Eni Faleomavaega

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 505. I introduced this resolution in July to recognize the importance of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Pacific Island Nations. I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of the chairman and ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), for supporting House Resolution 505 as original cosponsors and for passage of the measure before the full committee. Mr. Speaker, I would also thank the chairman and ranking Democratic members of the Committee on International Relations' Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), as well as our esteemed colleagues in the full committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for joining us as original cosponsors of House Resolution 505. Mr. Speaker, my thanks also go to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink), the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood), the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), the gentleman from California (Mr. Matsui) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) for their support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, the United States has had a long and extraordinarily deep relationship with our allies and friends of the Pacific Islands. One need only mention the names of Guadalcanal, Midway, Wake Island, Guam and Saipan to recall the critical battles waged in the Pacific during World War II. In that terrible conflict and during the Cold War, our Pacific Island allies have fought and worked alongside Americans to preserve peace and nurture democracy in the Pacific region. The people of the Marshall Islands, in particular, have made tremendous sacrifices which have greatly contributed to America's nuclear deterrence. During the 1940s and the 1950s the homelands and the Marshallese people were subjected to some 67 U.S. nuclear tests, an ordeal from which they are still struggling to recover. The contributions of Pacific islanders have truly enhanced American security and stability. Today, a half century later, Mr. Speaker, we should not forget our commitment to our friends in this part of the world. The Pacific Ocean covers one-third of the earth's surface, and spanning it are the 7,500 islands which comprise the 22 Pacific island nations and territories. Mr. Speaker, while budgetary cutbacks have resulted in a reduced U.S. diplomatic presence in the region, our Nation continues to have substantial interests in the Pacific, whether that be in areas of investment and trade, strategic and regional security, democratic government and human rights, or protection of the environment. In particular, with the advent of the Law of the Sea Conference and increasing international enforcement of exclusive economic zones, the Pacific island governments wield control over vast tracks of the entire Pacific Ocean. The millions of square miles of the Pacific Ocean under the jurisdiction of island nations encompass productive fisheries, undersea minerals, and important sea lanes, increasingly vital assets in the future of a global economy. For example, Mr. Speaker, some of the world's richest and most diverse fishing grounds are found in the Pacific region, where the United States nets the bulk of tuna consumed by our fellow Americans. I would note that much of that tuna is processed in canneries in my own district in American Samoa. On the ocean floor by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga lie seabed mineral deposits and undersea nodules containing valuable minerals such as manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, silver and gold. The EEZ waters of the sparsely populated Cook Islands alone are projected to contain at least $150 billion of sea bed nodules. The lesson has not been lost on Asian nations that have invested in the region, Mr. Speaker, including China, South Korea, and, in particular, Japan. Last October, then Prime Minister Hashimoto of Japan hosted a Tokyo summit meeting with Pacific island heads of government. No doubt, Japan is making a long term investment and an economic investment for the 21st Century. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 505 sends the message that it is important for the United States to cultivate diplomatic relations today with the Pacific island nations to foster strong economic ties tomorrow, and this will directly facilitate access to the region's valuable marine resources in the next millennium. For economic as well as strategic reasons, the United States should not permit others to step into the vacuum created by the lack of a strong U.S. policy and presence in the Pacific region. Mr. Speaker, in furtherance of that goal, House Resolution 505 strongly urges that the President of the United States host a summit meeting with the Pacific island Heads of State and Governments to improve diplomatic relations with the Pacific island nations. I would humbly suggest the perfect opportunity to conduct the Pacific Island Summit would be upon the President's return from the APEC meeting scheduled for November 1999 in Wellington, New Zealand. Since it is appropriate that the summit meeting take place in the Pacific, I suggest the East-West Center in Hawaii provides the ideal forum. Since its formation in 1960, the East-West Center has been the region's most respected institution for furthering U.S. relations with the Asian- Pacific region. Before concluding, Mr. Speaker, I would note that an identical counterpart to House Resolution 505 has been introduced this month in the Senate by my good friend and distinguished Senator from Hawaii, Senator Daniel Inouye. Senator Inouye's measure, Senate Resolution 277, has been cosponsored by Senators Dan Akaka, Ted Stevens, Orrin Hatch, Robert Byrd, Craig Thomas, Ernest Hollings, William Roth, Wendell Ford, Barbara Boxer, Frank Murkowski and Jeff Sessions, and is before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee now. I thank and commend Senator Inouye, who has long demonstrated commitment and unmatched leadership in the affairs of the Pacific region. Mr. Speaker, I would urge that our colleagues support adoption of House Resolution 505 as it is in the national interest of the United States that we preserve strong and enduring economic, political and strategic ties with the Pacific island nations. America cannot afford to neglect our friends in the Pacific. Adoption of this resolution and the holding of a Pacific Island Summit will ensure that we do not, and that our allies understand that the United States intends to remain firmly engaged in the Pacific region for our mutual benefit. