Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 4625, the Soda Ash Royalty Relief Act of 2004, authored by the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin). Soda ash, a chemical produced from trona ore, means mining jobs in southwest Wyoming. These jobs, however, may disappear if we do not provide some measure of relief for our domestic trona producers who are fighting to stay competitive in today's global economy. Simply put, Mr. Speaker, unfair competition from China threatens to dismantle the American soda ash industry. The pending bill would, for a limited time, enhance the competitiveness of our domestic producers by providing a royalty reduction on trona produced on Federal lands. At a time when too many American jobs are being lost, we must do what is necessary to keep our workforce here at home strong and competitive. We, on this side of the aisle, have no objection to passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the purpose of H.R. 4170, which was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the chairman of the Committee on Resources, at the request of the administration. At this point, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank publicly the chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), for attending the 60th anniversary of Guam's liberation this past weekend in Tracy, California. On behalf of the Committee on Resources ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), we appreciate the willingness of the chairman and his staff to make changes to the bill to address concerns about the use of volunteers in regulatory and legal offices within the Department of Interior. Mr. Speaker, with those changes, we have no objection to the passage of H.R. 4170, as amended, by the House today.

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, as noted, H.R. 4158 is a noncontroversial piece of legislation to convey to the Government of Mexico at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer the decommissioned hydrographic survey vessel Whiting from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I want to go on record to commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz) for recognizing the value of conveying the vessel to help strengthen the Mexican Government's civilian hydrographic survey capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico and to participate in joint hydrographic operations with the United States.

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the purpose of H.R. 3932. While it is unusual to have a hydroelectric facility in a national park, this is a nearly 100-year-old use that has been and will continue to be held to a very high standard to ensure that there is no degradation of park resources. The National Park Service supports this legislation, as amended, and we appreciate the willingness of the majority to work with us to see that high standards for the use of national parks are maintained and that the park is adequately compensated for this use of park resources. We support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve 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 have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 142 would support the construction of desalting and water recycling projects in Southern California. These projects can help stabilize water supplies and reduce the need to use water from the Colorado River. Local communities have made substantial investments in the project, and they do deserve our support. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird), the author of this legislation.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the history of the United States cannot be overstated. Once enacted, H.R. 3819 will ensure that the critical ``turnaround'' chapter of the Lewis and Clark story, which took place once they reached the west coast, can be fully explored and the relevant sites fully conserved and interpreted. H.R. 3819, sponsored by the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Baird), would implement the preferred alternative identified in the recently completed Lower Columbia Lewis and Clark Sites Boundary Study. The gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) is to be commended for his diligence in getting this measure to the floor and for his dedication as a steward of the Lewis and Clark story. We urge our colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve 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 have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3785, as amended, represents a cooperative effort among the bill's sponsor, the Committee on Resources, the National Park Service and other Federal and State agencies to help restore natural water flows that are very important to the health and well-being of the Everglades in Florida. This legislation presents a workable solution to the resource management needs in this area, and we support adoption of the bill by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve 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 have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the drought in the Colorado River Basin is a serious crisis. H.R. 2991 would help support the construction of regional water recycling projects in southern California. These projects can help stabilize water supplies and reduce the need to use water from the Colorado River. Local communities have made substantial investments in the projects, and they deserve our support. