Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to take the opportunity to honor the new Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation.

An exceptional citizen of my community and the Tohono O'odham Nation, Chairman Ned Norris, Jr., is from the remote village of Fresnal Canyon, in the Baboquivari District. He was elected to a 4-year term as the Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation earlier this spring.

Chairman Norris is in his 32nd year of serving the Tohono O'odham Nation. In May of 2003, he was elected to serve as Vice Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation. Both before and after holding the position of Vice Chairman, he worked with the Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise. Chairman Norris served as Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Casino Manager and Director of Community Relations. The Enterprise operates both Desert Diamond Casino locations in Tucson and Golden Ha:san Casino near Why, Arizona.

His service to his Tribe has been ongoing. In addition to holding the position of Chairman and Vice Chairman, he has also served as the Assistant Director of the Tribe's Children's Home; Court Advocate; Children's Court Judge; Court of Appeals Judge; Indian Child Welfare Specialist; Assistant Director of Tribal Social Services and Director of Tribal Government Operations. On February 1, 1993 Chairman Norris completed a 6 year Tohono O'odham Legislative Council appointment as (non-attorney) tribal Judge, the last 3 of those years as Chief Judge for the Judicial Branch.

Chairman Norris is also very involved in the surrounding community of Tucson, AZ. He is currently a board member of the Chicanos Por La Causa, Tucson Urban League, American Indian Association, Inc., and the University of Arizona--Arthritis Center Advisory Board; Tucson Metropolitan Education Commission; KUAT Communications Group-Advisory Board; and the Tucson Airport Authority-Advisory Board. Additionally he is a former board member of the Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board; and a former Commissioner for the Tohono O'odham Nation's Tribal Employment Rights Office.

I would also like to acknowledge Isidro B. Lopez, as the new vice- chair of the Tohono O'odham Nation. His leadership and experience will serve Chairman Norris and the Nation well.

I would like to offer my congratulations to Ned Norris for his over three decades of service to his Nation and the people of Pima County and southern Arizona.

Madam Speaker, I will reserve the balance of my time for closing.

Madam Speaker, the language in this bill is no different from other wild and scenic river bills that have passed both Democratic and Republican Congresses, including under the former committee chairman, the famed property rights defender, Richard Pombo.

To hear opponents tell it, this bill is a threat to private property with the Federal Government waiting in the wings to condemn land. In reality, nothing of the sort would happen, and that's because opponents of the bill have persistently refused to acknowledge the clear language of the legislation.

First of all, the bill prohibits condemnation under the authority of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Then the very next sentence states: ``The authority of the Secretary to acquire lands for the purpose of this Act should be limited to the acquisition by donation or acquisition with the consent of the owner.''

Therefore, I believe, Madam Speaker, this is an absolute, unambiguous blanket denial of condemnation authorities. We say it twice in the legislation. We don't need to say it three times.

My colleague, Joe Courtney, has done an outstanding job with this measure, which is supported by the entire Connecticut delegation, the Republican Governor of Connecticut, the State legislature and all of the affected local governments, and the Bush administration.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan measure.

I yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, I would like to yield to the sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time, as I hear the colleagues on the other side raising the specter of massive condemnation on the part of the Federal Government, I believe that it is more of a scare tactic to divert attention, I think, about what is good in this bill because there are really no substantive grounds in which to oppose it.

Twice in the legislation it is reaffirmed that condemnation is not part of the process, that there must be willing consent on the part of property owners. There is no real problem in that. The Bush administration understands it, the Republican Governor of

Connecticut understands this, the affected local communities understand this.

In my opinion, I think the motivation for opposition has to do with the audacity of the gentleman from Connecticut to run for office, replace an incumbent and his predecessor, and then the audacity of the voters of that district to go ahead and elect the gentleman, the sponsor of this legislation.

It is a consensus bill. It has good support. Rather than dealing with the messenger, as we are doing today in a political basis, let's deal with the content, the substance, and the support of this legislation. And I would urge rejection of the motion to recommit.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3206) to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 through December 15, 2007, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, the legislation being offered today will extend the authorization of the Small Business Administration and its programs through December 15, 2007.

As Congress moves forward on improving SBA and the services it provides, this short-term extension will ensure that small businesses have many of the tools they need to be successful in today's economy.

I am pleased to say the Small Business Administration Committee has made significant progress in making long overdue improvements to this agency. During the 110th Congress, the House Small Business Committee has successfully reported nearly a dozen bills, each designed to update and upgrade SBA programs to meet the needs of the 21st-century entrepreneur.

Nearly all of this legislation has been passed out of the House, and every single bill has had broad bipartisan support. With their passage, we are well on our way to providing the most significant overhaul of the Small Business Administration and its programs in at least two decades.

