Eni Faleomavaega

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to note the particular good work of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), my good friend and colleague, certainly for his leadership and for his sponsorship of this important piece of legislation.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. H.R. 468 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire from willing sellers most of Saint Helena Island for management as a National Scenic Area. The nearly 270-acre island, which sits a couple of miles offshore from the Hiawatha National Forest shoreline in northern Lake Michigan, is rich in ecological and cultural resources. The small bit of acreage that does not convey to the Forest Service is owned by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. This bill overwhelmingly was passed by the House in September of last year; and in October of this year, the Senate unanimously passed it with a minor amendment. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I also want to commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss) for his introduction of this legislation. The Coastal Barrier Resources Act established the sound policy that the best way to protect coastal barriers was not to prohibit private development, but instead, to remove Federal benefits and financial assistance that encourage or subsidize such developments. In general, this policy has been very successful. And that said, Mr. Speaker, Congress has found the need from time to time to correct technical errors revealed in the original Coastal Barrier System maps. As noted by the previous speaker, the House passed H.R. 34 last November without objection. At the request of the other body, the Fish and Wildlife Service completed a digital analysis of public land holdings on North Captiva Island that are presently included in the otherwise protected area labeled as P-19P. The new map was developed by the Fish and Wildlife Service to depict more detailed analysis. This new map, dated June 5 of this year, was adopted by the other body when it passed H.R. 34 last week. It is our understanding that this new map has not changed in any way the corrected boundaries for Cayo Costa State Park. Furthermore, we understand that these digital clarifications have not removed any area from either the otherwise protected area of P-19P or from the adjacent coastal barrier resources system unit, P-19. Lastly, the Fish and Wildlife Service fully attests to the accuracy of this new map. As a result, we have no objections to this legislation as amended by the other body to adopt the map dated June 5 of this year. This legislation falls within the realm of legitimate technical corrections, and the bill is not controversial. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. 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. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. 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. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3292, a bill sponsored by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker), a bill that would establish the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge in the State of Louisiana. The biological diversity and ecological significance of these resources will be a valuable addition to our national wildlife refuge system. We reviewed the amendments and technical corrections that were added to this legislation by the other body, and we find them helpful and noncontroversial. Consequently, we have no objections in passing this amended bill. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the administration fully supports the provisions of this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2879 as passed by the House directs the Secretary of the Interior to insert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial a plaque commemorating the speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the ``I Have a Dream'' speech. The bill originally passed the House by a voice vote on November 9 of last year. The Senate passed the bill last week and has returned the measure to the House with an amendment. The Senate amendment makes a number of clarifying and technical changes to the bill. We support these changes. In fact, we believe these changes strengthen the bill by providing greater flexibility on the placement of a plaque and by making sure that this action is carried out in conformance with the Commemorative Works Act. Mr. Speaker, I want to note that our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) was present and was one of the speakers that day in the summer of 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and was with Dr. King when rendering the ``I Have a Dream'' speech that occurred at the Lincoln Memorial, which certainly had a profound impact not only on the civil rights movement but I would say that this Member particularly was very touched by the speech that Dr. King gave on that day. I ask my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, first of all I certainly want to commend my good friend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), the chief sponsor of this bill. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 621 would have the effect of returning to the Senate the House-passed language in the bill H.R. 150, the Education Land Grant Act. The House originally passed this measure in June of last year and the Senate subsequently took up the bill and sent it back to the House in April of this year with an amendment. The Senate amendment is a significant change in the purpose and scope of H.R. 150 as passed by this body. There are a number of serious problems with the Senate amendment in terms of policy and its application. Whereas the House bill was narrowly focusing on making land available for schools, the Senate amendment greatly expands the authorized purposes, includes new detailed language on the transfers and reverters as well as making a number of other changes in the bill. It is our understanding that the administration strongly opposes the language of the Senate amendment. Given the problems with the Senate amendment, we do not object to disagreeing with the Senate language and returning the bill to the Senate with the original House-passed provisions. Mr. Speaker, again I want to commend my friend from Arizona for this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I was looking at the clock and looking at some 11 hours, that I had sincerely hoped that the staff members on the majority side and our side would at least have had this occasion for this whole day passing, if there is some way we can negotiate in good faith and some way to find a solution to prevent this kind of a deadlock. And now we bring ourselves here to the floor with this kind of a situation that I feel very, very bad about. I sincerely wish there could have been some other way of resolving this issue. Now that we are before the floor and reluctantly and with tremendous respect that I have for my good friend from Nevada, I had just hoped that we would have resolved this issue in some way or somehow, but somehow this matter has not been resolved. As I said, with tremendous reluctance, I have to respectfully oppose this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), chairman of our Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, and the chief sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons). However, this evening, Mr. Speaker, with tremendous reluctance and despite my respect for my good friend from Nevada, I have to rise in opposition to H.R. 4656. This bill authorizes the Forest Service to convey for fair market value an approximately 8.7 acre parcel on the Tahoe National Forest in Washoe County School District for use as an elementary school site. Although the parcel is valued between $2 million and $4 million, a deed restriction directing use as a school site and a reversionary clause reduces the value