Floor Statements

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I rise to address the House today in support of my amendment to H.R. 5 to amend the McCarran-Ferguson Act. This act exempts the business of insurance from many Federal antitrust laws. In this modern day and age, it is hard to see why this exemption still persists.

One of the original reasons to carve this exemption for the industry, which dates all the way back to 1945, was that insurance companies needed to share actuarial information in order to balance risk when setting premiums. However, since 1945, our Federal law has evolved to include safe harbors to permit companies to share this data as needed. I believe that violations of antitrust law cannot always be dealt with on the State level anymore as cash-strapped States lack the resources to enforce the law against these large, multi-state insurance companies. Therefore, it is time for this exemption to be repealed so that we can empower health insurance companies to compete more aggressively for the consumer dollar, increase competition, increase

insurance options, empower patients to a patient-centered system, and they decrease premiums. Therefore, we all win.

Lowering the cost of health insurance is a goal we should all share. That is why the House passed a very similar measure, H.R. 4626, with over 400 votes in 2010.

There is one key difference between H.R. 4626 and this amendment, a difference of which I am proud. My amendment includes a prohibition on class action lawsuits in Federal court against these health insurance companies.

The FTC should have the power to investigate bad actors in the health insurance industry, but it helps no one if these companies--or for that matter, any American businesses--get mired in lawsuits that will cost millions. Class action lawsuits often result in big bucks in attorney fees for greedy trial attorneys, while leaving only pennies in the hands of plaintiffs who are allegedly wronged in the first place.

For example, let's take the Cobell settlement. Fifteen years ago, a group of Native Americans sued the Federal Government and Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, for mismanagement of their funds and won a $3.4 billion settlement only to find out that their attorneys were petitioning the judge for over $200 million in fees. This is outrageous.

When the poorest of poor are wronged in this country and are awarded a settlement in court, they shouldn't have to split pennies amongst themselves as their lawyers walk away with a big fat check. That is the spirit behind the tort reform piece of my amendment. I am pleased to see this House ready to pass significant tort reform today and encourage all my colleagues to support my amendment as well as the underlying bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

We failed to realize that what we did here in repeal of McCarran-Ferguson is the FTC. It is the FTC. It is the FTC and the Department of Justice.

Right now, privately, yes, you're right. Without the repeal of McCarran-Ferguson, there is more coming from the private aspect, but that's because we have limited the Federal oversight in the FTC and the Department of Justice.

This compromise is weighted very carefully to make sure that we get back to a balance, both Federal and State, and does not oversee the states' rights as well.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Once again, I want to make sure that everybody understands that you're giving Federal oversight of collusion and monopoly. In class action lawsuits, what you're doing is not giving it all away, but you're limiting the vast improprieties that occur right now with class action.

This is carefully manipulated so that we're moving the balance down the field and it balances it out with competition and having some oversight over our jurisdiction of judgements that are impugned with class action. Class action has gotten way out of line, and most American people do understand that classification.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bill Congressman Tipton and I have worked closely on, H.R. 2842, the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011.

Arizona has been hit hard by the recent recession. The rural counties that I represent are faced with unemployment rates that far exceed the national average. This bill could provide a little of the much-needed relief for these communities.

The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and

Rural Jobs Act of 2011 is commonsense legislation that will create jobs in rural Arizona, increase our country's renewable energy portfolio, and generate revenues for the Federal Treasury by cutting duplicative, bureaucratic redtape.

Specifically, it would allow Arizonans that operate existing irrigation canals and ditch systems, man-made canals and pipes as you can see from here, to install hydropower generators. To be clear, we are not talking about free-flowing rivers or streams. These are man- made structures that have already gone through environmental review. These canals, as you can see, do not contain endangered fish or wildlife.

I worked very closely with the Irrigation & Electrical Districts Association of Arizona, the special districts, municipalities, Indian utility authorities and project managers that are engaged in the management and delivery of water and power in my State as Congressman Tipton and I crafted this legislation.

I am proud to be from a State that is as innovative and as resourceful as Arizona. Our State is a leader in developing safe ways to tap into our natural resources, which provides much-needed energy and jobs.

Unfortunately, due to Federal constraints, Arizona is unable to fully tap its hydroelectric power generation potential because of the duplicative regulations that make it too expensive and burdensome to develop. It is simply the failure of the Federal policies to facilitate an environment that is conducive to this type of development. Instead of working with communities that share common goals and values, the Federal Government is dictating to them.

The experts on the ground in Arizona say that we are literally sitting on a hydropower gold mine waiting for the needed clarifications and streamlining that will cut costs and make this program more attractive.

This bill does just that. For example, the Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage District, located in Pinal County, Arizona, estimates that it has the capacity to build 14 to 17 hydropower units if this legislation is signed into law. Those units could generate a total of approximately 2,200 kilowatts of renewable energy, which is enough electricity to power 550 to 1,000 homes. This is just one of the power managers in my State.

Another district, the Central Irrigation and Drainage District centered in Eloy, Arizona, has indicated they could install eight to 10 hydropower units with a capacity of 1,200 to 1,500 kilowatts of renewable energy, another 500 or so homes. These economic impacts are not small for these rural communities. They would provide a real economic boost and will reduce consumer energy costs.

There is not one solution to our Nation's energy crisis, but hydropower is clearly part of an overall all-options-on-the-table solution. Hydropower is the highest source of noncarbon-emitting energy in the world. It accounts for approximately 70 percent of the United States' total renewable electricity generation, and we are not even tapping the potential. Investing in hydropower infrastructure will strengthen our economy and help move us towards energy independence.

To top it off, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that our bill will generate $5 million in Federal revenue over the next 10 years. Increased revenues from the sale of this renewable energy can result in a new source of funding for operating, maintaining, and rehabilitating our aging water-delivery infrastructure at lower costs to farmers.

This legislation is truly a win-win for the American people and is exactly the type of legislation this House should be passing.

Vote ``yes'' on this bill, the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011. It will create jobs in rural America, increase U.S. energy independence, and raise revenue for the U.S. Treasury.

So I guess the opponents of this bill are right: if commonsense solutions are your cup of tea, then I guess I can't help myself. And this is at no--let me repeat myself and this fact--this renewable energy is at no cost to the taxpayer or the public.

I move to strike the last word, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I rise against the amendment from the gentlelady from California.

In fact, I want to highlight two of the Arizona witnesses who have some of the most applicable understanding of this hydropower bill.

The first person I would like to quote is Mr. Bob Lynch, in which he testified:

We need Congress to streamline the processes both for

reclamation facilities and for non-Federal facilities. This

companion enterprise will open up the West to a whole new

product line of small hydropower facilities that can tap the

energy in flowing water that is currently being wasted. If

the red tape can be cut down, the cost of installing these

units can be amortized. These are existing facilities and

will have no impact other than to provide additional clean,

renewable hydropower in small quantities all over the Western

United States.

The second person I would like to highlight is Mr. Grant Ward, who represents one of these districts in which he testified how the permitting costs of $50,000 for every small conduit hydropower unit in his area are more expensive than the actual installation of $20,000.

