Chris Cannon

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson). I thank my friend from Pennsylvania, another coal state, for his time here. And while I think it is very important that we produce green energy, I really love coal, and it is what fires America, keeps our lights on. I want to say H.R. 4 is a carefully crafted bill that balances energy conservation and increased production. It is the product of the work of the gentleman from Utah (Chairman Hansen), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), and it is one that we should all support for the good of our Nation. I do believe there is a need for additional work on an important facet of our country's energy policy, the role that American Indian and Native Alaska Tribal Governments can play in the development of new energy resources. Some tribes, like the Utes in my district in Utah, are ideally located on or near oil, shale, coal, petroleum or natural gas reserves, and others have the good fortune of being located near the power grid and thus could easily become energy producers. Indian energy also provides an opportunity for us in Congress to put our money where our mouths are when it comes to tribal sovereignty and economic independence. Many of my friends on both sides of the aisle are concerned about the increasing dependence on gaming as a means of economic development for Indian country. None of us in this chamber want to see Tribal governments relying on gaming solely for job creation and economic empowerment. Indeed, I think I speak for many of us in saying that we would like to broaden the economies of Indian Tribes so that gaming becomes less and less important over time. Energy production is the ideal opportunity to fulfill our trust responsibilities to these local governments and provide Tribes with the tools to help their members, but how do we do that? One answer is to establish more Federal bureaucracies that, while well-intended, often create more burdens than benefits. Such solutions often do more harm than good by furthering Federal paternalism that undermines the concept of sovereignty. Rather than create more bureaucracies, we must ensure that the President's recent order to reduce regulatory barriers to energy production also applies to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But we should consider doing more. Many proposals to date have overlooked key issues, and instead provide for new Federal programs and loan guarantees that do not address the full spectrum of energy issues. We should look to streamlining the process for Tribes to take lands into trust, specifically for energy production, so long as the local communities continue to have input into such acquisitions. We should also consider allowing Tribal governments to do their own environmental assessments, rather than having to rely on the Federal bureaucracy in Washington, D.C. Congress should consider whether, as sovereign governments, Tribes should have licensing and permitting authority for Federal production facilities. Most of all, Mr. Speaker, we must fully consult with Tribal governments to see what they feel is necessary to encourage the development of new energy sources on Indian lands. I look forward in the weeks and months to come to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and our friends in the Native American community. Specifically I hope to move legislation in the Committee on Resources that will promote Tribal sovereignty and self- sufficiency while fostering meaningful economic development. I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his efforts.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to a fallen police chief from Roosevelt, Utah. Police Chief Cecil Gurr was ``off duty'' in his car en route to the grocery store to run family errands when he heard a police dispatch about a domestic dispute at a nearby convenience store. As he had countless other times, he responded to the call. Drawing attention away from his officers, Chief Gurr deliberately placed himself in the line of fire to protect his men. Caught in the exchange of gunfire, Gurr died Friday, July 6th, 2001 in the line of duty for the Duchesne County community. I send my prayers and condolences to his family, neighbors, and the community as a whole. Cecil Gurr had been Roosevelt's police chief since 1978. He grew up in Roosevelt and joined its police force in 1974 after a tour of duty in Vietnam and a short stint with the FBI. Nearly 30 years of his life was devoted to protecting his hometown of 4,000 residents. He is survived by his wife, Lynnette, his three children, and four grandchildren. Left behind are neighbors and a community that will greatly miss his unconditional self sacrifice, kindness, generosity, and quiet demeanor. And, now those left behind must unite to support and strengthen one another during the coming months and years as they heal. ``He was very fair and firm and always had the best interests of the community at hand . . . He'd do anything for you. He never asked for anything in return,'' stated Roosevelt Police Officer Brad Draper. The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial says that ``it is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.'' We may never truly comprehend the latent danger associated with the daily routines of our law enforcement officers. They continually put themselves in danger as they stop a vehicle, respond to an incident or a suspicious circumstance. The dangers, risks, and violence they encounter each day are very real. Sorrowfully, at such times we pause to honor the brave law enforcement officers who serve and protect our communities. I hope they will routinely be given the honor, respect and thanks they deserve--not only when life's fragile nature is revealed. Mr. Speaker, today