Rob Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), who has proven an expert as well as totally versed on the issues of Native Americans in the United States.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Under current law, each and every nonmineral lease that a tribe executes with a third party is subject to approval of the Department of the Interior before it can take effect. It doesn't matter whether the tribe and a third party have negotiated the terms of a lease to their mutual satisfaction; Washington, D.C., ultimately decides because, after all, Washington, D.C., always knows better. Unfortunately, the result of this paternalism is predictable--the leases do not get approved on a timely basis, if at all. The government has erected all kinds of regulatory hurdles for tribes leasing their lands. In the private sector, time is money; and when the government delay costs money, investors take their business elsewhere. In 2000, Congress agreed with a request by the Navajo Nation to let the tribe lease its land without Federal approval so long as the leasing occurs under tribal regulations and they have been approved by the Secretary. The amendments absolve taxpayers from liability for leasing decisions the Navajo Nation makes. For years, many tribes have pleaded with Congress to let them manage their lands with less Federal supervision. H.R. 205 simply allows any tribe the same option that the Navajo Nation already enjoys. While this bill does not completely remove the government from tribal lands, which would be our goal, it takes a step in the right direction. A previous version of this bill was introduced and ordered reported in the very last Congress, but it languished and saw no further action. So I am very pleased today that this bill, sponsored by a Democrat Member, that decreases Federal regulation of Indian lands is poised to pass with very strong bipartisan support. I urge adoption of this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3874) to provide for the conveyance of eight cemeteries that are located on National Forest System land in Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota, as amended.

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 include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to Mrs. Noem of South Dakota, the sponsor of this bill, who has worked so hard and has done such a great job on it, to explain this commonsense bill.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. In closing, may I just say that I want to commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton) for taking the time and the effort to put forth a well thought-out and locally supported piece of legislation that designates an area of special significance in the district that he happens to represent. This legislation is an example of the way this type of designation should be done, as opposed to by administrative fiat under things like the Antiquities Act. I urge the adoption of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2621) to establish the Chimney Rock National Monument in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), who has done such great work to move this potential issue forward.

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 material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. With that, Mr. Speaker, since this is a significant bill that makes a change that has been long overdue, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heck).

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2745) to amend the Mesquite Lands Act of 1986 to facilitate implementation of a multispecies habitat conservation plan for the Virgin River in Clark County, Nevada, as amended.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Authored by Congressman Heck, H.R. 2745 was amended by the Natural Resources Committee and is further amended today to ensure that there is no cost to the taxpayer. This will treat all proceeds from land sales uniformly and, again, at no cost to the taxpayer. So I urge adoption of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. This week, in conjunction with Teacher Appreciation Week, is National Substitute Teacher Recognition Week, recognizing the 270,000 men and women who fill in for permanent teachers every day in the United States. Research by the Substitute Teacher Institute at Utah State University shows that approximately 1 year of every kid's K 12 education is conducted by those extraordinary individuals who are willing to take on the challenge of providing quality education when the permanent teacher is out of the classroom. I taught for 28 years. I have substituted for my colleagues' classes--it is a miserable job--but these members of the community who fill the void in education are worthy of our recognition. I would also like to recognize and commend the Substitute Teacher Institute, which since 1995 has been providing activities and techniques to substitutes and has been providing leadership in its service to districts and substitute teachers nationwide. The Substitute Teacher Institute works to revolutionize the role of substitute teachers into opportunities for educational excellence. I commend them, and I wish to commend all of those people who are substitutes in our Nation's school systems.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

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

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. This is another great bill. I urge its adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

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

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, as has been said, this is a problem. It's sad that it has to come all the way to the Congress to actually solve this problem, but it is being solved; and I appreciate the gentleman from Arizona's hard work in trying to help his constituents out. I would encourage our Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. 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.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. It's another great bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2240) to authorize the exchange of land or interest in land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

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 include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 491) to modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah

Mr. BISHOP of Utah. This is another great solution to a problem that should have been solved at some other level. I appreciate the gentleman for bringing it back. I urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.