So here we hear from Mr. Bob Lynch representing the Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association in Arizona, someone who has countless decades of experience and expertise in these issues, as well as Mr. Grant Ward, who experienced this on the ground level, dictating exactly their testimony.

So I rise in opposition to this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding to me.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Pro-Growth Budgeting Act brought today by my friend and colleague Congressman Tom Price. This good piece of legislation is a commonsense solution to the growing debt and deficit causing concern among many Arizonans.

While I may be new to D.C. and the Halls of Congress, I am not new to the impacts of Federal regulations and the devastating effects of Congress' ability to live within its means. As a dentist and a small business owner for over 25 years, I faced the uncertainty of additional tax and regulatory burdens because the Federal Government failed to do long-term planning.

This bill states that the Congressional Budget Office provide Members of Congress an analysis of the real and long-term effects that a piece of legislation would have on the economy. This, my friends, should be a no-brainer. It is a necessary step towards taking and regaining fiscal sanity in this Nation. Making wise decisions starts by being properly informed on the facts and the information.

Again, I support this legislation, and I encourage the passage of this good bill today.

Thank you, Dr. Benishek. Thank you for having this opportunity through these Special Orders.

I've got a unique perspective of looking at health care through a dentist's eyes, something that has stayed market based and stayed very inflationary neutral.

But before I do that, what I wanted to do is touch on my colleague, Ms. Buerkle, in regards to hospitals.

I come from rural Arizona and more important aspects of hospital care is our rural hospitals and the solvency that we're seeing with them. They've taken an undue burden because we destroyed the patient-doctor relationship, the integral aspects of all the doctors with specialties and with the hospital.

Many of the hospitals that I've been working with are finding that it's going to be insolvent very, very quickly; and, therefore, our safety net is going to be gone.

We need to look no further to see government-run health care, particularly the longest-standing health care, and that's Native American health care. We see how detrimental it actually is. We have actually seen a group of people that are so despondent about the way government has taken care of their health care that they've invoked a clause called the self-determination act, in which they are taking back their health care needs within their communities, patient based, community based, preventive based.

These are some of the things that we as health care professionals really support and really tried to build upon. We can look no further than our Native American friends to see how we can actually start that capacity of rebuilding.

Second of all, we've talked about it briefly, and that is the modality of increased competition. This is a place that the Federal Government can actually help us and intercede. We all, as professionals, can work as collusive bodies, in unison, price fixing. But insurance companies certainly do that, and this is where we can actual level the playing field by our Federalist papers to allow open competition and vertical competition against each other across State lines.

This gives us the opportunity to have many more opportunities for the marketplace. That gives us the opportunity, consumer based, so that my needs may be different. For example, I'm allergic to wheat. I need to take care of myself. I need to be able to have an opportunity if I want wellness checks, if I want to see. I have different riders for lymphomas, all those different things I need to have the opportunity for. And that gives me the playing field on which I can play, particularly when there's more options out there. We're competing against each other and State lines.

Like my good friend from Louisiana talked about, State laws that almost give a monopoly to certain insurers within a State. This is the opportunity to open those doors and start to bypass the ERISA laws, opening up the competition model so that we all have an opportunity. You know, there was a conversation that was taking place, but we've lost it. Instead of a single-payer, how about a single-pool?

Here's our opportunity to make sure that we've got great competition within the marketplace. Dentist, no, because we compete that way. You know,

once upon a time insurance wanted to take over dentistry. There is an insurer called Delta Dental, and it was dentistry that was actually building insurers basically for the patients.

That's how we became the marketplace, opportunity. This gave us the opportunity that everybody got to choose and pick, and those are the things we have to look at.

Last but not least, all parts of this, this government-run health care, we need to really point at a vibrant economy. No closer do we have to look at this discussion than the withholding tax. Part of this money goes into the Social Security fund but also into Medicare. When we don't have a vibrant economy, we don't have the money going into our health care portfolio.

This is why it's all integrated. This isn't one separate entity. It's all integrated into a Nation that has a vibrant economy; and that's where we have to poignantly look, establish a new playing field, open up the rules, even get tort reform.

And we can learn from our States. This is one where one size doesn't fit all, but we can work with a value: what happens in Texas, what would happen in California. How about mediation that all medical malpractice cases have to go to mediation before they can go to court.

Isn't that magical? That's exactly what happens in Oregon. These are opportunities to take the brightest pieces across this country and putting them together and working it on the basis for patient preference, allowing them to pick. There's nothing more dear to somebody than their health care.

I'd like to thank my good friend, Mr. Benishek, for putting this together.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act brought today by my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Kristi Noem.

This good piece of legislation is a commonsense solution to a bureaucratic problem that is causing concern among many Arizonans. It's almost unfathomable to think that this legislation is necessary to protect Arizona against Federal bureaucrats who want to regulate dust, but here we are. That's exactly what the EPA is doing with its overreaching policies, holding individuals and businesses accountable for naturally occurring dust particles.

I stand here today to raise my voice against the unreasonable Federal regulations which would allow simple haboobs, dust clouds, and wind storms to pose an economic threat to the economic livelihood of farmers in and around my district.

It is important to also note that this bill covers dust which has been found to have no adverse human health effects.

Also notable among this bill's many supporters are the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation, the Arizona Cattle Feeders' Association, the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, the Arizona Cotton Growers Association, and the National Cattlemen's Association.

Again, I support this legislation and encourage you to pass this good bill today.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for joining me this evening to talk about a very special group of veterans, the Navajo Code Talkers. Tonight, my colleagues and I are going to share their stories and highlight the amazing accomplishments of this group of warriors. Their contribution to the Allied effort during World War II is widely credited with winning the Battle of Iwo Jima and making majors gains in the Pacific.

During the early months of World War II, Japanese intelligence experts broke every code the U.S. forces devised. The Japanese were able to decode and intercept communications with ease. To combat this, increasingly complex codes were initiated that sometimes took hours at a time simply to decipher one message. Guadalcanal in 1942 was a turning point for the Allied military forces, who realized that the military communications needed a new direction, and new inspiration.

Fortunately, an innovative citizen named Philip Johnston had the answer. As the son of a Protestant missionary, Johnston had grown up on the Navajo reservation and was one of less than 30 non-Navajos fluent in the unique Navajo language. He realized that since it had no alphabet and was almost impossible to master without early exposure, the Navajo language was a perfect choice to form a new, impenetrable military code. In 1942, Johnston completed an impressive demonstration of the Navajo language to the Commanding General of the Pacific fleet headquartered in San Diego. He was then given permission to begin a pilot for the Navajo Code Talker program, and I would like to submit his letter dated March 8, 1942, for the Record.

Headquarters, Amphibious Force,

Pacific Fleet, Camp Elliott,

San Diego, CA, March 6, 1942

Subject: Enlistment of Navaho Indians.

To: The Commandant,

U.S. Marine Corps.

Enclosures: (A) Brochure by Mr. Philip Johnston, with maps.

(B) Messages used in demonstration.

1. Mr. Philip Johnston of Los Angeles recently offered his

services to this force to demonstrate the use of Indians for

the transmission of messages by telephone and voice-radio.

His offer was accepted and the demonstration was held for the

Commanding General and his staff.

