Donna Christensen

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 689 was introduced by our colleague from California, Representative Herger. The bill authorizes the exchange of land between the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The specified lands are located within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California. The purpose of the exchange is to ease problems that off-highway vehicle users are having with permitting. Due to the patchwork nature of the Federal land in that area, OHV users currently need to acquire two permits--one from the BLM and one from the Forest Service. This bill will mean that OHV users need only one permit from the BLM to operate the vehicles in the region. The administration supports this legislation, and so do I. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire if my colleague has any other speakers on the other side?

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created by Congress on June 15, 1934. The park now encompasses more than 520,000 acres of land in Tennessee and North Carolina, making it the largest protected area in the eastern United States. It is also our Nation's most visited national park. This great park is world-renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture. House Resolution 421, introduced by the gentleman from Tennessee, Representative David Roe, would express the commendation of the House of Representatives to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the National Park Service for 75 years of successful management and preservation of the park land. Mr. Speaker, we support House Resolution 421, and urge its adoption by the House today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 421) recognizing and commending the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on its 75th year anniversary.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, at this time I'd like to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this resolution, Congressman Baca of California. (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I, too, want to thank and commend Congressman Baca for this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. 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.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I now want to yield as much time as he might consume to the sponsor of the bill, to my classmate, Mr. Ruben Hinojosa of Texas.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1393) to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 to authorize additional projects and activities under that Act, and for other purposes.

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1280) to modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1120) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Central Texas Water Recycling and Reuse Project, and for other purposes.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. 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.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1120 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Central Texas Water Recycling and Reuse Project. The project will treat and recycle wastewater generated by the city of Waco and six neighboring communities. Similar legislation was passed by the House under suspension of the rules in the 109th and 110th Congresses. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 1120, and I commend the bill's sponsor, Mr. Edwards of Texas, for his persistence and hard work to secure authorization for this very important project. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 325, sponsored by the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee chairman, Raul Grijalva, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project. The extremely arid conditions and climate of the Tucson, Arizona metropolitan area require the careful and innovative planning of both water supply and wastewater treatment systems. The proposed Avra Valley Reclamation and Riparian Restoration site would spread treated wastewater on the mesquite riparian forest in Black Wash, creating valuable riparian habitat for migrating birds while recharging groundwater for the greater Tucson area. I commend Mr. Grijalva for bringing this legislation to our attention, and I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 325. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. 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.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 325) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project.