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation authored by my colleague from California (Mr. Dreier). Mr. Speaker, I reserve 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 have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the adequate description of the legislation provided by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth). To briefly reiterate, H.R. 2619 would virtually double the size of the existing Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The purpose of this 219-acre expansion would be to protect the scarce and threatened habitats for several endangered species of Hawaiian wildlife. This noncontroversial legislation is strongly supported by the State of Hawaii, the mayor of Kauai, the Kauai County Council, and the citizens of the Kilauea. That this expansion will be executed entirely through willing seller purchases is testament to the tireless consensus-building which has been accomplished by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case). Both the Committee on Resources ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), and I commend the gentleman from Hawaii for his efforts to protect special areas of the Hawaiian environment. I urge Members to support this legislation. Mr. CASE, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2619, my Kilauea Point National Wildlife Expansion Act. This bill authorizes the addition of 234 invaluable acres to the Refuge, a national treasure, currently home to a variety of endangered and threatened seabirds as well as Hawai`i's endangered state bird, the nene (Hawaiian Goose). This bill is a vital component of one of my principal goals in Congress: to ensure that federal and/or state or private protection is extended to as many of Hawai`i's threatened and irreplaceable areas as possible, both to ensure the survival and recovery of Hawai`i's unique endangered and threatened species and to preserve the dwindling unspoiled resources of our beautiful islands for future generations. The Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge, located at the northernmost tip of Kaua`i, was established in 1985. The initial acreage of 31 acres was increased to 203 acres through additional acquisitions in 1993 and 1994. The refuge provides invaluable habitat for many native seabirds, including the Laysan Albatross, the Red-footed Booby, and the Wedge- tailed Shearwater, as well as for the endangered nene. Endangered native plants have also been reintroduced to the area. The Refuge and its historic lighthouse have become one of Hawai`i's world-class tourist destinations, visited by some 300,000 visitors each year. It is one of the most heavily visited refuges in the United States. The proposed expansion area comprises five parcels of some 234 acres adjoining the boundary of the Refuge on both the east and west sides. The Kilauea River runs through a portion of the land, which also includes an extensive lo'i (irrigated terrace for traditional cultivation of taro, the staple crop of Native Hawaiians) which could be restored to support endangered Hawaiian water birds, including the Hawaiian duck (Koloa), Hawaiian coot (`Alae `ke`oke`o), Hawaiian stilt (Ae`o), and Hawaiian moorhen (`Alae `ula). There is also a high quality estuarine ecosystem at the lower reaches of the river, which includes habitat for endangered birds as well as native stream life, such as the hihiwai (an endemic snail), o`opu (native goby), the native sleeper fish, flagtail, mullet, prawn, shrimp, invertebrates and juveniles of several important recreational and commercial marine fish species. The proposed addition also provides excellent additional habitat for the nene, which was only recently saved from extinction. The beach is also sometimes used by endangered Hawaiian monk seals, and threatened and endangered sea turtles nest in the area. The upper end of the proposed expansion area contains one of the largest waterfalls (Kilauea Falls) in the state of Hawai`i. One of the parcels, 5 acres of valuable beachfront property, was donated after introduction of the bill by a private owner to the Kauai Public Land Trust for eventual transfer to the Fish & Wildlife Service. The owner of another 15-acre parcel has expressed his desire to donate it to the Refuge. The other parcels are on the market, although their owners are amenable to acquisition by the Refuge. The Kilauea community strongly supports the Refuge. In fact, the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a model for management of other federal refuges nationwide. The operations of the Refuge are supported by community volunteers, who give daily tours of the Refuge and help in the preservation and propagation of native plant species. The principal volunteer group, Kilauea Point Natural History Association, even has a small store in the Visitor Center, the proceeds of which support environmental education programs throughout Kaua`i. H.R. 2619 is supported by Kaua`i's Mayor Bryan Baptiste, State Senator Gary L. Hooser, State Representatives Hermina M. Morita and Ezra Kanoho, the Kaua`i County Council, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Kilauea Neighborhood Association, the Kaua`i Public Land Trust, the Kilauea Point Natural History Association, and the Hawai`i Chapter of the Sierra Club. I want to take a moment to thank some of the individuals in Kaua`i whose dedication and commitment to the Refuge and the endangered species it protects inspired development of this bill: Gary Smith, Gary and Beryl Blaich, Susan Boynton, Janis Lyon, and Katie Pickett. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Oceans and Wildlife Chair Wayne Gilchrest and Ranking Member Frank Pallone for moving this bill through their subcommittee, as well as Committee Chair Richard Pombo and Ranking Nick Rahall for helping to bring the bill to the floor today. I would also like to recognize the work of Committee and Subcommittee staff, in particular Dave Jansen and Jim Zoia on the minority staff and Harry Burroughs, Dave Whaley, Mike Correia, and Steve Ding on the majority staff. I respectfully ask my colleagues to support H.R. 2619 and invite you to come to the Island of Kaua`i to visit our Refuge. I know that if you did so, you would be as convinced as I am of the importance of protecting these previous lands.