2. The demonstration was interesting and successful.

Messages were transmitted and received almost verbatim. In

conducting the demonstration messages were written by a

member of the staff and handed to the Indian; he would

transmit the message in his tribal dialect and the Indian on

the other end would write them down in English. The text of

messages as written and received are enclosed. The Indians do

not have many military terms in their dialect so it was

necessary to give than a few minutes, before the

demonstration, to improvise words for dive-bombing, anti-tank

gun, etc.

3. Mr. Johnston stated that the Navaho is the only tribe in

the United States that has not been infested with German

students during the past twenty years. These Germans,

studying the various tribal dialects under the guise of art

students, anthropologists, etc., have undoubtedly attained a

good working knowledge of all tribal dialects except Navaho.

For this reason the Navaho is the only tribe available

offering complete security for the type of work under

consideration. It is noted in Mr. Johnston's article

(enclosed) that the Navaho is the largest tribe but the

lowest in literacy. He stated, however, that 1,000--if that

many were needed--could be found with the necessary

qualifications. It should also be noted that the Navaho

tribal dialect is completely unintelligible to all other

tribes and all other people, with the possible exception of

as many as 28 Americans who have made a study of the dialect.

This dialect is thus equivalent to a secret code to the

enemy, and admirably suited for rapid, secure communication.

4. It is therefore recommended that an effort be made to

enlist 200 Navaho Indians for this force. In addition to

linguistic qualifications in English and their tribal dialect

they

should have the physical qualifications for messengers.

Clayton B. Vogel,

Commanding General.

Their elite unit was formed in early 1942 when the first of the 29 Navajo Code Talkers were recruited by Johnston. The code was modified and improved throughout the war, but it is so important to note that these 29 Navajo heroes came up with the original code themselves. Accordingly, they are often referred to reverently as the ``original 29.'' We will have the honor of reading their names a bit later this evening.

Many of these enlistees were just boys with little exposure to the world outside of the Navajo reservation. After the war, it was discovered that recruits as young as 15 and as old as 35 years of age had enlisted. In fact, a few of these men traveled to other towns on the reservation, outside their clan where no one knew them and their true age, in order to enlist underage and serve their country.

After sailing through basic training, the Navajo Code Talkers were sent to Marine divisions in the Pacific theater of World War II. Their reputation as innovators soon spread far and wide amongst their commanding officers. In the field, they were not allowed to write any part of the code down as a reference. In fact, the code existed only amongst this small group. Under high pressure battle conditions, the Code Talkers had to quickly recall their code accurately, or risk hundreds or thousands of lives.

Make no mistake about the gravity of this accomplishment. The Navajo Code Talkers created the only unbroken code in modern military history. It baffled the Japanese forces. It was even indecipherable to a Navajo soldier taken prisoner and tortured on Bataan.

The secret code created by the Navajo Code Talkers was a simple marvel of linguistic invention. It contained native terms that were associated with specialized or commonly used military language, as well as native terms that represented letters in the alphabet.

English words with no Navajo translation were spelled out using the Navajo alphabet. The selection of a given term was based on the first letter of the English meaning of the Navajo word. For words that did not translate into Navajo, the Code Talkers created code that did not directly translate, but tended to resemble the things with which they are associated. For example, the Navajo word for ``iron fish'' represented submarine. I could give many more examples, but I think that one is particularly poignant. To say ``America,'' the Code Talkers used the word ``ne-he-mah,'' which means ``our mother.''

This brilliant code allowed our U.S. Marines to communicate quickly and accurately. The Code Talkers' brave work is widely credited with successes of battle in the Pacific and, more ultimately, with helping to end this tragic war.

In the battle for Iwo Jima, in the first 48 hours alone they coded over 800 transmissions with perfect accuracy.

While the true heroism of these brave warriors is known today, sadly, the Code Talkers had to return home after the war without the heroes' welcome they deserved. Ironically, the code was such a precious asset to the U.S. military that it was classified and had to be kept secret. While the code was declassified in 1968, it took years to properly decorate those veterans. In 2001, nearly 60 years after they created their legendary code, the Navajo Code Talkers finally received their well-deserved Congressional Medals of Honor.

Today, only one original Code Talker remains, but the tradition lives on. A delegation of the Four Corners States will attempt to recognize these warriors one by one and give us their thoughts during this hour.

I would like to first recognize my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

I thank the gentleman.

I would like at this time to acknowledge my good friend from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan).

I thank the gentleman from New Mexico.

At this time I would like to recognize my good friend from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz).

I thank the gentleman from Utah.

I would like at this time to recognize my friend, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich).

I thank the gentleman from New Mexico for that find.

I would now like to acknowledge my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert).

Twenty-nine.

I thank the gentleman from Arizona.

I want to take a few moments and honor one of our own in Arizona who just recently died. It is my humble privilege to honor Allen Dale June, one of the original 29 Code Talkers. He died just recently in September of 2010 at the age of 91. He passed away of natural causes at the Veterans Hospital in Prescott, Arizona, which is in my district. He is survived by his wife and 10 children and was buried in Kaibeto, in the heart of Navajo reservation.

June, who attained the rank of sergeant, received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2001 along with other members of the original Code Talkers. When he died, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Lawrence Morgan said, ``The Navajo Nation lost a great warrior. His unique service to his country brought positive attention to the Navajo Nation. He will be missed.''

According to his wife, Virginia, June first tried to sign up for the Marines in his hometown of Kaibeto, but a recruiter told him he was too young. He then traveled to the reservation town of Chinle to enlist because he figured people there wouldn't recognize him and he could lie about his age and forge his father's signature. This dedication and determination to serve their country was common among the Code Talkers and shows character and bravery that we all should emulate.

Allen June was a humble man who did not like to brag about much, even his remarkable service as a Code Talker. However, in the last years of his life he wore his service proudly, sporting a red Navajo Code Talker cap with his name on it.

I would like to take an opportunity and see if my colleague from New Mexico would entertain a colloquy back and forth giving the roll call of the names of the 29.

Thank you, sir.

The roll call for the Navajo Code Talkers, the original 29:

Charlie Y. Begay.

Samuel Begay.

Wilsie Bitsie.

John Brown, Jr.

Benjamin Cleveland.

David Curley.

George H. Dennison.

Carl N. Gorman.

Allen Dale June.

Johnny R. Manuelito.

Chester Nez.

Lloyd Oliver.

Frank Danny Pete.

Harry Tsosie.

William Dean Wilson.

Does my friend have any further comments?

I thank the gentleman from New Mexico for his contribution.