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support and adopt this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield three minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield five minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would really like to express my appreciation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and my good friend, the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood), my fellow Pacific Islander, for their eloquence. I know this is probably the last piece of legislation that we will be working on as far as the Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific is concerned, but I certainly would like to offer my highest commendation to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the chairman of the subcommittee, not only for his keen insight, but the tremendous eloquence of his statement, which really, I could not have stated better, his full understanding and knowledge of what is happening there in the Pacific region. I really, really want to thank and commend him for his assistance, for his help, not only as a friend, but for his tremendous leadership that has been demonstrated as chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and of course my good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).

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 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, certainly I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Resources; and the senior democratic ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller), for bringing this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, this is a bill which addresses several technical changes to existing Native American law. These are not exactly glamorous issues: boundary changes to Indian reservations, leasing authority for one of the reservations and placing into trust of additional land for another Native American tribe. There are some questions concerning sections 9 and 14 of this legislation. It is my understanding that the amendments being offered by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) incorporate changes which address the concerns which have been raised. Specifically, Section 9 which concerns 2,000 acres of land of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua tribe of Indians will prohibit Indian gaming on the land and the prior contents of Section 14, which would have provided tax exemption from Federal and State taxes for certain distribution funds, has been deleted. The new Section 14 addresses a different native Alaskan problem added by the Senate to Coast Guard legislation and concerning the operations of a health clinic. Again, it is my understanding that all parties concerned with this provision support the language contained in the amendment of the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young); and with this bill, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I again thank the gentlemen from Alaska and from California.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, this is a bill which points out how differences in cultures make it difficult to legislate on a national level. The Kickapoo tribe is a noted tribe which inhabited lands in the States of Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico. This free lifestyle has led to questions concerning the citizenship of tribal members and the eligibility of tribal members for Federal and State health, housing and social welfare programs. While I question the necessity of having members of the Kickapoo tribe of Oklahoma who reside in Texas apply for U.S. citizenship, it seems to me there could have been a more expedient way to handle this issue. I strongly support the efforts being made to clarify the citizenship issue and the eligibility of these Native American Indians for Federal and State benefits. I also support the authorization for the Department of the Interior to take into trust 25 acres of land in Maverick County, Texas for the Kickapoo tribe. This is the third of three American Indian bills being considered by the House today, and again I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) of our committee and the senior Democratic member, the gentleman from California (Mr. MILLER) for their efforts in bringing this legislation to the floor. