Ken Calvert

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins), who so ably represents my forefathers in Oklahoma. (Mr. WATKINS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise today in support of a very important bill to the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma. The Five Nations Citizens Land Reform Act of 2000, would transfer from Oklahoma State courts to the Federal Government, jurisdiction over the conveyance, the devise, inheritance, lease, encumbrance, and partition of restricted property, allotment lands, belonging to the members of the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Unlike other federally recognized Indian tribes whose jurisdiction over their lands lies with the Secretary of the Interior, jurisdiction over the lands of these five tribes was placed in various Oklahoma district courts many years ago. H.R. 5308 would have probate proceedings and management and disposition of Indian lands proceed through the Department of the Interior rather than through the multiple State courts. Thus, the restricted lands of the five tribes would be treated like the federally protected allotments of land of other federally recognized tribes. H.R. 5308 would also allow for simplification of the law applicable to allotted Indian lands, would simplify the process for leasing allotted lands, would simplify the Indian land probate and heirship determination process, and would assist in the prevention of the fractionation of Indian lands. Nothing in H.R. 5308 would diminish the trust responsibility of the United States over restricted lands. The five tribes and the Oklahoma State Bar Association, the governor of Oklahoma, and members of the Oklahoma delegation have spent years working on this legislation. Now that everybody has agreed, it is time to pass H.R. 5308. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5308) to amend laws relating to the lands of the citizens of the Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations, historically referred to as the Five Civilized Tribes, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4646) to designate certain National Forest System lands within the boundaries of the State of Virginia as wilderness areas, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CALVERT

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

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume only to comment that the condition of the lodge, which I think we all agree at the park is in horrendous condition, and while we have minor differences on how to go about this, the problem is that we may lose that facility forever if we do not work to pass this legislation immediately. Madam Speaker, I move to pass this good piece of legislation by our colleague, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Hill), who is retiring from the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 4521, as introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Hill), will ensure the future protection of Glacier National Park by laying out a plan to restore the Going-to-the-Sun Road, upgrading utility systems in the park, and the future of the grand lodges in the park. The gentleman from Montana has worked diligently on this legislation and should be commended for his service to Montana and the Congress. Madam Speaker, this is good legislation that will ensure that future steps taken by Glacier National Park will enhance the ability of the public to access and to enjoy one of America's great parks. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4521, as amended. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4521) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to authorize and provide funding for rehabilitation of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, to authorize funds for maintenance of utilities related to the Park, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CALVERT

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

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 5041, introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Hill), establishes the boundaries and classification of a segment of the Missouri River in Montana under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The boundary and classification of this segment will conform to those published and recommended by the Department of the Interior in 1980. The Bureau of Land Management has been managing the river as wild and scenic since 1980. In essence, Madam Speaker, this a technical correction to the law enacted in 1980. Apparently, this wild and scenic designation lacked the proper documentation and this bill clears up discrepancy. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5041. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5041) to establish the boundaries and classification of a segment of the Missouri River in Montana under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2917, the Santo Domingo Pueblo Claims Settlement Act of 2000. This important bill is a result of decades of negotiations between the Pueblo, Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture, and the State of New Mexico. The entire New Mexico congressional delegation strongly supports this bill, as does the administration, the Governor of New Mexico, and, most importantly, the Pueblo. It is not every day that we can resolve a dispute that has lasted over 150 years. I urge my colleagues to support S. 2917. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2917) to settle the land claims of the Pueblo of Santo Domingo.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula). (Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2570) to require the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a study regarding methods to commemorate the national significance of the United States roadways that comprise the Lincoln Highway, and for other purposes.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2102) to provide to the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe a permanent land base within its aboriginal homeland, and for other purposes.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4404 is a bill that would allow the payment of medical expenses incurred by the United States Park Police to be paid directly by the National Park Service. This bill would also allow the Park Service to enter into mutual aid agreements with adjacent law enforcement agencies in order that Park Police are indemnified from third party civil claims. Currently, payments are made through the District of Columbia, a process which is very slow. As a result, reimbursement payments to the Park Police have been a hardship to the officers, staff, and their families. This bill would direct the NPS to make direct payments to the Park Police. The bill would also allow the Park Service to enter into a mutual aid agreement with adjacent law enforcement agencies in order that the Park Police are indemnified from third party claims. Madam Speaker, this legislation is ready to move forward. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4404, as amended. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4404) to permit the payment of medical expenses incurred by the United States Park Police in the performance of duty to be made directly by the National Park Service, to allow for waiver and indemnification in mutual law enforcement agreements between the National Park Service and a State or political subdivision when required by State law, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, S. 406 amends Section 405 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to make permanent the demonstration program at four tribally operated Indian Health Service hospitals that allows for direct billing of Medicare, Medicaid and other third-party payers. It will also extend the direct billing option to other tribes and tribal organizations. This demonstration program dramatically increases collections for Medicare and Medicaid services, and significantly reduces the turnaround time between billings and receipt of payment for Medicaid and Medicare services. Additionally, it increased the administrative efficiency of the participating health care providers. All the participants, two of which are in Alaska, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Indian Health Service, report that the program is a great success. S. 406 will make permanent the demonstration program and will end much of the bureaucracy for Indian Health Care Service facilities involved with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. The bottom line is that it will mean more Medicaid and Medicare dollars to Indian facilities to use for improving health care for their members. Madam Speaker, I urge an aye vote on this important bill for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 406) to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to make permanent the demonstration program that allows for direct billing of medicare, medicaid, and other third party payers, and to expand the eligibility under such program to other tribes and tribal organizations.