I would also like to start by going through the further list of the Navajo Code Talkers in the honor roll:

Navajo Code Talker list

Confirmed by Marine Corps, as of 17 July 2001

1. Akee, Dan 818638

2. Anthony, Franklin 990074

3. Apache, Jimmie 936773

4. Arviso, Bennie 894438

5. Ashike, Earl 990140

6. Ashley, Regis 894674

7. Attikai, Harold 990084

8. Augustine, John 894402

9. Ayze, Lewis 990075

10. Bahe, Henry 479876

11. Bahe, Woody 875423

12. Baldwin, Benjamin 818564

13. Beard, Harold 894537

14. Becenti, Roy L. 831055

15. Bedoni, Sidney 479771

16. Begay, Carlos 818566

17. Begay, Charlie Sosie 830976

18. Begay, Flemming 830977

19. Begay, George 990132

20. Begay, Henry 990142

21. Begay, Jerry C. 830979

22. Begay, Joe 990094

23. Begay, Lee 990116

24. Begay, Leo 990126

25. Begay, Leonard 990210

26. Begay, Notah 875405

27. Begay, Paul 479917

28. Begay, Samuel H. 358525

29. Begay, Thomas H. 537144

30. Begay, Walter 990073

31. Begay, Willie K.1000016

32. Begay, Wilson J. 894417

33. Begody, David M. 990209

34. Begody, Roger 875422

35. Belinda, Wilmer 875407

36. Belone, Harry 936837

37. Benallie, Jimmie D. 964665

38. Benally, Harrison Lee 1000075

39. Benally, Harry 894507

40. Benally, Jimmie L. 831045

41. Benally, Johnson D. 875371

42. Benally, Samuel 1000078

43. Benton, Sr., Willie 830980

44. Bernard, John 875276

45. Betone, Lloyd 830963

46. Bia, Andrew 990072

47. Billey, Wilfred 830982

48. Billie, Ben 1000045

49. Billiman, Howard 521004

50. Billison, Samuel (Dr.) 831074

51. Billy, Sam Jones 830981

52. Bitsie, Peter J. 1000037

53. Bitsoie, Delford 990061

54. Bizardie, Jesse 875495

55. Black, Jesse 990205

56. Blatchford, Paul 818633

57. Bluehorse, David M. 831043

58. Bowman, John Henry 403099

59. Bowman, Robert 936938

60. Brown, Arthur 990125

61. Brown, Clarence Paul 990088

62. Brown, Tsosie Herman 990202

63. Brown, William Tully 990109

64. Buck, Wilford 1000019

65. Burke, Bobby 894411

66. Burnie, Jose 1000100

67. Burnside, Francis 548184

68. Burr, Sandy 830984

69. Cadman, William 936839

70. Calleditto, Andrew 448919

71. Carroll, Oscar Tsosie 894622

72. Cattle Chaser, Dennis 479729

73. Cayedito, Del 830985

74. Cayedito, Ralph 830986

75. Charley, Carson Bahe 894600

76. Charlie, Sam 990199

77. Chase, Frederick 479873

78. Chavez, George 831098

79. Chee, Guy 990200

80. Clah, Stewart 965051

81. Claw, Thomas 818547

82. Cleveland, Billie 521016

83. Cleveland, Ned 894519

84. Cody, Leslie 479834

85. Cohoe, James Charles 416497

86. Craig, Bob Etcitty 830988

87. Crawford, Karl Kee 478278

88. Cronemeyer, Walter 990201

89. Crosby, Billy 990035

90. Csinnjinni, Carl 416351

91. Dale, Ray 448911

92. Damon, Anson C. 990227

93. Davis, Tully 875378

94. Deel, Martin Dale 818563

95. Dehiya, Dan 830989

96. Dennison, Leo 990107

97. Dodge, Jerome Cody 894478

98. Doolie, John 830990

99. Doolie, Richardson 479723

100. Draper, Nelson 990098

101. Draper, Teddy Sr. 875345

102. Etsicitty, Kee 830991

103. Etsitty, Deswood 875304

104. Evans, Harold 990097

105. Foghorn, Ray 830992

106. Francisco, Jimmy 818625

107. Gatewood, Joseph P. 479889

108. George, William 894441

109. Gishal, Milton M. 875283

110. Gleason, Jimmie 894446

111. Goodluck, John 830933

112. Gorman, Tom 818627

113. Grayson, Bill L. 990052

114. Greymountain, Yazzie 894538

115. Guerito, Billy Lewis 830994

116. Gustine, Tully 830995

117. Guy, Charles 875406

118. Harding, Ben Williams 990091

119. Harding, Jack W. 479888

120. Hardy, Tom 894628

121. Harrison, Emmett 894479

122. Haskie, Ross 358587

123. Hawthorne, Roy Orville 990027

124. Haycock, Bud 990196

125. Hemstreet, Leslie 936840

126. Henry, Albert 830996

127. Henry, Edmund Juan 830997

128. Henry, Kent Carl 936779

129. Hickman, Dean Junian 990103

130. Holiday, Calvin 990198

131. Holiday, Samuel Tom 818614

132. Housewood, Johnson 448907

133. Housteen, Dennie 479730

134. Howard, Ambrose 818574

135. Hubbard, Arthur Jose 1000128

136. Hudson, Lewey 894521

137. Hunter, Tom 875445

138. James, Benjamin 830998

139. James, Billie 875301

140. James, George B. 875342

141. Johle, Elliott 894447

142. John, Charlie T. 875395

143. John, Leroy M. Sr. 448918

144. Johns, Edmund 448908

145. Johnny, Earl 830999

146. Johnson, Deswood R. 844625

147. Johnson, Francis T. 479772

148. Johnson, Johnnie 537164

149. Johnson, Peter 894412

150. Johnson, Ralph 990086

151. Jones, Jack 818548

152. Jones, Tom H. Jr. 831001

153. Jordan, David 831000

154. June, Floyd 479768

155. Keams, Percy 990028

156. Keedah, Wilson 894673

157. Kellwood, Joe H. 479704

158. Kescoli, Alonzo 875397

159. Ketchum, Bahe 875416

160. King, Jimmie 448910

161. Kinlacheeny, Paul 894414

162. Kinsel, John 448912

163. Kirk, George H. 831003

164. Kirk, Leo 585379

165. Kiyaani, Mike 894629

166. Kontz, Rex T. 448921

167. Lapahie, Harrison 831046

168. Largo, James 990095

169. Little, Keith M. 818629

170. Lopez, Tommy K. 831059

171. MacDonald, Peter 1000079

172. Malone, Max 894621

173. Malone, Rex 831101

174. Malone, Robert 831075

175. Maloney, James 990085

176. Maloney, Paul E. 875431

177. Manuelito, Ben C. 479800

178. Manuelito, Ira 831005

179. Manuelito, James C. 831060

180. Manuelito, Peter 1000234

181. Marianito, Frank 936841

182. Mark, Robert 990093

183. Martin, Matthew 894406

184. Martinez, Jose 894550

185. McCraith, Archibald 990110

186. Mike, King Paul 894671

187. Miles, General 990096

188. Moffitt, Tom Clah 894473

189. Morgan, Jack C. 830932

190. Morgan, Ralph 448920

191. Morris, Joe 894601

192. Moss, George 990093

193. Multine, Oscar P. 875314

194. Murphy, Calvin H. 875360

195. Nagurski, Adolph N. 875384

196. Nahkai, James T. Jr. 831006

197. Nakaidinae, Peter Sr. 479861

198. Napa, Martin Felix

199. Negale, Harding 936842

200. Newman, Alfred 831007

201. Nez, Arthur 1000176

202. Nez, Freeland 875252

203. Nez, Israel Hosteen 479769

204. Nez, Sidney 894511

205. Notah, Roy 448914

206. Notah, Willie Anthony 875300

207. O'Dell, Billy 479877

208. Oliver, Willard V. 831008

209. Paddock, Layton 479871

210. Pahe, Robert D. 831114

211. Parrish, Paul A. 416414

212. Patrick, Amos Roy 936843

213. Patterson, David Earl 831043

214. Peaches, Alfred James 875372

215. Peshlakai, Sam 894440

216. Peterson, Joe Sr. 1000089

217. Pinto, Gaul (Guy) 831047

218. Pinto, John Senator 990189

219. Platero, Richard 894460

220. Preston, Jimmie 479801

221. Reed, Sam 875369

222. Roanhorse, Harry C. 831011

223. Sage, Andy 831012

224. Sage, Denny 818604

