law which established the New River Gorge National River. While there is no doubt in my mind that the current superintendent of this park unit will do the right thing and allow hunting to continue in the final general management plan, this is too important of an issue to remain at the discretion of future managers of the park unit.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 845) recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park, 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 resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, the pending resolution, introduced by our colleague from Florida, Representative Alcee Hastings, recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Everglades National Park. It is the first of two resolutions the House is considering this afternoon in tribute to the Everglades.

The landscape of the Everglades is completely unique, a grassy river 40 miles wide and 100 miles long. While half of this wonderful landscape has been lost to agriculture, much of the remaining portions of this famed ``River of Grass'' are now protected by the Everglades National Park.

I commend and congratulate our colleague, Representative Alcee Hastings, for keeping the issues facing the Everglades in the spotlight. I fully support passage of H. Res. 845 and urge its adoption by the House today.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 807) honoring the life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion of the Florida Everglades and founder of Florida's environmental movement, 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 resolution under consideration.

Following on the heels of the resolution just considered by the House, this resolution honors the life, accomplishments, and distinguished career of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the ``Grande Dame of the Everglades,'' on the 60th anniversary of the publication of her book, The Everglades: River of Grass. House Resolution 807 was introduced by our colleague from Florida, Representative Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, and is cosponsored by every member of the Florida delegation.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas was an author, journalist, and environmental conservationist, best known for her advocacy for the preservation of the Florida Everglades. Her best known work, The Everglades: River of Grass, is considered a classic example of environmental writing and is credited with bolstering public support for preserving the Everglades as a National Park.

I support passage of H. Res. 807 and urge its adoption by the House.

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

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 816) to provide for the release of certain land from the Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area in the State of Nevada and to grant a right-of-way across the released land for the construction and maintenance of a flood control project, 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 resolution under consideration.

The pending measure was introduced by our colleague from Nevada, Representative Jon Porter. It authorizes the release of a 65- acre section of the Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area from wilderness study, to be used for construction and maintenance of a floodwater retention basin, known as the Orchard Detention Basin Project.

The proposed Orchard Detention Basin Project is a part of the Clark County Regional Flood Control District's master plan to protect the rapidly growing Las Vegas Valley. The

project is designed to shield 1,800 acres of urban land from flooding. I have no objection to passage of H.R. 816.

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

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. 3473) to provide for a land exchange with the City of Bountiful, Utah, involving National Forest System land in the Wasatch- Cache National Forest and to further land ownership consolidation in that national forest, 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 resolution under consideration.

The pending legislation is sponsored by a valuable member of the Natural Resources Committee, who is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, and who was instrumental in teaching me how to pronounce the State of Nevada's name, the gentleman from Utah, Mr. Rob Bishop.

It is my privilege to call this bill up for consideration by the House today. The measure would facilitate a land exchange between the Secretary of Agriculture and the City of Bountiful, Utah. I will leave it to the gentleman from Utah to further explain his bill. Suffice it to say that I do urge its adoption by the House.

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

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 698) commemorating the 200th anniversary of Congressional Cemetery.

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.

The pending resolution, introduced by our colleague from New York, Representative James Walsh, and cosponsored by Representative Farr of California, recognizes and honors the cultural and historical importance of Congressional Cemetery here in Washington, DC, on the occasion of its 200th anniversary.

Established on the banks of the Anacostia River, Congressional Cemetery started as a neighborhood burial ground. But with the death and interment of Connecticut Senator Uriah Tracy in 1807, it became the favored place for burial for Members of Congress who passed away while Congress was in session. Seventy-one representatives and 19 Senators are buried at Congressional Cemetery. Other prominent citizens were buried there as well, including members of the Armed Forces, Mayors of Washington, DC, well-known Native Americans, architects, and artists.

I fully support passage of H. Res. 698 and urge its adoption.

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

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1922) to designate the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and the surrounding Federal land in the State of Florida as an Outstanding Natural Area and as a unit of the National Landscape 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 resolution under consideration.

Introduced by our colleague, Representative Tim Mahoney, the pending measure would establish the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area, to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and a local working group. The lighthouse is the oldest building still standing in Palm Beach County.

