Rob Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, a great deal has been said about the border surge over in the Senate. In typical Senate-think, they have seen a problem and decided to throw money at the problem, even if a lack of funding is not the problem they are facing. This map divides the country up into the Border Patrol sectors. The numbers are from 2010. The numbers are different today but, obviously, the ratios are about the same. In this year, one has to ask the question of why were 56 illegal entries apprehended in the main sector and 200,000 apprehended in the Arizona sector. What was the difference between those two? If you were trying to sneak into a baseball game, something I'm not advocating, but if you were trying to do that, you don't jump over the turnstile where a cop is standing. You go around the corner and find the hole in the fence so no one will actually see what you are doing. The drug cartels are not stupid. They are looking for that hole in the fence. Obviously, this sector is where the majority of the illegals and the illegal drugs and the illegal human trafficking and potential terrorism exists. So the question has to be: Why is that the entrance level of choice? It's actually very simple. Everything that is red is land that's owned by the Federal Government on this map. In Arizona, 80 percent of the border is owned by the Federal Government. Over half of that is in the ``Wilderness'' category, ``Endangered Species,'' or ``Conservation Habitat'' category, where, by special law, the legislation provides this land a special status which prohibits the Border Patrol from entering that area. They can't enter in a motorized vehicle. They can't even pedal a bicycle. They can go into that area on foot, on specially fed horses, and that is it. The drug cartels recognize this. They're not stupid. And they realize that this is the problem. When this Congress insisted a fence be built along the California border, we passed legislation that waived 40 environmental laws that were prohibiting the fence from being built. Those same 40 laws are the laws that prohibit the Border Patrol from going along the red areas of that border and doing their job, which simply means, as ironic as it sounds, Federal law is stopping the Federal Border Patrol from going on Federal land to do a Federal purpose, which is federally stupid. But this is, indeed, what we're doing. The Border Patrol actually cares about the environment. Drug cartels don't at all. This cacti, cut down by the drug cartel, is an endangered species. It was cut down there to stop east-west access on the only road that allows the Border Patrol to follow in that particular area. This truck is a temporary sensor device in a wilderness area. The Border Patrol wanted to move it from point A to point B. It took them 6 months to get approval by the land manager in that area before they could back the truck up and move the truck over to another stop because the land manager was not happy with the Border Patrol being in his Wilderness territory. And the law was on the side of the land manager, not on the side of the Border Patrol. The Senate has tried to say that they're coming up with a compromise solution to increase border security. In actuality, they have done just the opposite. They have put language in there that says that the Homeland Security Secretary can, notwithstanding any other law, require certain elements to be built in this particular area. But that allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to have the political discretion of whether to do it or not. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to have immediate access into these border areas, but only in Arizona. If they go anywhere else along this border, they have to have the written approval of the Secretary of the Interior as well as the Secretary of Agriculture. And most importantly, it says in there that the manner in which the Homeland Security Secretary shall make these decisions must be in the manner that best protects the natural and cultural resources on Federal land. I'm sorry, but as soon as they put that language in there, it requires some bureaucrat to establish what the standard is, and it opens it up to someone else initiating litigation that that is not the best standard possible. In essence, we're back in a worse situation. They wish to have another 25,000 Border Patrol agents. This is what our fence looks like in Arizona today. This is a fence, this is Mexico, that's Arizona, and the open area is the animal habitat to allow animals to go back and forth from Mexico and Arizona. The one road on here is the only road in which the Border Patrol is allowed to go. You can have another 100,000 agents in that area, and you'll simply find out that it won't help unless you let them go outside of that one road. We don't need money. What we need is access. What the Senate is proposing is actually worse than the status quo.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, it is wonderful to realize how the GAO's and the OMB's facts are not inaccurate and also how rules that were waived for this bill have been waived for the same reason in prior pieces of legislation. With that, Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I am happy to yield 4 minutes to the author of one of the bills in here, as well as the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I appreciate the comments that were just made by the gentleman from Massachusetts about a program which does fund $6.7 billion in the WIC program and was passed unanimously by voice vote from both parties in the Appropriations Committee. With that, I yield 3 minutes to the sponsor of one of the bills that is part of this rule, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Utah's most heroic sons and one of my constituents from Ogden, Utah, Spc. Seth Pack of the United States Army, 10th Mountain Division. While out on patrol on July 1, 2011, Seth was almost mortally wounded when he stepped on an improvised explosive device. Losing his leg and close to death, he has since led the way to recovery. Next week, Seth is leaving Walter Reed Military Medical Center to start the next phase of his young life. The man who entered this hospital on the edge of death has now regained his strength, and has returned to his former self. I submit this poem, penned in his honor by Albert Caswell, and let us all take time to remember and thank the men and women of the Armed Forces, and their families, who volunteer to keep freedom alive and sacrifice for us every day. Ahead of the Pack (By Albert Carey Caswell) Out in front . . . All on that hunt! In times of war . . . There are but all of those for sure! Who are out ahead of The Pack . . . Who lock and load! Who so live by such a code! A Rat! A Rat . . . A Rat Tat . . . Tat . . . Tat! Taking the lead, As so for sure all to speed! 