225. Salabiye, Jerry E. 1000024

226. Sandoval, Peter P. 831088

227. Sandoval, Samuel F. 831013

228. Sandoval, Thomas 831014

229. Scott, John 875415

230. Sells, John C. 936956

231. Shields, Freddie 894442

232. Shorty, Dooley 1000177

233. Shorty, Robert T. 831049

234. Silversmith, Joe A. 831015

235. Silversmith, Sammy 831050

236. Singer, Oscar Jones 990122

237. Singer, Richard 479774

238. Skeet, Wilson Chee 1000081

239. Slinkey, Richard T. 479727

240. Slivers, Albert J. Sr. 990068

241. Smiley, Arcenio 894508

242. Smith, Albert 831062

243. Smith, George 831063

244. Smith, Raymond R. 857535

245. Smith, Samuel Jesse 831073

246. Soce, George B. 831016

247. Sorrell, Benjamin G. 448905

248. Spencer, Harry 990197

249. Tabaha, Johnnie 990076

250. Tah, Alfred 479831

251. Tah, Edward 894676

252. Talley, John N. 831017

253. Tallsalt, Bert 990082

254. Thomas, Edward 990129

255. Thomas, Richard 894520

256. Thompson, Clare M. 875458

257. Thompson, Everett M. 818518

258. Thompson, Francis T. 537182

259. Thompson, Frank T. 403057

260. Todacheene, Carl Leon 831018

261. Todacheene, Frank Carl 990105

262. Tohe, Benson 537165

263. Toledo, Curtis 831051

264. Toledo, Frank 479759

265. Toledo, Preston 479757

266. Toledo, Willie 479756

267. Towne, Joseph H. 479721

268. Towne, Zane 479770

269. Tso, Chester H. 894413

270. Tso, Howard B. 894677

271. Tso, Paul Edward 990071

272. Tso, Samuel 818546

273. Tsosie, Alfred 831019

274. Tsosie, Cecil G. 831020

275. Tsosie, Collins D. 831021

276. Tsosie, Kenneth 831025

277. Tsosie, Samuel Sr. 479913

278. Upshaw, John 990099

279. Upshaw, William 875364

280. Vandever, Joe 831026

281. Wagner, Oliver 990162

282. Wallace, Stephan P. 1000022

283. Walley, Robert 831027

284. Werito, John 831052

285. Whitman, Lyman J. 894466

286. Willetto, Frank, Jr. 831029

287. Willetto, Frankie Chee 894509

288. Williams, Alex 875338

289. Williams, Kenneth 875370

290. Willie, George B. 875408

291. Woody, Clarence Bahi 990092

292. Yazhe, Ernest 448949

293. Yazhe, Harrison A. 875363

294. Yazza, Peter 875442

295. Yazza, Vincent 1000109

296. Yazzie, Clifton 894593

297. Yazzie, Daniel 831030

298. Yazzie, Eddie Melvin 521223

299. Yazzie, Edison Kee 875390

300. Yazzie, Felix 416408

301. Yazzie, Francis 1000101

302. Yazzie, Frank H. 990101

303. Yazzie, Harding 894480

304. Yazzie, Harold 537154

305. Yazzie, Joe Shorty 830962

306. Yazzie, John 990113

307. Yazzie, Justin D. 1000126

308. Yazzie, Lemuel Rev. 990062

309. Yazzie, Ned 990112

310. Yazzie, Pahe Denet 479773

311. Yazzie, Raphael 831053

312. Yazzie, Robert 831031

313. Yazzie, William 875347

314. Yellowhair, Leon 990100

315. Yellowhair, Stanley 818600

316. Yellowman, Howard 831032

317. Yoe, George 990119

318. Zah, Henry 894551

Mr. Speaker, 10,000 older Americans are entering the Medicare system every day, so access to quality physicians is more important than ever. The sad fact is we are not paying our Medicare providers enough to keep their doors open, much less accept new patients.

In usual Washington fashion, past Congresses have kicked the can down the road; and if we don't act before the end of the year, physicians will face a 27 percent cut in their Medicare reimbursement.

We need to come together and find a better method to pay our Medicare physicians for the long term and include it in a properly thought-out health care reform. If we continue to allow these flawed policies, Medicare patients will suffer, and we owe our seniors better.

Our seniors were made promises by those that came before us serving you today, and I'm here to tell you that we will keep those promises. Taking up this important fix to health care before it's too late will allow us to continue to be the best Nation, a healthy Nation that we can be proud to leave our children and our grandchildren.

Dr. Fleming, thank you so very much for organizing this hour and being able to have a fireside chat with the American public about health care and what really is coming about and what actually is going on with a broken health care system. I also want to take the time to educate, to understand--have the American people understand what it is about a vibrant economy that actually helps our Medicare system.

Now, I know the holidays are coming up and we're going to be discussing giving a continuation of a tax holiday for many Americans, about the thousand dollars for an individual on their FICA, on their withholding tax, and to employers; but I also want to take the time to explain to the American public that there is a cost involved here. And part of that cost when a withholding tax is taken out goes into Social Security and partly to Medicare, and part of this is particularly Medicare part A, the hospitalization act, which is the closest one to insolvency of all parts of Medicare.

Now, we lost 5 years, particularly on Medicare part A, the hospitalization act, just from the years of 2010. We have yet to start looking at the disastrous parts of the economy to 2011 to be added into the insolvency. But what ends up happening is this takes a further hit in the numbers and amount of money that is actually part of the equation for our seniors in Medicare, so it's going to get worse before it gets better. And when you couple that with this administration taking--I call it stealing--over $500 billion away from the current Medicare program to build another entitlement, that's just not right.

I came into Congress because I was concerned about health care. As a dentist, I love seeing a smiling face, because a smiling face tells me something about vibrancy, about health, and participating in the greatest things that this life gives us. But it also tells me that it has to be a participating sport and that what we have to have is a patient taking care of and being involved actively in the choices and decision processes in their health care, and that's what I want to see.

I'm flabbergasted, to be honest with you, that we see a program rectifying Medicare, or attempting to, through ObamaCare, but then we leave the SGR fix or the physician fix completely separate. It doesn't make sense to the average person why these aren't all integrated and part of the same equation.

I also want to remind the American people, this is not an easy solution. We didn't get here overnight, because we didn't do our due diligence like we had talked about earlier. We didn't change with the times as we grew older. We changed our participation and age and the variables that we had.