During this Congress, the House Small Business Committee has successfully moved forward on legislation that will provide affordable loans to entrepreneurs, prevent large corporations from being awarded small business contracts, and ensure veterans, women, and minority- owned firms have access to the assistance that they need. And in light of the failures we saw during Katrina, the committee reported a bill that will improve SBA's disaster loan program. This has been completed in a span of a little over 6 months.

Our committee has been able to provide these changes due to the outstanding leadership of Ranking Member Chabot and our Chair, Nydia Velazquez. They have worked in a bipartisan manner to provide the necessary tools for this Nation's small businesses.

The extension before us today will allow the committees in the House and Senate to work out the differences in their bills and get them signed into law. These major changes require time to reconcile the House and Senate bills. H.R. 3206 provides the necessary time while ensuring operation of these programs are not interrupted. I urge support of this extension.

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

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

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 580, I call up the bill (H.R. 986) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 986.

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

H.R. 986 would designate 25.3 miles of the Eightmile River and its tributaries in Connecticut as a national scenic river. The bill was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Joe Courtney, who has been a strong and effective advocate for this designation.

H.R. 986 would protect portions of the Eightmile River that have been found to have outstandingly remarkable values, including an intact watershed with a natural flow, very high water quality, unusual geological features, and large numbers of rare plants and animals.

The bill would designate five segments of the river and its tributary as scenic under the Wild and Scenic River Act.

The designated segments would be managed according to a plan produced pursuant to the 2001 Eightmile River Wild and Scenic River Study Act.

The administration supports the legislation. The National Park Service has found these segments of the river and its tributaries to be eligible and suitable for designation. Under the provisions of the bill, the river will be managed pursuant to a partnership agreement as envisioned in section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic River Act.

H.R. 986 is cosponsored by the entire Connecticut House delegation. Both Connecticut centers support the designation, as does the Republican Governor of Connecticut and the State legislature.

I submit for the Record a letter from Governor Rell, dated July 11, 2007, in support of the bill.

Executive Chambers,

State of Connecticut,

July 11, 2007.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Steny Hoyer,

House Majority Leader.

John Boehner,

House Minority Leader.

Roy Blunt,

House Minority Whip.

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Congressmen Hoyer, Boehner, and

Blunt: I am writing to express my support for H.R. 986, which

will designate certain sections of the Eightmile River in

southeastern Connecticut for inclusion in the National Park

Service's Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Including parts of

this exceptional natural and cultural resource within this

program will help ensure that it receives the protections

that it deserves.

I understand that this legislation also will protect

property owners from having their lands taken by condemnation

without the consent of the property owner. As you may know,

this has become an important issue in Connecticut in the wake

of the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision, and I am pleased

that H.R. 986 will respect the rights of property owners.

Thank you for your efforts to help preserve this river, its

tributaries and watershed.

Very truly yours,

M. Jodi Rell,

Governor.

The legislation also enjoys ample support from the affected local communities, including the local governments of the towns of Salem, East Haddam and Lyme.

During the committee consideration of the bill, there had been expressed concern about the private property provisions in the legislation.

To ensure that the bill is absolutely clear on this point, I offered, and the Natural Resources Committee adopted, language that deems the zoning ordinances adopted by the towns of Salem, East Haddam and Lyme to satisfy section 6(c) of the Wild and Scenic River Act, and thus the bill expressly prohibits the use of Federal condemnation of authority under the Wild and Scenic River Act.

In addition, the bill goes on to expressly forbid Federal condemnation for the Eightmile River designation. The authority contained in the bill to acquire land is limited to donation or

acquisition with the consent of the owner of the property. We have not one but two provisions, making it abundantly clear there will be no Federal condemnation along the Eightmile River.

These provisions track the language used in several wild and scenic river designations in the east, including the designation of Connecticut's other wild and scenic river, the Farmington River. The language has been in effect for over a decade without questions or ambiguity on those rivers or in court.

The opposition has said that they only want to add language to deny Federal condemnation. Given the language already in the bill, this would be plainly redundant. We simply ask that when all else fails, that they read the bill.

The specific language of H.R. 986 denies the Federal Government any condemnation authority. The Bush administration has assured us that they consider the language to be absolutely unambiguous.

H.R. 986 was originally considered by the House on July 10. When the vote was taken, the bill got a clear majority on a vote of 239-173 but failed to get the two-thirds necessary for passage under suspension of the rules.

Since the only amendment that opponents have raised is clearly unnecessary, we believe the procedure under which the bill is being considered in the House today will allow the House to work its will on the measure.

This is a good bill. I want to commend my colleague from Connecticut, Representative Courtney, for his commitment and leadership on this matter.

We support the passage of H.R. 986, as amended, and urge its adoption by the House today.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, local ordinances are being changed, and that will allow the National Park Service to invoke its condemnation authority as one of the issues that my good friend brought up now.