10th Mountain Men, upon which our Nation now so depends! Who after the enemy will so run into caves, and kick doors in so very brave! Out . . . ahead of The Pack! As from where you have so led Seth, a fact! For you are a grunt! Ever out on the hunt! To our freedoms to so bring! Of thee I sing! To so live by a code! To lock and load! A Rat! A Rat! A Rat Tat . . . Tat . . . Tat! The United States Army, Who with his band of Brothers are but ready to bare the load! And 10th Mountain Men, who into the face evil do so go! The ones who so live by a code! Where you go! I go! Who so lock and load! A Rat! A Rat! A Rat Tat . . . Tat . . . Tat! Lock and load! For Seth, U . . . R . . . Tall! Because, you have so answered that most noble of calls! That Call To Arms! That Call to War! That Call to Death, as so for sure! To so march off so bravely with clenched fists! To lock and load! A Rat! A Rat! A Rat Tat . . . Tat . . . Tat! As all around you such death and gore appears! As has your fine young life, been so all so here! For such men of honor! For such men of might! Surely they will one day so see Heaven's light! Where you Go! I Go! All in that blood that binds you so! As it was while out on patrol! That you so almost lost your young life, but not your soul! Standing so close to death, right on that very edge . . . To a place where courage crests! As when Seth, you so reached so deep down inside . . . To a place where only courage so lies! As you so began your climb! To lock and load! A Rat! A Rat! A Rat Tat . . . Tat . . . Tat! As you got up out of that bed! With such Strength In Honor, with no regrets! All in your actions what was so said! All at speed, as somehow you became even Army Stronger so indeed! Because 10th Mountain do not follow, they lead! They lead! For you are Army Strong! As your fine heart beats loud and long! That's right, For only The Few, have so led such a most courageous life as have all of you! Who so Lock and Load, who all in the face of death so come shining through! Who so live by a code! A code of honor! A code of war! All for your Brothers In Arms, So Ready All So To Die For! A Rat! A Rat! A Rat Tat . . . Tat. . . Tat! As I remember on those first early days, as you were but a shell of what you are today! As you got up and told pity to get out of your way! For you had mountains to so climb! Because 10th Mountain do it all the time! And Seth, you have so many hearts to so heal! Yea, Seth, you are Ahead of The Pack we can feel . . . For that's where we will so find you out on attack! Leading us all so in time! And where would our Nation all so be, if it were but not for such men and families as all of these? Who, where you go! I go with speed! Who so live by a code! Who so lock and load! Who so look into the face so we can all be free! A Rat! A Rat! A Rat Tat . . . Tat . . . Tat! Way out in front, ahead of the Pack! To so teach us! To so beseech us! To so reach us! As one of Utah's brightest of all sons Who so shines this one! And if ever I had a son, I'd wish that he could walk as tall, as this one! Ahead of The Pack! A Rat! A Rat! A Rat . . . Tat . . . Tat . . . Tat! Who so shines as one of America's most heroic sons! Who to all of our hearts so run!

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Despite being a graduate of the University of Utah and finding myself surrounded by BYU people here--it makes me terribly uncomfortable--this is still a good bill. It is a win-win situation and will provide the experience of those at BYU and the area a much safer and pleasant experience on Y Mountain, and so I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, in closing, when you have diversions that predate a ``wilderness'' designation, you need to give them the ability to maintain those diversions. This is a good bill. I urge my colleagues to vote for it, and more importantly, I urge the Senate to finally do something and pass it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bill was a great bill the first time we passed it, the second time we passed it, and it is still a great bill, and it's necessary for the good people of Idaho. So I would yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 876) to authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I appreciate the comments that were given by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan), and I especially respect and appreciate the comments by the gentleman from American Samoa, who has done so much, and I appreciate all of those. In everything that we are doing, in fact, their comments were right on; that what we are trying to do is ensure that what we do here is to return to the cliche of the House, which is regular order, which means we go through a legitimate process of trying to look at something instead of just flying by the seat of our pants. Therefore, because this was changed significantly in the Senate without much input at all, we are simply doing two things. First of all, we'll be removing the provisions effected by the Senate changes so that the Vietnam Visitors Center can move forward under this bill without any delay, and it will enhance the ability to raise their private funds, but also we want to give careful and due consideration to the Senate-added provisions. So the text of the Senate language affecting future memorials is being introduced today as a standalone bill in the House. We will have a public hearing. We will go through the process, to be held very soon on this particular bill, and then further action by the committee will follow. Once again, this is our process to re-ensure regular order. I urge my colleagues to vote for this particular resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I yield myself such time as I may consume. This particular bill authorizes the National Park Service, again, to conduct a study. The cost of the study would be subject to appropriations. This study would commemorate the role of Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of our National Park Service. For 25 years preceding the creation of the National Park Service, Yosemite National Park was administered by the United States Army, and the Buffalo Soldiers played a key role protecting the park resources that have been enjoyed by many people today. This bill would simply authorize a study as to the role that we should do in commemorating the Buffalo Soldiers in the National Park system specifically as it deals with Yosemite National Park. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 520) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the National Parks, and for other purposes.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 862) to authorize the conveyance of two small parcels of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest containing private improvements that were developed based upon the reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey conducted in May 1960.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, he did steal my thunder. They did train and start in Wendover, Utah, which was part of my district until the legislature became involved in district lines in this last session. I urge my colleagues to support this particular piece of legislation and remind them that any costs that would be associated with this study has to be appropriated. We have another chance to look at that. I firmly support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes a study for the suitability and feasibility of designating this particular area as part of a unit of the National Park System. I think it is a wise concept in which to go to find out the cultural and natural resources that are on this particular area and look forward to its further designation. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 674) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the National Park System.