We also enveloped technology, unbelievable things that no one in 1965 could have even imagined, they could have dreamed but couldn't have actually imagined. And that's what the other part is is that we also have to look--I come from a very rural district, and what is happening back in my neck of the woods is the primary care doc who was that gatekeeper, they're no longer around. They either are associated with a hospital or a federally qualified health center--if you can get them to see you. And that's the part that also makes me tell the American public we have got another problem.

You were involved in this Joint Committee that had Democrats and Republicans, 12 of them, trying to figure out some type of a debt solution for $1.2 trillion.

I want to remind the American people there's another consequence in this, not only to our military, but to our health care providers as well, because the sequestration, when it goes through, is also going to tap, once again, the providers who are no longer being able to afford to see patients, and our hospitals, particularly those rural hospitals that will be going out of business. So there won't be an access to care. We won't have the ability to be a part of our own health care because there won't be a health care provider out there.

This is the dynamics that we have to look at. This is the equation that is so immense. What I have always said is start a little bit at a time. Make sure that the playing field is level and all of the participants are actually there, increasing the competition, making sure the public health and the private health are all in balance, and then making sure we have some tort reform.

We have to have that. That was absolutely missing within this health care system. That is what we are going to have to get back to. And we're going to have to have sunset clauses that we reactivate and reevaluate each of the process as our aging population gets older and as our technology gets better and there are new advances in medicine. We have to empower people to be part of their health care solution and empowering them to get back with their physician and their health care system. That's what we need to do.

And that's the most vibrant aspect that I can challenge our seniors with. We're here for Medicare. We're here to change Medicare in the right way. We're here to change it for you

Madam Speaker, I stand here today with my colleagues to support the dedication of a meeting room in the Capitol Visitors Center to Gabe Zimmerman, a man known for seeking to bring healthy political discourse through civil service.

I would first like to reaffirm my condolences to Gabe's family and loved ones for their loss. He will be missed.

Both a devoted congressional aide and a community leader, Gabe served Congresswoman Gabby Giffords' district with a smile and a willingness to go above and beyond in assisting both his office and his fellow citizens. With an extroverted personality and a deep concern for others' well-being, Congresswoman Giffords has noted that Zimmerman became the go-to person for constituents in the district. He was what you call back home ``good people.''

We can all appreciate and learn from Gabe that representing our citizens means going beyond what is asked of us to assist them. Gabe Zimmerman lived this mantra day by day.

It is with great respect that I support this bill to dedicate this place of meeting in honor of a man who lost his life through a senseless act of violence. I join the Arizona delegation in hoping that his sacrifice and the principles of his public service are remembered and honored by all of those who seek to make our Nation a better place.

I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 1904, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act, legislation that will create new American jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy and minerals, protect high-profile conservation lands, and generate revenue for Federal and State treasuries.

In this time of serious economic hardship, Congress must engage in serious debate over serious issues. What should not guide Congress is an endless game of unfounded attacks that lead to trumped-up fear- mongering to gain political advantage, particularly, in this case, the fear of robots.

This legislation is a real job creator. I would like to tell a story about Chris Astor, a current employee at the mine site and a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Chris grew up attending public schools on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and graduated from high school in nearby Globe. In 2010, Chris was among those in the first group of the Resolution Experience participants--a paid 3-week program Resolution launched in the summer of 2010 to introduce potential employees to the world of mining. Each participant receives a Mining Safety and Health Administration-certified training and then is exposed to the various work disciplines within Resolution Copper. Following this 3-week program, many of the program participants are hired by the company or its contractors. Among the hired employees was Chris Astor.

Chris is one of seven San Carlos Apaches who have been hired by Resolution Copper or its contractor since the program began in the summer of 2010. Chris now works as a core handler--one of a seven- member crew that retrieves drill core samples from the rigs that do the project. I've had the blessing of doing this in my own life for my dad. Under the guidance of geologists, the core handlers log, process, and archive core samples with geologists and mine engineers helping them to rely on and understand the nature of the ore body. ``I would like to eventually try different jobs, get a broader view, learn and grow into a supervisory role,'' Chris says. ``I also want to be trained to work underground.''

Prior to the Resolution Experience, Chris worked at the Pinto Valley copper mine, an open-pit mine a few miles northeast of Resolution Projects, which is owned by BHP-Billiton. However, this mine is currently closed. Before joining Resolution Experience, Chris had been out of work for more than a year.

Chris is now a 31-year-old father of three children, ages 13, 9, and 5. With his stable, good-paying job, including great medical and benefits, Chris is able to confidently support his family. ``I can take care of my kids better and provide what they need--and sometimes even what they want,'' he says.

Life was not always good for Chris. He grew up as an only child raised by his mother and grandparents. He spent most of his childhood on the reservation. ``We went where my mom could find work,'' he says. ``I never knew my dad.'' Chris feels fortunate to have a job and to live on the reservation, where more than 80 percent of the residents live in poverty and seven out of 10 eligible workers are unemployed.

It is true that modern mining technology uses high-tech equipment to accomplish certain tasks. This is done for efficiency's sake and for the sake of worker safety. Mining is a potentially hazardous task and certainly a difficult one that must be done with precision.

Chris is not a robot. You can still see there is a need for people to run the mine, to drive the trucks, to feed the workers, to drill the holes, to engineer the dig, to build the structures, to process the minerals, and, yes, build, maintain and control technology. Chris is a real human being operating this technology already at the site whose life has benefited greatly from this project. If we pass this legislation, over 3,700 more success stories like Chris's will come to fruition.

I urge my colleagues to continue this debate with serious discussions about the facts about this bill, not scare tactics.

I thank the chairman for yielding.

My legislation shows you can protect the land and the water and have a strong economy with good jobs.

The land exchange will bring into Federal stewardship 5,500 acres of high-priority conservation lands in exchange for the third largest undeveloped copper deposit in the world. I'd like to speak about one in particular.

The 7B Ranch, located in Pinal County, Arizona, is 3,073 acres designated by the Nature Conservancy as one of the last great places on Earth. And the Forest Service testified that this property was ``priceless''--and you will get a chance to see some of them.

This area is home to a free-flowing artesian spring-fed wetland populated by lowland leopard frogs, nesting birds, and native fish. In addition, this parcel is recognized by BirdLife International as an ``important bird area.'' These are amazing sites. These have ``priceless'' as their connotation.

Mr. Chairman, I find it very interesting that my opponent, or our opponent on the other side, actually focuses a picture of Apache Leap, which is specifically excluded from this legislation. Therefore, when we talk about, in regards to protecting the sites, we have done so. As far as the consultation is concerned, we have done consultations.

No, I will not yield.

That is Apache Leap.

The point of reference is that we cite all the Native tribes. They are far from being in unison. In fact, during our conversation within the Resources Committee, former tribal chairman and 16-year tribal Councilman Harrison Talgo testified that the traditional Apache values are not mutually exclusive with economic development.

Given that the San Carlos Apache is one of the most impoverished tribes in the Nation, with unemployment rates around 70 percent and poverty affecting every facet of tribal members' life, I couldn't agree more with Mr. Talgo.

Mr. Talgo also points out that Oak Flat, the campground in question, is a long way from the reservation. He also pointed out the majority of tribal members he speaks about in this project support this project.