The design for the elegant brick and wrought iron building was originally drawn by Lieutenant George Gordon Meade, who later gained fame as the victorious Union general at Gettysburg. The bill would set aside 126 acres surrounding the lighthouse for protection as an Outstanding Natural Area as part of the BLM's Natural Landscape Conservation System. In addition to protecting the historic property, the bill would allow BLM, the Coast Guard and their local partners to continue and enhance their long-term stewardship of the area, including several habitat restoration projects.

Representative Mahoney has done excellent work on this bill to protect and enhance a piece of the heritage of his district. I fully support passage of the legislation and urge its adoption.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4191) to redesignate Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park in the State of Ohio as ``Wright Brothers-Dunbar National Historical Park'', 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 include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4191, introduced by our colleague Representative Michael Turner of Ohio, would change the Name of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in Ohio to the Wright Brothers-Dunbar National Historical Park. The bill also sets conditions under which the Secretary of Interior may make grants to the park's partners.

A contemporary of the Wright brothers in Dayton was poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. The house that Dunbar purchased for his mother is part of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. The Wright brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar are each featured prominently at this park, and this redesignation of the park as the Wright Brothers-Dunbar National Historical Park will provide equal weight to both of these important stories.

I support passage of H.R. 4191 and urge its adoption.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 47th Anniversary of the Peace Corps and in doing so, join many others around the Nation in celebrating National Peace Corps Week. Their mission is to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women while helping to promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, as well as, a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Since the establishment of the Peace Corps by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, more than 190,000 U.S. citizens have served their country in the cause of peace by living and working in 139 developing countries. As of September 30, 2007, 8,079 Peace Corps Volunteers are currently at 68 posts serving 74 countries.

I am proud to say that two of those volunteers currently serving their country are from my district in West Virginia. Daniel J. Beck will finish up his 2 year's of service in Guinea this June, while Amelia Dulee-Kinsolving will return from Peru in September.

Peace Corps volunteers have made significant and lasting contributions around the world in agriculture, business development, information technology, education, health and HIV/AIDS, youth and the environment.

The 190,000 citizens, who have volunteered to serve their country since 1961, came from all walks of life and represent the best of what the United States has to offer. The work they have done over the past 47 years has played an important role in developing nations and continues to provide opportunities for people of different backgrounds to come together to serve the cause of peace.

Madam Speaker, an old mining song contains the powerful, but truthful verse:

A miner's life is like a sailor, aboard a ship to cross the

waves,

Every day his life's in danger, still he ventures, being

brave,

Unlike you or me, a miner goes to work every day, knowing

that he is placing his life in grave danger.

A miner goes underground and works with thousands of tons of dirt and rock above him. He works every day knowing that he is surrounded by dangerous, potentially fatal gases. He works in conditions that many of us would never want to have to endure, that many of us cannot even imagine.

I come from a coal mining State, where hardworking, God-fearing miners and their families have helped to forge a proud history and a culture guided by American values.

Every minute a miner is at work, he knows that he is a spark or a slip of a tool away from eternity. He knows that with a spark or slip of a tool, he will not return home that night and never see his family again.

Every minute a miner is at work, he faces gas explosions, equipment failure, roof falls, and fires. Still, as the song says, he ``ventures being brave.'' He must.

Fatality rates in our Nation's coal fields once resembled the casualty lists from the battlefields when our Nation was at war.

December 1907 is remembered in the coal fields as ``bloody December.'' On December 1, a gas explosion killed all 34 men in a mine in Fayette City, Pennsylvania. Five days later, 362 miners perished in the Monongah disaster in West Virginia--the worst industrial accident in American history. Ten days later, an explosion in Yolande, Alabama, killed 57 men. On December 19, Jacobs Creek, Pennsylvania, an explosion killed 239 miners.

Laws, safety inspections, and better, safer equipment, thank God, have helped to reduce the casualty rates among our Nation's miners. But the tragedies in 2006 at Sago and Aracoma in West Virginia reminded Americans that mining is a dangerous profession. That, ``every day his life's in danger, still he ventures, being brave.''

While facing these enormous dangers, these hard-working, patriotic Americans have continued to produce the raw materials that fueled the Industrial Revolution, the energy that heated our homes, and the resources that ensured our security. Today, miners continue to produce for the betterment of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my colleague from West Virginia, Alan Mollohan, in offering this resolution that supports the goals and ideals of a National Miner's Day to celebrate and honor the contributions that miners have made to America throughout our history.

It is a simple, yet very important way a grateful Nation can acknowledge these men and women who have done so much for us, and will continue to do even more throughout our future.