Donna Christensen

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 361) 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 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first commend our colleague from Texas, and my classmate, Representative Hinojosa, for his dedication to and hard work on this legislation. The purpose of H.R. 361 is to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Resources Conservation and Improvement Act of 2000 to authorize additional projects and related activities. H.R. 361, when enacted, would authorize limited Federal assistance for 19 projects aimed at conserving water or improving water supply. This would include the replacement of irrigation canals and lateral canals, the lining of channels and the installation of water level, flow measurement, pump control, and remote control systems. This legislation would help to accomplish a more sustainable water supply by enhancing existing water distribution systems and monitoring water resources. I thank Mr. Hinojosa for his efforts on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask unanimous consent to have his remarks inserted into the Record, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 361. Mr. Speaker, I reserve 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. 1736) to amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 to provide for conjunctive use of surface and groundwater in Juab County, Utah.

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1139) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to plan, design and construct facilities to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, and other uses from the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, Santa Ana River, California, and for other purposes, as amended.

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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The purpose of H.R. 1139, as amended, is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to plan, design and construct water facilities for municipal, domestic irrigation and other uses in the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, Santa Ana River in California. H.R. 1139, as amended, would authorize limited Federal financial assistance for the design and construction of 20 groundwater wells, groundwater treatment facilities, water storage and pumping facilities and 28 miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties of California. The West, now more than ever, must explore and identify new ways of providing a reliable water supply to meet the current and future water demands of a rapidly growing population. H.R. 1139, as amended, seeks to accomplish this by building new pipelines and infrastructure that would allow for the storage of conserved water in groundwater basins. This project would also serve to provide a critical emergency supply, aid in groundwater cleanup, and reduce dependence on the Colorado River and the very sensitive Bay-Delta. I thank Mr. Calvert for his efforts on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1139, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 54) expressing the support of Congress for the creation of a National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in Southwest Louisiana.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to begin by commending Representative Boustany of Louisiana for introducing H. Con. Res. 54, supporting and encouraging the creation of a National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in southwest Louisiana. House Concurrent Resolution 54 expresses Congress' support of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road District Board of Commissioners in creating and developing a National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in the southwest Louisiana area. Such a center will educate visitors about the devastating effects and rebuilding efforts surrounding the region's recent hurricanes and will preserve history so that future generations may learn from it. We support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 390) recognizing the importance of the Ouachita National Forest on its 100th anniversary.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 390 was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Arkansas, Representative Mike Ross. The bill would express recognition by the House of Representatives of the importance of the Ouachita National Forest on its centennial. The Ouachita is the largest and the oldest national forest in the southern region of the United States. On December 18, 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the establishment of what he called Arkansas National Forest. Nineteen years later, by Executive order, President Calvin Coolidge changed the name of the forest to the Ouachita National Forest, reflecting the name of both the local mountains and the main river running through the forest. The forest encompasses six wilderness areas, seven scenic areas and 11 shooting ranges, as well as 35 recreational areas, including the 26,445-acre Winding Stair National Recreation Area. Mr. Speaker, Ouachita is a noteworthy unit of our National Forest System, and it is appropriate that we take this action today to celebrate the forest's centennial. I want to commend and congratulate my colleague, Representative Ross, for his commitment and leadership on this matter. We support the passage of House Resolution 390 and urge its adoption by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. 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.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Arkansas, Mike Ross.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 341 celebrates the recovery of the American bald eagle, the symbol of our country displayed on American currency and government agency seals, including that of the United States Congress. The bald eagle's recovery is a huge success story for the Endangered Species Act and the conservation laws which preceded it. In 1963, there were 417 pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 States. Today, there are an estimated 9,789 breeding pairs. Later this month, the Secretary of the Interior is expected to remove the bald eagle from the list of threatened species. Several Indian tribes, who consider the eagle extremely important to their culture and even sacred, have raised concerns that the eagle will lose all protections upon delisting. However, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act will continue to protect the bald eagle. I commend Representative David Davis for introducing this resolution which encourages organizations and government agencies working on the conservation of endangered species to collaborate on education information for use in our schools. The resolution also asks the American people to observe American Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies. This resolution merits our support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 94) encouraging the elimination of harmful fishing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity in commercial fishing fleets worldwide and that lead to the overfishing of global fish stocks, as amended.

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