I thank the gentleman from Utah, and I appreciate the House spending time to consider this important jobs bill legislation this week.

The need for this land exchange legislation and ensuing copper mine was one of the very first initiatives brought to my attention by the people of my district. Those folks are excited about the economic development and sustainable growth that this project will bring.

They are anxious for these high-priority conservation lands to be placed in Federal stewardship. And they are sick of waiting for Congress to act.

H.R. 1904 may be new legislation, but this initiative is not. Over the past 6 years, this land exchange has been subject to intensive review, public consideration, and modification. It has been introduced in four separate Congresses, twice by Democrats, twice by Republicans. This proposal truly has bipartisan support on the ground in our State and across the country. The mayor of the town of Superior, an elected Democrat, testified in support of H.R. 1904. Democrat and Republican county supervisors in each affected economy endorse my bill. The governor supports my bill. This legislation is a win-win.

H.R. 1904 specifically facilitates a land exchange that will bring into Federal stewardship 5,500 acres of high-priority conservation lands in exchange for 2,600 acres of national forest system lands containing the third-largest undeveloped copper resource in the world. It is the richest copper ore body in North America ever discovered.

The United States currently imports over 30 percent of the country's copper demand. This project could produce enough copper to equal 25 percent of our demand, contributing significantly to U.S. energy and mineral independence.

Let me be clear. This is not going to be a new mine. The majority of the infrastructure is already in place. We are simply opening up the resource to the country's vital needs.

Today, more than 500 employees and contractors are at work in Arizona on this project as they prepare for us to take action on this bill. Upon passage, the private company will be able to employ 3,000 workers during the 6-year construction period. And ultimately, the project will support over 3,700 jobs, providing for $220 million in annual wages over the life of the project. These are good-paying jobs.

This is good old Superior right here who needs this. The total economic impact of the project is estimated to be over $61.4 billion, over $1 billion per year, and another $19 billion in Federal, State, county, and local tax revenues. Fourteen billion dollars in Federal tax revenue--in these tough fiscal times, I think we can all agree that the Treasury could use that.

This bill is not only a jobs bill, it's a conservation bill. In exchange for opening up the third-largest undeveloped copper resource in the world, the Federal Government acquires 5,500 acres of high- priority conservation lands containing endangered species, sensitive ecosystems, recreational sites, and historical landmarks. Many of these lands being conveyed are landlocked by Federal lands, and the consolidation of the Federal lands will also contribute to better, more economically efficient Federal land management.

Today, The Arizona Republic, the largest newspaper in the State, issued an editorial in support of H.R. 1904. In that article, the editorial board highlights the big benefits of my legislation: jobs, tax revenue, and conservation. In the article they state, ``The bill, with its combination of benefits, has every reason to get bipartisan support.''

They continue, ``In today's economy, it's hard to imagine that Members of Congress would fail to give this bill a resounding approval in the House.''

Madam Speaker, I would like to submit the full editorial for the Record.

My legislation strikes the right balance between resource utilization and conservation. We can preserve lands that advance the important public objectives of protecting wildlife habitat, cultural, and historical resources, while enabling an economic development project to go forward that will generate economic and employment opportunities for the State and local residents.

Pass the rule and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1904.

[From the Arizona Republic, Oct. 25, 2011]

A Bill To Launch 1,000-Plus Jobs

Congress has a rare opportunity to create jobs, preserve a

ribbon of river in the desert, raise tax revenue and boost

production of a strategic mineral. Without spending a dime.

All it takes is a ``yes'' vote on a land exchange that

would allow the Resolution Copper project to go forward. The

proposed mine, near Superior, is at the site of the third

largest undeveloped copper resource in the world.

The projected annual production volume is huge: enough to

meet more than 25 percent of the current U.S. demand for

copper over the next 40 years.

Resolution Copper, jointly owned by Rio Tinto and BHP

Billiton, plans to put $6 billion into building and running

the mine.

Now that's economic stimulus.

But the project requires swapping private and federal

property. A bill to approve it is scheduled to go to the

floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of

2011 is sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar, a Flagstaff Republican.

This is the third version of the swap, which was proposed by

his predecessors, Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick and Republican

Rick Renzi.

The bill, with its combination of benefits, has every

reason to get bipartisan support. Democratic Rep. Ed Pastor

grew up in a mining town and knows the importance of this

industry to rural Arizona.

Rep. Raul Grijalva has stood in the way of the land

exchange over the years. It's time for him to step aside.

The concerns he raised have been answered. The one

remaining issue is the opposition of the San Carlos Apaches,

and Resolution Copper has committed itself to extensive

consultation with tribes.

Here's what a ``yes'' vote brings:

Jobs: 3,000 during construction and 1,400 when the mine is

at full production.

Taxes: $19 billion in federal, state and local revenues.

Conservation: Nearly 7 miles of the lower San Pedro River,

named one of the ``Last Great Places on Earth'' by the Nature

Conservancy, transferred from private into public ownership.

Ripple effect: An additional 2,300 jobs in the Superior

area generated by mining needs and worker spending.

In today's economy, it's hard to imagine that members of

Congress would fail to give this bill a resounding approval

in the House.

With the able help of Arizona Sens. Jon Kyl and John

McCain, it should get a ``yes'' in the Senate, as well.

Will the gentleman yield?

You're talking about robots. What I am talking about is trust. Trust is a series of promises kept. And what we see is right here in this picture. We have over 500 jobs that have been established here. We have seen the investment of this company in the local communities helping job creators, as far as truckers, independent construction organizations, trying to stay in business because, as you saw before, this is Superior, Arizona. This is what we've done to Main Street America. You see all the boarded up streets, all the buildings that are here.

What they've done is come in and established trust because what they've done is actually put people back to work. You talk about robots, but what I'm talking about is trust, which is actually what's happening on the ground.

That's absurd. I've gone into the mine. I have actually seen the company. I've actually seen the work forces in here. I've actually gone down to the bottom of the mine. I got suited up and have been part of that. That's not appropriate.

I have been in this copper mine. I have been in the shaft.

I have been in the one in Arizona.

But I'm pointing back to the same purpose that I've actually seen trust exhibited here where they've actually hired people. I've seen the native people being hired. I've seen the local people being hired here, and that's a part of trust that we've got to get back to in this country.

Will the gentleman yield?

We've spent an exorbitant amount of time trying to discuss this with our Native Americans. We actually have law that we've gone through the area in exchange that shows no actual artifacts at all.

So the thing about it is that we want to make sure that that has occurred. And for the better part, since the 109th Congress, we've actually dialogued with the Native Americans, and what we have seen is an over-and-over exchange. So what has transpired is actually----

Mr. Lujan's amendment is immaterial because it's already been done and it's already been held up by the----

It's already been supported by documentation already presented. It's duplicative.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize Barbara Mikkelsen, a very special woman and a hometown hero doing extraordinary work for our military veterans in Prescott, Arizona.

Barbara joined U.S.VETS in 2004 and has led their effort to provide affordable housing, quality health care, and job training to the homeless veterans of the Quad Cities of northern Arizona. Nationally, U.S.VETS feeds, clothes, shelters, and helps get back to work over 2,000 veterans every year.