I ask that you and our colleagues join me in remembering this fine man and the selfless life he lived. On behalf of the residents of the Third District of Utah, we extend our prayers and most heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the work of Ron Madsen, a dedicated public servant who has been Provo City's Economic Redevelopment Director. Ron Madsen has spent the last thirty years working for the City of Provo, and has been an integral part of Provo's downtown revitalization efforts. On July 13 Ron Madsen will retire from the City of Provo, and his absence will be sorely missed. Mr. Madsen began working with Provo City in August 1971 as a Planning Aide, and was promoted to Redevelopment Agency Manager in July 1973. He also worked as Housing and Redevelopment Manager from 1975 to 1983. Since 1983 he has been Provo's Economic Redevelopment Director. Throughout his career, Mr. Madsen has worked in a tireless and selfless manner to preserve the character of Provo while at the same time encouraging balanced economic growth. Some of the projects he has worked on include developing Provo City's Historic Downtown into the central point in Utah County for government and legal services, as well as prime office space, and working to bring NuSkin, Inc. international headquarters to downtown Provo. Perhaps the pinnacle of Ron Madsen's career was the development of the East Bay Retail and Business Park. Mr. Madsen succeeded in securing millions of dollars in federal funds that were crucial to completing this premiere business park. The establishment of the East Bay Business Park resulted in key national businesses relocating to Provo, such as Novell, Inc. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Madsen was well known for his integrity and civility in working with his peers. I am also told that like that great American Cowboy Humorist Will Rogers, Mr. Madsen had a wry, genial common sense that was enjoyed by all who worked with him. Therefore, I am proud to join with his many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Ron Madsen for his dedicated service to the City of Provo. I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all his future endeavors.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Chairman, I would like to first thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young), the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf), and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member, for their condescension in this matter. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would simply eliminate a distinction in classes of people that Congress has already decided should be considered as one class. We recognize that there is not enough money available for the whole trust fund or to fund all of the claims under the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act, and I would just like to maintain a group, instead of making a distinction between groups.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Chairman, I have in fact introduced a bill in the House that would make this a mandatory expenditure instead of discretionary. My colleague from Utah in the other body has also introduced a bill. I suspect that the likelihood that this will pass this Congress is very high, and that I think it would eliminate the concern and the problem we have here.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Susan Chasson, a woman of great compassion. This afternoon Ms. Chasson will be awarded the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Program Award. As a nurse and a victims' advocate, Ms. Chasson was able to see that the system for assisting children who are victims of abuse was not working, and that the system itself often caused more trauma to the child than it helped. Susan acted on this and returned to school to obtain a law degree so that she could have a greater impact on the system. In 1991, Ms. Chasson founded the Children's Justice Center in Provo, Utah to help children who are victims of physical abuse and sexual assault. The Center provides these children with a homelike environment where they can tell their stories and begin the healing process. Their staff currently serves over 1,200 victims annually. The Center also provides medical exams for the children and mental health services for both the children and their families, all of whom are victims. Susan Chasson's dedication and perseverance in breaking through the silence of child abuse reminds us that one person's idea can make all the difference in the world. While it is disappointing that child abuse remains an issue in the 21st Century, Susan Chasson's vision and endeavors must be commended. She is truly a hero for us all.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, throughout the prosperous history of this great state, our ancestors valued harmony between community growth and preservation of resources. We are encircled by beautiful landscapes and enjoy the ability to find escape and solace in the vast mountains, meandering rivers, or immense desert lands. Utah's natural beauty and rich resources demand a careful balance between protection and growth of competing interests. The Emery County Commissioners, along with the citizens of Emery County, responded to the need for a thoughtful, responsible, and cooperative effort in planning wise land management policy within the county. In an effort to provide a forum for all interested parties to voice their concerns and influence policy, an invitation was extended to elected representatives, federal and state land management agencies, county citizens, and individuals representing various recreational land user and environmental groups to establish the Emery County Public Lands Council. Their charge was to