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for his sponsorship of this legislation. (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform our colleagues and the Nation of important developments in Indonesia concerning the people of West Papua, New Guinea, or commonly known as Irian Jaya, as it is known by the Indonesia Government. If you recall, Mr. Speaker, I have spoken on the floor before about Jakarta's brutal subjugation of the West Papuan people and their decades-long struggle for independence from Indonesia. Today I welcome the announcement of a significant development in the Indonesian Government's position on West Papua, as described in an article that appeared in the Indonesian language daily newspaper, Suara Pembaruan, on Sunday, September 13, 1999, and I include this newspaper article in the Record. The article referred to is as follows: [Translation--occasionally impossible to read newspaper clipping print] President Habibie Agrees To Conduct National Dialogue on Irian Jaya President B.J. Habibie listened carefully and with full attention to reports of human rights violations which have occurred in Irian Jaya during a meeting with the Reverend Karel Phil Eran on the evening of Friday 11 September at the Palace. Karel Phil Eran is the Secretary of the National Development for Irian Jaya and a member of the Pastoral Team of the Council of Churches in Indonesia who was on a pastoral mission to Irian Jaya (IrJa) after several demonstrations and actions which have resulted in fatal incidents and wounded victims during 11-18 August 1998. In his discussion with Pembaruan on Saturday morning, Eran stated President Habibie as declaring that in the current reformation era killings cannot happen unless forced by the direst circumstances. Because of that a new approach must be held with regard to development plans in IrJa. During the meeting which lasted more than an hour, Eran presented to the Head of the Nation that the people of Irian Jaya in the particular region have been extremely wounded by incidents of human rights violations which have been perpetrated by security forces there. This has resulted in the people's desire to separate themselves from Indonesia. President Habibie stated his agreement to conduct a national dialogue with regard to Irian Jaya in the shortest time. At the Dialogue the people's voices may be heard and an honest examination regarding what actually happened can be understood together. President Habibie also affirmed that the church is given equal rights in all development programs in the region. The role of the church in the building of the community must be given attention, said Eran in quoting the President. The President also stated that there cannot be any discrimination in all sectors especially since the Church in Irian Jaya is a pioneer in development efforts as evidenced throughout history. Meaning, that even long time before Irian Jaya became part of Indonesia, the Church especially was the pioneering force for regional development here. The President was very open; he received me not as an Irian expert but as a friend from the intellectual community which is much needed by the people, said Eran. Habibie also offered to Eran to become a member of the National Reconciliation Team which can facilitate problems of Irian. He asked of > > > > S. Panjaitan to organize an informal meeting to follow up on the discussions. At the end of the meeting Pastor Eran prayed for President Habibie asking for grace and wisdom in facing the problems of this nation.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Utah, the chairman of our Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands of the Committee on Resources, for his management of this legislation, and certainly the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Crapo) for his sponsorship of this bill. Mr. Speaker, this bill, as introduced by the gentleman from Idaho, would amend the Idaho Admissions Act to make certain changes regarding the sale and exchange or lease of lands granted to the State of Idaho for the benefit of schools. The purpose of the exchanges, as I understand them, is to generate additional income for Idaho's permanent endowment fund. The State of Idaho has already modified State law in order to implement these changes; however, the Idaho Admissions Act must also be amended in order to conform to these changes. Simple as that, Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to make another note of the fact that in our Nation we have over 1 million Indian Americans living in our country that make tremendous contributions to their local communities and to the several States, and the fact that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) are both co-chairs of the India Caucus. I think it is a tribute to the over 1 million Indian Americans that live in our own Nation that show such diversity that we provide to our community and the citizens here.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for her fine comments, and certainly very appropriate on the occasion of deliberating on this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), not only the chairman of the India Caucus, but certainly a great leader on this issue.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4284 is a companion measure to H.R. 1390 as it was introduced by my colleague the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone). I also want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) in providing for this joint measure. The legislation authorizes the Government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi on Federal lands across the street from the embassy of India here in Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, Mahatma Gandhi, as everyone knows, is internationally renowned as a great leader and for his teachings of passive resistance and noncooperation in his native India. Perhaps this may be noted as one of the dark pages of the British colonial rule at the time, the fact that they were very reluctant to grant independence and freedom to the people of India. As some of my colleagues and perhaps even the American public may have seen, one of the great movies ever done on the history of this great man, Mahatma Gandhi, a graduate of Oxford University, started his early practice in South Africa, and an attorney by profession turned, the fact that here was this man who paid a first- class ticket on a