considerably. The administration testified that the appraisal value would be reduced by approximately 75 percent. The parcel to be conveyed was originally acquired by the Forest Service in 1981 as an environmentally sensitive property under the Santini-Burton Act for approximately $500,000. This land, as other land around Lake Tahoe, has appreciated considerably in the last 20 years. Sound fiscal policy dictates that the public should receive full value for its public assets. In this case, getting fair compensation is particularly critical because the taxpayers purchased the land under a Federal program to buy environmentally sensitive land around Lake Tahoe and because the proceeds of the sale would be used to purchase additional environmentally sensitive land in the Lake Tahoe area. Hence to offset the fiscal and environmental loss of this sensitive property, the Federal Government should get its full value. Mr. Speaker, this bill also undermines the intent of the Santini- Burton Act. While the act allows transfers of land in interest to State and local governments, the deed restrictions must protect the environmental quality and public recreational purposes of the land. Legislation is needed in this instance because this conveyance does not fall within the parameters of the act. Unlike other sites conveyed for less than fair market value with reversionary clauses, this land was not public domain or surplus land. Rather, this land was specifically purchased for its environmental value and is integral to the land-use planning scheme surrounding Lake Tahoe. This bill deprives the public of what is owed as well as the ability to offset the loss of this environmentally sensitive property with the purchase of comparable property. I urge my colleagues not to accept this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to say, Mr. Speaker, if there is ever a champion and someone anywhere in the four corners of the world that I will travel as someone to attend with me when we talk about human rights is none other than the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). I want to commend him for that. I know that the situation in West Papua, New Guinea now is burning up to a situation given the fact that some 300,000 West Papains were murdered, tortured, and killed by the Indonesian military since 1963. We can go on, but I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith); and I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) also for his outstanding leadership when it comes to the issue of human rights. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again I want to compliment the chief sponsor of this bill the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) and our chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), and also the ranking member of our committee, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson). Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. House Resolution 577 honors and recognizes the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the occasion of its 50th anniversary for its contributions on behalf of the world's refugees. On December 14 of this year, the UNHCR will mark a half century of helping millions of the world's most vulnerable people. As I said earlier, I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio for introducing this legislation on behalf of many of the hungry and homeless people around the world. The UNHCR, Mr. Speaker, has been mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. It is one of the world's principal humanitarian organizations helping some 23 million people in more than 140 countries. Mrs. Sadako Ogata has served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees now for nearly 10 years. It is one of the toughest jobs and she has done a magnificent and superb job of bringing both professionalism and compassion to the organization over her decade of service not only to the United Nations but certainly to the people of the world. This resolution also calls on the international community to bring together with UNHCR an effort to reassure that host countries uphold humanitarian and human rights principles for refugees, to lessen the impact of refugees on host countries, and to promote the safe and voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement of these refugees. While the resolution before the House does not deal with the refugee situation in West Timor, Indonesia, it is important, however, to remember the recent killing of three UNHCR workers who were helping East Timorese refugees. These UNHCR employees, including one American, were trying to bring order to the refugee camps and create a situation where the East Timorese refugees could return home. Their killing by the militias was deplorable. We must always remember the dangerous conditions which these workers are exposed to. I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not also offer my compliments and commendation to Ms. Kathleen Mazed who is the staff consultant on this side of the aisle of our committee for the superb job that she has done not only to this piece of legislation but three other pieces of legislation. I want to thank her and recognize her services for doing this. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to compliment again my colleague from Pennsylvania. I think it is a good example of a demonstration of what every Member should be doing for their constituents, and I want to commend him for that. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Pope was arrested in Russia on April 3, 2000, while negotiating the purchase of an underwater propulsion technology which was advertised for commercial use. Mr. Speaker, I submit Mr. Pope is not a spy. His Russian visa states that the purpose of the trip to Russia was to acquire such technology. It is outrageous, Mr. Speaker, that Mr. Pope has been languishing at the Lefortovo prison, the former KGB stronghold, for nearly 6 months now. Mr. Pope has been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer which requires annual screening and which he has missed this past August because of his arrest. His health may be getting worse, but the Russians refuse access to him by a qualified Western oncologist. The Russian authorities have said that the Russian doctors are capable of examining Mr. Pope, and based on that examination, they supposedly say he is fit to stand trial. Mr. Speaker, this case has been discussed at the highest levels of the American and Russian governments. Our own President, President Clinton, has raised this issue with President Putin several times now, most recently at the U.N. Millennium Summit in New York City. At every opportunity, the Russians have been told the charges against Mr. Pope are groundless and they must let him come home to his family. I share some of the State Department concerns about the call in the resolution for cutting all foreign assistance to Russia, which includes denuclearization assistance and support for democratic institutions and independent media. I would hope that the administration could effectively utilize policy levers short of this drastic step to achieve Mr. Pope's release. We should at least commend our good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson), for doing such a fantastic job supporting Mr. Pope's family in support of this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would truly be remiss, and it will probably be the last opportunity I have before we adjourn, if I did not express my personal sense of appreciation and gratitude to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter), not only as cochairman of our Human Rights Caucus, but certainly for his outstanding leadership and service that he has rendered to our Nation. I want the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) to know how much I really appreciate his friendship over the years that I have got to know him. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.