find the best possible solution for managing lands within Emery County's boundaries, while setting aside their differences to become a united and cohesive voice. The Emery County Public Lands Council soon learned that it agrees on more issues than earlier anticipated. All groups express an earnest aspiration to safeguard the San Rafael Swell. As so ably spoken by County Commissioner Randy Johnson, ``Environmentalists share with Emery County a great desire to protect the lands of the San Rafael, but differ philosophically over what kinds of management should be implemented.'' Every stakeholder possesses a deep commitment to protect the San Rafael Swell and safeguard its matchless and distinctive qualities for posterity. Members of the Council advocate for local users and work with federal and state agencies to develop a public lands strategy. They contribute to land use planning to guarantee cooperation among these eclectic bodies and Emery County interests. In our quest for a united effort to safeguard and protect our land for thoughtful use and community stability, I recognize the need for a joint endeavor to accomplish our objectives. I commend the Emery County Public Lands Council for acting as a model for all counties, states, and individuals who desire to preserve our nation's beautiful natural resources.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Madam Chairman, in the last eight years my home and the homes of my neighbors have been threatened by fire on the mountain behind our town in Mapleton. I want to thank the heroic, hard working Federal firefighters for how they fought those infernos. My home is in the mouth of a canyon that has a strong and regular evening wind. Had the fire reached the canyon it would have been like a huge blowtorch. Many Utahns have shared the same concerns. We have a lot of homes located along the hundreds of miles of the urban/public lands interface. Our ways of thinking about fire have shifted in recent years. We understand the benefits of fires in the natural cycles of our public lands. The beautiful areas where we live, the parks and forests that we enjoy, can benefit from reducing the fire risk by reducing fuel loads, prescribed burns, and educating people on fire safety. To undertake these prevention measures, the Forest Service must first consult with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, ensuring that there will be no adverse effects to animals and especially endangered species. Unfortunately, the USFWS lacks the money to do what is needed. H.R. 581 will allow the Forest Service to reimburse the Fish and Wildlife Service for their consultations. Last year, many of the western states, including Utah, experienced some of the worst forest fires in history. Utah's current fire conditions look similar to last year's. According to the National Forest Service, most of the state is at high and very high risk of fire danger. Last year nearly 2,000 fires in Utah burned 228,000 acres of land. In Utah County alone, over 3,200 acres of land were destroyed by 57 fires. Preventive actions can help save our lands as well as better allocate the taxpayer money spent on putting out fires. The Yellowstone fire of 1988 cost the nation $120 million to fight. Only a fraction of that amount would have been needed for prevention. As prescribed, controlled fire costs about $50 an acre. In a wilderness fire this cost for fighting the fire alone increases to between $200-$400 an acre. That does not include the cost of lost timber, wildlife, or ecological damage. Simply reducing the built-up fuel load that grew during years of fire suppression can have a significant effect on reducing fire danger. Educating people on fire safety is a key issue as well. In Utah, 60- 70% of the fires are either accidentally or intentionally started by humans, Most of these could be avoided with proper understanding. We must make funding for responsible fire practices a priority. This will improve the sense of serenity for my family, the constituents who I serve, and the many people who live on or near our public lands.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, on Memorial Day, we remember those brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom and world stability that we now enjoy. Let us use this day to remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, and our friends who have given their last full measure of devotion to our country. As part of the ongoing celebration, I rise today to honor the Lehi American Legion of Utah as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The veteran memorial they have constructed in the Third District of Utah, which I represent, is a fitting and proper way to honor those who have served. The Lehi American Post 19 and their 88 members have designed a memorial wall which includes over 400 names of veterans that are buried in the Lehi cemetery. This memorial stands not only as a tribute to the deceased, but as a tribute to the ideals that American soldiers still embrace and defend today. Many of us celebrate Memorial Day with parades, social gatherings, and barbeques, but let us not forget the silent pain of the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead. Let us not forget what Memorial Day is really all about: honoring America's fallen heroes. The Lehi American Legion's memorial honors over 400 such heroic veterans who have served since World War I. Its unique presentation is deserving of special attention. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day is a very special day to honor our veterans and current service men and women who contribute to our national defense. The people of Utah are eternally grateful to them and to their families for making such great sacrifices on our behalf.