train and with this British officer noted that here was an Indian sitting in a first-class cabin was insulting to this British officer. The rest is history, Mr. Speaker, given the fact that Mahatma Gandhi was not only beaten by these British officers, but it changed his entire life and seeing that his people were certainly under suppression by British colonial rule. This movement of nonviolence, Mr. Speaker, as noted also by my colleagues, had tremendous influence even on the civil rights movement here in America. The fact that the great American Martin Luther King, Jr. was tremendously influenced not only by the teaching but by the example that Mahatma Gandhi had lived for in his life in trying to set the people of India free from British colonial rule. Mr. Speaker, it was my privilege months ago with the chairman of the Committee on International Relations when we visited New Delhi, India to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the independence of India and to again not only remind the Indian people among the leaders but to see the tremendous contributions that this Indian leader had given not only to his own country but certainly to the world. And the fact that as a result of what Mahatma Gandhi has done, Mr. Speaker, we have 980 million people living in India, the largest or the most populous democracy in the world, is a demonstration of not only the commitment of Mr. Gandhi to see that his people be let free from British colonial rule is an example; and even more so in the fact that our own country was tremendously influenced not only by this man who happens to be an Indian but the fact that Martin Luther King, Jr.'s own writings, own example in the civil rights movement was greatly influenced by this. Mr. Speaker, I think this legislation is most proper and appropriate and we see that there should be a memorial built here, in the premises here in Washington, D.C. 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 thank the gentleman from Utah, the chairman of our Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands of the Committee on Resources for his management of this legislation, and in particular I want to commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) for his sponsorship of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, this legislation provides for the collection of fees for the making of motion pictures, television productions and sound tracks in the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System. We should be charging appropriate commercial fees for the use of national parks and refuges, especially when such fees have a long established use on public lands and national forests. The regulation prohibiting movie and television fees for parks and refuges appears to have long outlived any usefulness it may have ever had. Subsequent to our hearing, several meetings and discussions have been held among our staffs, the representatives of the Department of the Interior, the film industry, and other interested parties. I believe these talks were very fruitful and productive. As a result of these discussions, Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Resources approved the amendment in the nature of a substitute to 2993 and made several significant changes in this legislation. I believe those changes improve the bill, and I will also note that the bill we are sending to the floor today includes one additional change requested by the administration that is consistent with what we are trying to achieve by the provisions of this bill. Mr. Speaker, everyone agrees that there should be fair and reasonable fees for the use of public resources for filming. I am greatly encouraged by the bipartisan manner in which legislative agreement was reached on this important issue. I support this bill and I urge my colleagues to do the same. 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. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3445, a bill to establish a commission on ocean policy. Mr. Speaker, we all know that approximately two-thirds of the world's surface is covered by water. Our oceans should be our greatest resource, but for many years for many a number of reasons, oftentimes it has been nothing more than our greatest dumping ground. Decades ago, the United States and other progressive nations realized that to continue our then current policy would only lead to the destruction of a vital resource. In response, we began the process of establishing a more coherent policy on management of this resource. It was obvious to all those who were involved that the United States alone could not adequately address the problem and through the efforts of the United Nations and many other concerned countries, more aggressive actions were taken worldwide. Mr. Speaker, over the past 30 years, much progress has been made in the management and use of our oceans. International protocols continue to be developed to the benefit of all nations. This process has not gone smoothly, however, and there have been and continue to be nations which overfish dwindling stocks of fish or hunt species of whale to near extinction. But today the tides have changed, so to speak. A vast majority of the world opposes actions of this nature. The United States continues to address the problem of overfishing of local stocks off the coast of the eastern United States. This has been a particularly difficult issue because of the long history of fishing in communities which have relied on local stocks for generations. As the yields in these stocks have dwindled over the last decade, increased concern has risen to a sense of despair. This is an ongoing problem which needs continued attention and additional resources. Mr. Speaker, off the coast of the western United States, the issue of fishing for tuna