Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1247) supporting the goals and ideals of ``American Eagle Day'', and celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. House Resolution 1247, as amended, celebrates the recovery of the American bald eagle, the symbol of our country displayed on American currency and government agency seals, including the seal of the United States Congress. The bald eagle's recovery is a huge success story for the Endangered Species Act and the conservation laws which preceded it. In 1963, there were just 487 pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 States. Today, Mr. Speaker, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are an estimated 9,789 breeding pairs. Effective August 8, 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, demonstrating that it had truly recovered. At the same time, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act continue to provide important protections for this magnificent bird. I commend our colleague, Congressman David Davis from Tennessee, for introducing this resolution encouraging organizations and government agencies working on the conservation of endangered species to collaborate on educational information for use in our schools. The resolution further encourages the American people to observe American Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies. This resolution merits our support. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BORDALLO. In that case, Mr. Speaker, I also reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would say to the gentlelady that we are here to salute the American eagle. I would say that the American eagle would not be proud that 68 million acres of Federal energy lands are being held hostage by big oil companies. To respond to the points just made, number one, current law allows leaseholders 10 years to develop oil or gas. The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act cuts that down to 5 years. While existing leases can be canceled if leaseholders fail to comply with lease provisions, laws, or regulations, such as public safety and environmental requirements, there is no law or regulation that requires diligent development of Federal oil and gas leases. The next point. As long as leaseholders pay the required annual rental fee, the government cannot compel diligent development of the lease lands. Next. The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act requires oil and gas operators to diligently develop Federal oil and gas leases as is currently required of coal leaseholders. This requirement was enacted in the 1970s to prevent coal operators from using Federal resources for speculation that would drive up prices. And finally, no such requirement is placed on oil and gas operators. And H.R. 6251 corrects that situation. And again, I would like to repeat, and I would say to the previous speaker, that we are here this afternoon to salute the American eagle. And I would say that the American eagle would not be proud that 68 million acres of Federal energy lands are being held hostage by big oil. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to say, as Mr. Welch stated, ANWR, everybody keeps talking about ANWR. But if you opened ANWR today, you would not get any energy production tomorrow. You wouldn't get any for a decade or more. Whereas right now, the oil companies have 68 million acres of land available for development, and they are not exploiting them. I don't care how much rhetoric goes on here today, there is still the 68 billion acres of land available for development. They have access to enough acreage to produce six times the amount of energy that we might get from ANWR. So again, I'll repeat over and over, ``use it or lose it.'' I urge support for House Resolution 1247. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3702) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, to Jefferson County, Montana, for use as a cemetery, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3702 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convey approximately 9.67 acres of land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, to Jefferson County, MT for use as a cemetery. The parcel to be conveyed to Jefferson County is currently being used for these same purposes, and is known as ``Elkhorn Cemetery.'' The conveyance will provide land to accommodate all known grave sites and any additional sites that may be outside of the concentration of known graves. The bill also provides for the continued protection of the historic and cultural values associated with the property. Mr. Speaker, we have no objections, and it is time to put this bill to rest. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. House Resolution 1199 commends the Orange County, California Water District and its employees for their sound financial management and innovative groundwater management, water quality, water efficiency, and environmental programs upon the occasion of its 75th anniversary. During its 75-year history, the Orange County Water District has been a model for implementing groundwater recharge projects. Starting in 1950, the Water District developed the region's first sustained artificial recharge replenishment system. Earlier this year, the District opened its groundwater replenishment system, the world's largest sewer water purification project. This project, Mr. Speaker, currently is providing a new supply of high-quality water to Orange County, while making the region less dependent on imported water from Bay Delta and the Colorado River. I wish to commend my colleague from California, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, for sponsoring this very important resolution before us today, and I ask my colleagues to support its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez) such time as she may consume.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I was listening intently to the previous speaker, and I'm wondering if he is suggesting that we drill in national parks and military bases--when you mentioned all the acreage that's available.

Ms. BORDALLO. I will yield.

Ms. BORDALLO. So the 2 billion acres that you're referring to does exclude national parks and all of the military bases?

Ms. BORDALLO. Well, Mr. Speaker, I was just requesting that the gentleman clarify. I want to be sure that his numbers are accurate. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 5710, as introduced by our colleague, Congressman Tom Udall of New Mexico, would direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to assist in the design and the construction of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System. The project would provide a sustainable water supply to nine communities and an Air Force base. This bill has received bipartisan support. I ask my colleagues to support its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 5511 was introduced by our colleague, Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado. The bill, as amended, would direct the Bureau of Reclamation to remedy problems caused by collapses in the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel. Due to structural deterioration, contaminated water has backed up in the tunnel posing a grave public health and environmental threat. This bill has received bipartisan support. We have no objection to this noncontroversial bill. And I ask my colleagues to support its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. I have no other speakers.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.