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Responsible Monitoring Act of 2000.'' This bill is intended to make the Internet a better, safer place by encouraging voluntary efforts to detect and stop illegal activities. This legislation would provide real incentives for responsible monitoring by ``E-commerce'' businesses that host consumer- to-consumer transactions on their web sites. Allowing e-companies to monitor their sites and remove illegal goods and services offered for sale by others, is the right approach for a better Internet. Unfortunately, current law actually discourages E-commerce companies from even looking for illegal activity on their sites. Under current law ignorance is bliss, and those companies most active in protecting their users are most at risk. This situation must be changed. I realize that this bill will not be acted upon in the 106th Congress prior to adjournment, but I believe it is crucial to put the issue before the House now to get members thinking about a solution. As long as e-companies remain under the threat of litigation they will be reluctant to self monitor. I will reintroduce similar legislation in the 107th Congress and request hearings. I am aware, however, that content providers, privacy advocates, and others have concerns about this issue. I would like to invite all concerned parties to work with us in the next Congress to find a workable solution that addresses all concerns and encourages voluntary, responsible monitoring on the Internet.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise for a point of personal privilege. I was unavoidably detained during a vote on the motion by the gentleman from Oregon to instruct conferees on the Fiscal Year 2001 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, rollcall vote No. 591. Had I been present I would have voted ``No.''

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, on September 7, 2000 the House in recorded vote number 459 voted on H.R. 4844 the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act. During this vote I mistakenly voted Nay against the bill and should have voted Aye in favor of the bill. I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 4844 and wish to express my support for the bill.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the FY 01 Department of Defense bill. Passage of this legislation is vital to our military readiness and security. I want to extend my utmost appreciation to our Chairman for his work on this legislation and to the staff that contributed countless hours to ensure its completion. In addition to the crucial ongoing military operations included in this bill, there is a provision that will significantly aid the Moab, Utah community in my district of southeastern Utah. We have our colleagues speak on this provision and I just want to add my support to its inclusion. For years, the Grand County Council and the people of Moab, Utah have been working to get the federal government to clean up the ten and a half million ton pile of uranium mill tailings that was the byproduct of our extensive military buildup during the Cold War. With the help of many of our colleagues from downstream states, including members of this Committee such as Jim Hansen, Duncan Hunter, and Bob Stump, we were able to include language to ensure that clean up and removal of this pile will begin and be completed in a timely, safe and scientific manner. This committee has done an excellent job in addressing concerns of the many stakeholders and I know that my constituents are anxious to see the long awaited clean up begin. Again, I want to thank Mr. Spence for his work and I wish I had the opportunity to personally thank Mr. Bateman. Utah shall forever be indebted to the gentleman from Virginia for his commitment to help preserve, protect and clean up one of our most beautiful areas of the country.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I was unfortunately delayed away from the Capitol during the vote on the Defense Authorization legislation, H.R. 4205. However, had I been here, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this bill adds the final piece to the H-1B legislation that we passed earlier this week. There is widespread consensus that the $500 fee for an H-1B visa application should be increased. The money collected in fees goes toward job training for American workers and scholarships for American students studying math and science. These programs will provide the long-term solution to the shortage of information technology workers plaguing our economy. H.R. 5362 raises the fee to $1,000. With the new H-1B quota of 195,000, this increased fee could raise almost $200 million a year for job training and scholarships. The bill also exempts primary and secondary schools and universities from having to pay the fee. These institutions are already doing their part to train American students for the jobs of the future.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R 5362) to increase the amount of fees charged to employers who are petitioners for the employment of H-1B non-immigrant workers, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to take a moment to thank those involved in this bill, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) has worked indefatigably on this issue, as has the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). We appreciate that. Her great leadership on the committee has been helpful. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) has worked very, very hard on these issues. We appreciate his comments, and those of the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton), who just spoke eloquently. We appreciate her concerns and leadership on the issue.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 5362.