and the associated killing of dolphins has been discussed for years. I have spoken on this topic at length in the past and do not have the time to go into detail today, but suffice it to say that we recently entered into a new international agreement in an effort to enlist the support of our neighbors to the south to protect dolphins, yet assist them in their economic development by permitting tuna caught in compliance with this international accord to enter the United States for commercial sale. The environmental community and the domestic fishing industry was split on this new law and we will not know for years how well this new arrangement will work. This is another area which could use additional study and resources and even more the reason why we should have a national commission on oceans. Mr. Speaker, I am most familiar with U.S. interests in the Pacific region. As the largest body of water in the world, the Pacific covers 70 million square miles of the earth's surface and borders or surrounds many countries. It is the source of food for much of the world's population and a significant portion of the world's commerce is transported across its surface. The United States has considerable interest in this region. Our territory includes the State of Hawaii, the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Although now independent, we have continued close relationships with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. We also administer approximately a dozen other islands in the Pacific. While the total land area is relatively small, the area included in our Nation's Exclusive Economic Zone is hundreds of thousands of square miles in the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Speaker, our Nation alone controls some 2.3 million square nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zones. Coming from a group of islands who have lived off this natural resource for thousands of years, I welcome this piece of legislation. It is in our national interest to devote additional resources to study of ocean policy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this great legislation. I want to commend, again, the leadership and the service of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) the chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans for his outstanding performance, not only for the management of this legislation, but certainly as a great friend.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) be permitted to manage the legislation on this side of the aisle.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any additional speakers as well, and I yield back the balance of time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Resources for bringing this piece of legislation for consideration by this body. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation as it was sponsored and authored by the gentleman from Alaska, also chairman of the Committee on Resources. It may strike some as unusual for a bill that can lead to a hydro project in what is now a national park wilderness to be acceptable to the National Park Service. But this is a unique case, Mr. Speaker. Both the community of Gustavus, Alaska and the Park Service facilities at Glacier Bay National Park are dependent upon diesel generation facilities for their electrical power. Barging oil poses a threat of spills in park waters. Diesel power generates emissions and is expensive. Mr. Speaker, the basic purpose of this bill is to authorize a review of whether there are more economical and environmentally benign alternative sources of power for the community of Gustavus. We are not endorsing any specific project in this legislation. Rather, we are empowering the Park Service, as partners with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to study this matter in depth prior to making any decision of whether a small hydroelectric project is either economically feasible or environmentally desirable. Mr. Speaker, as an additional safeguard for the best interest of the park's resources, we have extended what in effect is veto power for the National Park Service, making any land exchange and FERC license subject to their consent. Many questions remain to be addressed in this process, including concerns raised by the environmental witnesses in hearing testimony before the committee. But on the balance, Mr. Speaker, I think it is worth determining in a comprehensive public process whether there is a better way to produce power for the community of Gustavus. In this regard, I would note for the record a comment made by the Governor of Alaska, Tony Knowles in a letter to the chairman of the committee, quote, ``The State has worked closely with your staff, the National Park Service staff, and the Gustavus Electric Company in the development of this bill; and we believe it is in the public interest to enact such legislation. Most notably, this land exchange would facilitate the development of the Fall Creek hydroelectric project near Gustavus. This project, as you know, has the potential to provide long-term affordable electricity to the people of Gustavus and to the National Park Service facilities. It will reduce State subsidies and replace diesel fuel with a clean, local, and renewable energy source.'' Mr. Speaker, a small-scale hydro project and land exchange as contemplated in this legislation may well be in the public interest. However, that will be determined only after a joint environmental Impact Statement conducted by the Park Service and FERC and only if a license is issued by FERC with the consent of the Park Service. In light of these safeguards, Mr. Speaker, I submit this to my colleagues in the House, and I ask them for their support. Support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.