Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation that would direct the Secretary of the Interior to initiate a pilot program to provide a convenient electronic option for waterfowl hunters to purchase their annual duck stamp, an icon in American conservation which since 1934 has generated over $700 million for waterfowl habitat acquisition and protection. I applaud the sponsor of the House companion legislation, Congressman Ron Kind, for his leadership on this issue and for his commonsense recognition that we should take advantage of modern technology to increase the availability and ease in acquiring duck stamps. I also commend Mr. Kind for the great sensitivity he has shown in making sure that the pilot program created under this legislation will not undermine the artistic value of the paper stamps. These stamps will still be issued for sale, and we expect that they will continue to be cherished by stamp collectors and conservationists for many years to come. This legislation also contains some overdue technical amendments to the Duck Stamp Act itself, which should provide helpful clarifications important in maintaining and enhancing this very popular program. I urge Members to support this noncontroversial bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, we support this legislation that would authorize the 3,600-acre expansion of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge located in Alabama. Witness testimony received during the May 10, 2006, Fisheries Subcommittee hearing on the bill demonstrated that the expansion of this refuge is essential towards ensuring the long-term protection of threatened forested bottom-land habitat and preservation of the river's unrivaled aquatic biodiversity. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this worthy bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the fact that the Negro Leagues ever existed in this country is a painful reminder of the dark days of legalized racism through segregation. However, the success of those leagues, the innovations begun in those leagues and the stars who played in those leagues are sources of great pride and inspiration. National recognition for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is a fitting tribute to those who were involved in the Negro leagues and to the great work the museum is doing to preserve this important chapter in the story of America. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, Representative Emanuel Cleaver is to be commended as the sponsor of the House companion to this resolution. Representative Cleaver's tireless efforts on behalf of this legislation were crucial in bringing this measure before the House today. We support passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 60. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, we support the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the purpose of H.R. 1307, which was introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Scott Garrett. We support H.R. 1307, and have no objection to the adoption of the legislation by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the majority has adequately explained this legislation, H.R. 854, and we have no objections to it. MR. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rIse today in strong support of H.R. 854 and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its adoption. I introduced H.R. 854 on February 16, 2005, to transfer 240 acres of excess Bureau of Land Management, BLM, lands into trust for the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, Tribe. The Benton Paiute Reservation is located in Mono County, approximately 40 miles northeast of Bishop, CA, in one of the most remote and isolated areas of my congressional district. The 240 acres proposed for transfer under H.R. 854 are immediately adjacent to the existing 160-acre Benton Paiute reservation and have been classified by the BLM as ``suitable for disposal'' for more than a decade. In fact, legislation facilitating this transfer goes as far back as the 104th Congress. We have come a long way to get to this day and I'd like to thank Chairman Pombo for his help in making it possible. I would also like to praise the committee staff, particularly Tom Brierton, Chris Fluhr and Jim Hall. Mr. Speaker, the lands taken into trust under H.R. 854 are of vital importance to the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe in its quest for self- sufficiency and to enhance its potential for economic development. The land in question will be put to good use, including the construction of much needed tribal housing units, a health station, wellness center, fire station, police station and an industrial park for manufacturing businesses. Additionally, because of the Utu Utu Gwaitu's strong commitment to a solid economic future based on growth and hard work, the tribe has passed a tribal government resolution to prohibit gaming on the 240- acre parcel. This makes it clear that the tribe will not carry out gaming activities on the lands proposed for transfer. To reflect this, H.R. 854 includes a specific prohibition on gaming. Because of this, I am pleased to say that H.R. 854 has strong support in my district, with backing from the Mono County government and local community, as well as from numerous California Indian tribal governments and organizations. Finally, I am pleased to be able to say that no Federal funds will be necessary to accomplish the proposed land transfer in this legislation. In short, Mr. Speaker, this bill is an example of that bird we see too rarely around here these days: A ``win-win'' proposition. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend the efforts of all the members of the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe, and in particular, I'd like to praise Chairman Joseph Saulque. Chairman Saulque has been an advocate for Indian people for more than three decades and is one of the most long-serving tribal leaders in California. His outstanding work, particularly in the fields of Indian health and education, has made a tremendous difference in improving the lives of generations of California Indians. It has been my pleasure to work with Chairman Saulque and the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe over the last 4 years and I want to thank them for their part in helping to make this bill possible. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 854.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Mr. Walden and Mr. Blumenauer from Oregon for their support of this legislation. We support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, as the majority explained, H.R. 5025 designates approximately 77,216 acres of National Forest System lands in the Mount Hood National Forest as wilderness. The legislation also designates about 25 miles of waterways as part of the National Wild and Scenic River System, creates a system for fee retention on the Mount Hood National Forest, requires the Secretary to prepare a 10-year forest stewardship assessment, and sets up three land exchanges. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my colleagues from Oregon, Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Darlene Hooley, who are all cosponsors of H.R. 5025. In particular, Mr. Blumenauer has worked tirelessly over the past several years to craft and advance this legislation. Mr. Speaker, we support the pending measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, we on this side of the aisle strongly support passage of H.R. 4301. I congratulate our colleague and member of the Resources Committee, Ms. Herseth, for her hard work on this legislation. Ms. Herseth is in South Dakota this afternoon working with farmers who are dealing with a severe drought. Officials representing the Bureau of Reclamation used a heavy hand in the late 1960s and the early 1970s as they acquired land for Blunt Reservoir and other features of the proposed Oahe irrigation project in South Dakota. Farmers in the path of project canals and reservoirs were bullied into selling their lands at rock-bottom prices, only to find out a few years later that the water project would probably never ever be built. H.R. 4301 will allow farmers to buy back their old lands at a significant savings from the currently appraised value. This is a fair and appropriate solution to a problem that has taken far too long to resolve. I again offer congratulations and express our appreciation to Ms. Herseth, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4301.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

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