As the Prescott site director for U.S.VETS, the largest service provider for homeless veterans in the United States, Barbara was awarded the 2011 national award for Site Director of the Year. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Veterans Services recognized Barb with an award of recognition and appreciation.

Barb has proven herself a dedicated and inspiring advocate. I applaud her for going above and beyond the call of duty. I congratulate her and am proud of the wonderful service to our military men and women in Arizona's First Congressional District. I challenge others to follow her exemplary leadership and give back to their community in this time of great national need.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 489, a bill that will permanently end the bureaucratic wrangling that has occurred between the Departments of Interior and Agriculture-- a jurisdictional dispute that compromises the routine maintenance of critical water infrastructure in the State of Arizona, the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir.

The Federal Government employs over 2.1 million civilian employees. There are hundreds of agencies, and within each agency there are divisions, departments, and subgroups. Sometimes, especially with respect to land management, more than one agency has jurisdiction; and when that occurs, bureaucratic disputes arise and government no longer serves the people.

This is the exact circumstance that has necessitated my legislation.

The C.C. Cragin project consists of a number of facilities, including a dam and reservoir, diversion tunnel and pump shaft, pumping plant, priming reservoir, pipeline, electrical transmission line, and a generating plant.

The majority of the project is located on Federal lands in the Coconino and Tonto National Forests. This critical water infrastructure project is an important aspect of the Salt River Project's Federal Reclamation Project. It is integral to providing a water supply for Phoenix and is instrumental in making 3,500 acre-feet of water a year available to Gila County. The town of Payson and the neighboring communities rely on the pipeline to supply municipal drinking water to my constituents.

In 2004, at the request of the Salt River Project--or SRP as it is commonly referred to--and with the support of the Bureau of Reclamation and the former owner of the project, the Arizona Water Settlements Act authorized the title transfer of the C.C. Cragin project from SRP to the Bureau of Reclamation. Under this language, the Federal Government would own the project, but SRP would still operate and maintain it.

Once a transfer was implemented, it became clear that there was a disagreement between the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation over who had the responsibility for approving requested operation maintenance and repairs. Specifically, the Bureau of Reclamation argued that it should approve SRP's work plans, environmental compliance, and other regulatory permitting requirements. The U.S. Forest

Service asserted that the reclamation was required to obtain a special use permit to operate, maintain, and repair the water project.

While the SRP project was able to overcome the issues with the Forest Service to complete repairs, it was with the Bureau of Reclamation's approval and occasionally over Forest Service objections. Concurrently, the added permit requirement delayed much needed repairs, wasting precious Arizona water resources, increased repair costs, and placed the economic development of the town of Payson at risk.

Looking forward, this is a long-lived asset that will be relied upon to provide reliable municipal water supply to Gila County and the valley. Just a few weeks ago, a $34 million, 15-mile pipeline expansion project, which will double Payson's long-term, sustainable water supply, was finally approved by the Forest Service after a year-long delay. If Congress allows the jurisdictional dispute to continue, future operations and maintenance activities related to the C.C. Cragin project could face costly delays and could possibly interrupt water delivery to these Arizona communities.

This simply is not a tenable situation. I am pleased the House is taking up legislation that will permanently resolve this ridiculous jurisdictional battle.

My legislation reflects a compromise reached by the relevant parties. It grants the Department of the Interior exclusive jurisdiction to manage the C.C. Cragin project and grants the Department of Agriculture administrative jurisdiction over land management activities that do not conflict or adversely affect the operation, maintenance, replacement, or repair of the project.

It is important to note that H.R. 489 will still require compliance with all requirements under Federal law, including the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. In addition, the implementation of this legislation has no cost to the taxpayer.

Having a single agency overseeing the project remains important--if not more important now that the project is operational. The United States Bureau of Reclamation has the expertise to conduct oversight on water supply projects and does so on many of the projects that are within national forests. This commonsense legislation meets the needs of SRP and Reclamation to ensure the infrastructure can be maintained while accommodating the Forest Service, ensuring they continue to manage the lands underlying the utility corridor with respect to recreation, wildfire, law enforcement, and other activities consistent with its authorities, responsibilities, and expertise.

It is important to note that when the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on my bill on May 12, all parties--including the Bureau of Reclamation and the Forest Service--agreed that H.R. 489 is vital to the long-term management of the C.C. Cragin dam and reservoir project and would bring about necessary economic certainty for the town of Payson and other impacted communities.

It is not often that Congress gets the opportunity to take up noncontroversial legislation like H.R. 489. I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 470, the Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011. Hoover power is a vital power resource for the consumers in the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada, as well as over 29 million people who rely on this clean renewable source of energy.

Hydroelectric power from the Hoover Dam was first allocated by Congress in 1928 and has been allocated by Congress ever since. The current power contracts expire in 2017. It is important this body pass a new allocation now to ensure the continued availability and reliability of Hoover power to the citizens of my State and those of California and Nevada.

The version of this legislation that this body is considering today reflects years of thorough negotiation. It includes provisions that address issues that were raised in the 111th Congress by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and the Western Area Power Administration. Because of that, the bill has garnered strong bipartisan support within the Arizona House delegation and at the grassroots level.

I would like to address the concerns expressed by the Arizona Statewide Cooperatives Association. I personally

met with the representatives of the association in an attempt to address their concerns. In those meetings, it became clear the only way to address their concerns would be to overturn existing Arizona State law. I encouraged them to take their charge to the State level and committed to help facilitate the initial meeting if they so desired. However, I have consistently maintained that it would be inappropriate for Congress to incorporate language that would preempt Arizona State law in this legislation.

I would also like to point out that the Arizona co-ops have an opportunity under this legislation to receive Hoover power going forward. H.R. 470 creates a pool of 103 megawatts that will be allocated to eligible entities, including rural electric cooperatives and federally recognized Native American tribes. In addition, the Salt River Project has committed, in writing, to backstop up to three megawatts of power for the Arizona co-ops should they not receive an allocation through this specific provision.

Let me remind my colleagues that 22 percent of the population in my district is tribal. This would be a wonderful means of having a vested interest and would also diversify the portfolios of the tribes in the energy sector.

Again, I rise in support of my friend Dr. Heck's legislation, H.R. 470, and encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the memory of the late Sergeant Darrell Curley of the Navajo Police Department who, after 26 years of dedicated service, lost his life in the line of duty on June 25, 2011.

Sergeant Curley was killed in the line of fire responding to a call in his community, Kaibeto, where he lived with his wife, Pauline, and three children, Arielle, Bronte, and Derrick.

Sergeant Curley was a dependable public servant and an outstanding family man whose smile is remembered warmly by those who knew him. He also was recently appointed to a position of leadership within his faith community, as second counselor in the Bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kaibeto.

Sergeant Curley was a kind man who was always willing to do for others, dedicating his life to improving the safety and security of the people of the Navajo Reservation, where he was raised and lived his life.

It is outstanding individuals like Sergeant Curley that have the experience and courage to serve and protect our communities, as well as put their lives in danger for the safety of others. My thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Curley's family, the Navajo Nation, and the broader northern Arizona law enforcement community for such an outstanding individual.