What I would like to say, the specific language of the bill denies the National Park Service any condemnation authority. Even if a local government were to change this ordinance, the National Park Service wanted to exercise condemnation authority, they would have to come back and they would have to get this law changed.

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

I thank the gentleman from New Mexico. And I would just point out that every time, and I am guilty of that, too, when we vote for a highway bill, a defense bill, a water bill that comes before us, we are voting for the ability of the Federal Government to conduct condemnation. This is not the case in this legislation. It is specifically prohibited in two sections of this bill.

I yield to the sponsor, my good friend from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

We have no additional speakers.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Utah, the ranking member.

Just in closing, let me say that the Appalachian Trail that was referenced by the gentleman from New Mexico has, in the legislation, condemnation as part of it. This particular bill does not. And there is separate language, aside from the section that my good friend from Utah presented today, that adds an additional prohibition and a protection for the acquisition of private property in this legislation

Madam Speaker, I yield back all but 2 minutes and reserve the 2 minutes until tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1388) to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Star-Spangled Banner Trail in the States of Maryland and Virginia and the District of Columbia as a National Historic Trail, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1388 would designate the Star-Spangled Banner Trail in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia as a National Historic Trail to commemorate the events of the Chesapeake campaign during the War of 1812. The bill was introduced by my colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Sarbanes of Maryland, who is a valued member of our National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee.

The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail designated by H.R. 1388 would follow the historic routes used by British and American troops during the war. The National Park Service supports this designation, as do an impressive array of State and local governments and numerous private organizations.

Mr. Speaker, as the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, this historic trail will help Americans retrace some of the crucial events of a war that fashioned our Nation's character. Mr. Sarbanes has done great work on this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the legislation, my colleague from the Natural Resources Committee, Representative John Sarbanes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 761) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center Foundation, Inc. certain Federal land associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Nebraska, to be used as a historical interpretive site along the trail, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 761, sponsored by Representative Fortenberry of Nebraska, would transfer to a nonprofit foundation an existing visitor center for the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail in Nebraska. The legislation turns the site over to the nonprofit entity which currently manages the facility in partnership with the National Park Service.

This measure includes a reversionary clause and other safeguards to protect the Federal investment in the center.

We have no objection to H.R. 761 and support its passage 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 pass the bill (H.R. 1285) to provide for the conveyance of a parcel of National Forest System land in Kittitas County, Washington, to facilitate the construction of a new fire and rescue station, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1285, introduced by Representative Doc Hastings of Washington, conveys 1.5 acres of land in the Mt. Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest to facilitate the construction of a new fire and rescue station.

Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue is in need of a new fire station as the current station has numerous deficiencies. The fire station is important to the community and often responds to fires on Federal lands.

Mr. Speaker, it is our understanding that there are ongoing discussions in Washington State to address some lingering issues related to this conveyance, and we support those efforts.

With that understanding, we have no objection to H.R. 1285, and support 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 pass the bill (H.R. 716) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse Plan, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H.R. 716, as amended, is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design and construction of the Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse Plan. The water recycling facilities authorized by this legislation will result in significant improvements in water quality and water supply reliability in the Santa Rosa area.

I commend the sponsor of this legislation, Ms. Woolsey, for her commitment in this important project.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1503) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, this legislation, which I introduced on March 13 of this year, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project.

The extremely arid climate of Tucson, Arizona, and that metropolitan area requires careful and innovative planning of both water supply and wastewater treatment systems.

The proposed Avra Valley Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Site would spread treated wastewater on mesquite riparian forest in Black Wash, creating valuable riparian habitats for migrating birds, while recharging groundwater for the greater Tucson area.

I want to thank the chairwoman of the subcommittee on Water and Power, Mrs. Napolitano, and the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, Mr. Rahall, for their assistance in advancing this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 1503, as amended.

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. 1526) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

I would first like to recognize Representative George Miller's hard work and dedication to this legislation, and for his leadership in California water policy.

This legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in seven important water supply projects as part of the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program.

The projects authorized by the enactment of H.R. 1526, as amended, will eventually produce 37,600 acre feet of recycled water annually. The water will be critical as California communities work to protect their water supply from future droughts.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman George Miller for his hard work on the legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1526, as amended.

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. 495) to update the management of Oregon water resources, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H.R. 495, as introduced by our colleague from Oregon (Mr. Walden), is to update the management of Oregon water resources and to authorize various water projects in the State of Oregon.

The bill authorizes the extension of participation of the Bureau of Reclamation in the Deschutes River Conservancy and the Wallowa Lake Dam

Rehabilitation, Little Butte/Bear Creek Subbasins Water Resource Study, and the North Unit Irrigation District. These projects will enhance the water resources in a number of areas in the State of Oregon. Almost identical legislation passed the House in the 109th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this noncontroversial bill.

