Dianne Feinstein

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to cosponsor Senator Boxer's legislation that is critical to the ports of California. Ports are a vital component of the infrastructure of those States located along the coasts of this country. Commercial cruises are an important contributor to the well-being of our ports, and are critical to the economies of a number of port cities in California. In 1993, the Johnson Act was amended to allowing gaming on U.S.-flag cruise ships with the provision that States could regulate gambling on intrastate cruises. Since that time, California has passed a law prohibiting gambling on intrastate cruises for reasons that were in fact unrelated to the cruise industry. Because of California's coast line is so long, cruise ships with onboard gaming are unable to make subject to State regulation. Consequently, cruise ships bypass cities where they would otherwise stop, with a detrimental impact resulting to those ports that are passed over. The San Diego Port of Port Commissioners estimate that San Diego alone has lost 77 cruise line calls, and $30 million in tourism benefit. Smaller port cities such as Eureka are struggling to attract cruise vessels to bolster its economy, but will likely be bypassed by cruise lines if the lines are limited to one stop within the State. This legislation in no way promotes the proliferation of gaming cruises. It simply allows interstate cruises with onboard gaming, that would otherwise be allowed to make one stop within a State's borders, to make additional stops within that State as part of a longer voyage. What this legislation will do is provide an important economic boost to port cities in California, and we urge its quick consideration and passage.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill to resolve a title problem on the Plumas National Forest in Butte County, CA. The bill would provide for the conveyance of approximately 30 acres of land to 13 individuals who have had a cloud on the title of their property as a result of a 1992 Bureau of Land Management survey. The legislation is identical to S. 399 which I sponsored and H.R. 457 which Congressman Wally Herger sponsored in the 103d Congress. The House passed H.R. 457 and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the legislation, but Congress adjourned before we could complete action. Mr. President, this legislation is essential to resolve a hardship to individuals that was caused by an error on the part of the Federal Government. The problem stems from 1961 when the Forest Service accepted what now appears to be an incorrect survey of the Plumas National Forest boundary. The surveyor could not locate the original survey corner established in 1869 so he established a new corner. Since then, private landowners used the 1961 corner to establish boundaries and build improvements. In 1992 the Bureau of Land Management conducted a new survey which showed that land previously thought to be outside the boundaries of the Plumas National Forest is actually within the forest boundaries, and thus is Federal property. The property owners relied upon the earlier erroneous survey which they believed to be accurate and have occupied and improved their property in good faith. I believe the property owners should be granted relief as this legislation provides. The bill authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey without consideration all right, title, and interest in the Federal lands, consisting of less than 30 acres, to the 13 claimants. The bill describes the property in question and the claimants who are entitled to relief. The bill also describes the process to be followed and assigns to the Federal Government the responsibility to provide for a survey to monument and mark the lands to be conveyed. Mr. President, there is no Federal interest in this property and the Department of Agriculture has repeatedly testified favorably on this legislation. Thus, I hope the 104th Congress will more quickly to enact this measure. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.