Mr. CANNON

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just had a phone call from the president and CEO of Intel, Mr. Craig Barrett, whose view of this is that we can either import workers, or export jobs. I think that is really what this comes down to. Part of the criticism of this bill has come from people who believe that bringing in new workers would keep wages low. As a practical matter, these people that are coming in with high skills and high education are making the pie bigger. They are making us all wealthier. That is just the fundamental distinction between the sides here. I would like to speak for a moment about this new economy and what is going on here. We talk about the new economy, the Internet economy, the e-economy, and yet is there any part of our economy that is not affected by this? Consider, for instance, trucking. The first company in the country that adopted global satellite positioning for its trucks was from my district in Utah, England Trucking. Their profitability skyrocketed initially when they did that, but now every other trucking company in the country is using that technology. And what has happened? The cost of trucking has plummeted because of that technology. Their greatest problem is getting enough drivers these days. If you look at every other element of our economy, take farming, for instance. The price of a bushel of corn today is the same as it was essentially in 1950, unadjusted for inflation. That is because our farmers have been at the very cutting edge of technology. What we are doing with this bill is bringing in the people that will actually accelerate the rate at which we grow our economy and which we develop new technologies. The amazing thing is that the rate at which we are absorbing new technology is accelerating, and the rate at which we have opportunities to expand technology are accelerating. For instance, the Proteon project now, which is the application of the knowledge we have developed through the human genome project, is mammoth; and the opportunities for human health and other development from just that one issue alone are tremendous. So we do not have a dearth of jobs; we have a dearth of people to carry these great opportunities forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for his limited support of this bill. It is an important bill. I would just point out that the Senate version has been around for a very long time. There are at least two copies; the Speaker has a copy and my staff has a copy here. So the issue has been around for a while and it is a very important issue that we need to move forward with under the current circumstances. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to rise in support of this legislation. I am pleased that we are moving forward on this vital issue for our economy. America is ascendant. We have a strong, consumer-driven, innovative economy that is continuing to grow. We have more high-tech products available to our citizens than any other country in the world. Low- cost, high-speed access to the Internet is becoming a reality for every person in America. The latest employment numbers show that this high technology-driven economy has created 340,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate is at 3.9 percent, a 30-year low. The legislation before us today will help this economic prosperity continue by meeting the critical need for skilled workers, workers we cannot get enough of. A key but little known fact about this booming high-tech economy is that it is dependent upon skilled workers. We need those. That is like lifeblood for us. We cannot produce enough of these highly skilled workers quickly enough from our own education system to keep pace with the demand. For years we have had a special immigration program, the H-1B visa, which allows highly skilled workers to come to this country temporarily to work for American companies in order to meet critical shortages of skilled personnel. Unfortunately, the current program still does not provide enough visas to meet the growing demands and the growing shortfall of domestically educated high-tech workers. The current ceiling of 115,000 visas per year was reached in March, less than halfway through the current fiscal year. All the world wants to come to this land of opportunity to develop and market their ideas. We want them to come. We want everyone to be able to follow his or her dreams and enrich themselves and enrich this country. The fact that the best and the brightest from the rest of the world want to come here and work and learn, to invent and build businesses is the ultimate compliment to our system. We should welcome them with open arms. This is how America spreads democracy and the rule of law. The people will make our country and our economy better while they are here and will take our concept of freedom back to their homes and initiate change there. We have worked hard on this H-1B legislation to open the doors wide to educated people, so that they can come to the United States and give us the benefits as they develop their ideas. This is the American dream. It should be available to everyone everywhere. The American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act of 2000 will feed the high-tech economy with these vital workers by providing 195,000 H-1B visas in fiscal 2000, and that is 80,000 in addition to the 115,000 we currently have; 195,000 for the fiscal year 2001, and 195,000 for fiscal 2002. Our opponents complain that a greater focus on education of American workers is the answer. But this long-term solution cannot meet today's critical need. American companies will always want to recruit the top professionals they can find, but there is no reason why they should have to choose between hiring the most qualified employees now to meet their immediate needs and support long-term excellence in our schools in the high-tech workforce. They can do both. We can do both. The supporters of this legislation read like a who's who of the most innovative, fastest-growing companies in America, the companies who drive this economy forward: Microsoft, Intel, Sysco Systems, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard, and Texas Instruments. Their demands are infinitely reasonable. The only shame in all this is that we have to spend a year working with Congress to allow them to hire people and create more jobs. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.