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. 2400) to direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish an integrated Federal ocean and coastal mapping plan for the Great Lakes and coastal state waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the Continental Shelf of the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2400 would direct the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish an integrated Federal ocean and coastal mapping plan for the Great Lakes and coastal waters and the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the Continental Shelf. The legislation responds to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy's recommendation that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration consolidate and coordinate the Federal Government's mapping activities. A National Research Council study made a similar recommendation.

To accomplish this end, H.R. 2400 would coordinate the efforts of all Federal agencies involved in mapping our oceans and coasts. Consistent protocols would be developed across all Federal agencies to collect data and develop maps, instead of various agencies using their own criteria.

In addition, the legislation would require Federal agencies to coordinate their efforts. Ultimately, those entities dependent on maps for navigation, national security, scientific research, energy development and location of cultural resources, such as shipwrecks,

would all greatly benefit. H.R. 2400 will increase the efficiency of our mapping efforts, reduce redundancy and allow data used by one agency to be used again and again by others for multiple purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and encourage Members to vote for this noncontroversial legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I will include for the Record the exchange of letters regarding the Committee on Science and Technology's jurisdictional interest in this legislation.

House of Representatives, Committee on Science and

Technology,

Washington, DC, July 20, 2007.

Hon. Nick J. Rahall, II,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write with regard to H.R. 2400, the

Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act, which was referred

to both the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee

on Science and Technology on May 21, 2007.

As you know, I support passage of the bill, and I do not

intend to object to its consideration on the House floor. I

am therefore willing to waive further consideration of the

bill by the Committee on Science and Technology at this time.

I want to make clear, however, that this waiver does not in

any way serve as a jurisdictional precedent as to our two

committees. Also, I ask that you support my request for

appointment of conferees from the Committee on Science and

Technology if a conference is held on this matter.

I request that you send to me a letter confirming our

agreement and that, as part of the consideration of the bill

on the House floor, you insert our two letters in the

Congressional Record.

Sincerely,

Bart Gordon,

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. 50) to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by commending Congressman Don Young, the ranking Republican on the Committee on Natural Resources, for introducing H.R. 50, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007. This bill would authorize two important international wildlife conservation laws, the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act.

Mr. Speaker, illegal poaching, habitat loss and other factors have pushed African elephants, rhinoceroses and tigers dangerously close to extinction. H.R. 50 authorizes funding through fiscal year 2012 for scientific research, management, law enforcement and public education activities used to conserve and protect these keystone wildlife species and their habitat.

Congress has provided $26.9 million, which has been leveraged through matching funds and in-kind contributions to generate more than $96.1 million for international species conservation. This has been an excellent investment for the Federal Government.

We support this noncontroversial bill, and urge all Members on both sides to vote for this important conservation bill.

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. 465) to reauthorize the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Congressman Jim Saxton, for introducing H.R. 465, the Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2007. H.R. 465 would authorize the Asian Elephant Conservation Act through fiscal year 2012. This law authorizes grants to be issued for the survival of the Asian elephant in the wild.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the status of the Asian elephant remains tenuous. Fewer than 4,000 Asian elephants are found throughout the forests and savannas of South Asia. Approximately 16,000 of these animals are held in captivity. The captive elephants are used to assist people in timber harvest, forest clearing and agriculture. In the wild, populations remain under heavy stress from several factors, especially habitat loss and deforestation.

Since the first grant was awarded in 1997, more than $10.3 million in matching contributions or in-kind support have been generated by leveraging the $7.8 million contribution made available by the Congress.

Funding supports cooperative conservation projects that protects Asian elephants and their habitat by providing scientific research, law enforcement and education.

I support this noncontroversial bill, and again commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), the author of the original Asian Elephant Conservation Act, for his unwavering commitment to international wildlife conservation.

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. 1239) to amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to provide additional staff and oversight of funds to carry out the Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

H.R. 1239, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), seeks to further the commitment made by Congress with the passage of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 by reconfiguring the authorization of funds to carry out the act.

Mr. Speaker, the Underground Railroad was a historic protest movement against slavery which helped escaped slaves find freedom in Northern States and Canada prior to the Civil War.

The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 established the Underground Network to Freedom Program administered by the National Park Service. Today the program carries out important activities in more than 27 States and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my friend and colleague from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for his work on this legislation. He has been a real leader in this bipartisan effort to enhance the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. We support passage of H.R. 1239, as amended, and urge its adoption by the House today.

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

Mrs. McMorris Rodgers. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1239, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to commend the sponsor, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), as well as the chairman of the subcommittee Mr. Grijalva, for explaining this bill. We appreciate the work that has been done to improve the bill, and look forward to see the program succeed. I urge Members' support.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), the author and sponsor of this legislation.

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