Mark Amodei

Mr. AMODEI

Mr. AMODEI. I thank my distinguished chairman from Texas. Mr. Chairman, 85 percent of the land in Nevada is controlled by the Federal Government. Perhaps no other State in the Nation lives with a more daily, direct impact of the presence of the Federal Government and its regulatory regime than the Silver State. Community-driven development proposals that would generate economic growth often take years longer than they should because of layer upon layer of regulatory, mandatory gymnastics. Home builders, agribusiness, mining, manufacturers, retailers, the resort and hospitality industries, small business in general all lament the gymnastics that they have to go through to get a permit or even to comply with existing regulations. All of that effort in a State, which I am sorry to have to sit up here and remind you, 85 percent of the land controlled by the Federal Government, highest unemployment rate in the Nation, highest foreclosure rate in the Nation. We are trying to generate economic development, and it's taking years to get a permit because of regulatory regimes. There is no one that will indicate that that is not the case. So when we talk about this issue before us today--and I congratulate my colleague from Kentucky. When we talk about the job of Congress in an oversight sense, I think it is entirely appropriate that you revisit the regulations that are promulgated not out of thin air, but as a result of the statutes that pass these two Houses. And to revisit that point and make sure that those regulations bear resemblance to both sides of the aisles' legislative intent where they're supported is something we ought to guard zealously; because, the last time I checked, the Federal-elected officials in the executive branch numbered two. And it doesn't matter what side of the aisle they come from or what party they come from, I think it's appropriate for those 535 who send those measures to those folks, check back to make sure that's being done appropriately.

Mr. AMODEI

Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Helen J. Stewart as ``First Lady of Las Vegas'', and honor her statue which will be raised at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park on December 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Helen, with her husband Archibald, three children and one on the way, arrived in the Las Vegas Valley in 1882 and resided on the land located around the abandoned Mormon Fort situated near what today is the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard North and Washington Avenue. Later left with four children and another on the way after the death of her husband in 1884, she became a rancher and business woman and presided over the operations of the ranch. She began buying land and became the largest landowner in Lincoln County. She later sold her land to the railroad in 1902 and hence forth the city of Las Vegas developed. As the new town expanded, Helen became active in the community serving in many leadership roles such as one of the founders of Christ Episcopal Church, charter member of the Mesquite Club, president of the Las Vegas branch of the Nevada Historical Society, supporter of women's suffrage, first woman elected to the school board on the Republican ticket, and as a friend to the Paiute Indians who worked on her ranch, sold ten acres of land to the federal government to be used as an Indian school and semi-reservation which remains tribal land today. On July 26, 2010 the Historical Commission of the Las Vegas Centennial awarded the ``Friends of the Fort'' $99,000 for the Helen J. Stewart statue to be sculpted by Benjamin Victor of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Both the State of Nevada and I recognize the statue of Helen J. Stewart to be a fitting recognition of the many ``firsts'' that this exceptional Nevadan lady forever known as the ``First Lady of Las Vegas'' accomplished in her lifetime.

Mr. AMODEI

Mr. AMODEI. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, brand new colleagues, for your courtesies. I will endeavor to do the best I can to bring honor to this House and help you with the work that we have to do. I was told that the longer you talk, the less popular you are; so I yield back my time. Thank you very much.