Jim Gibbons

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3388, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle). This bill authorizes $30 million per year for 10 years to be used for a variety of activities relating to protecting and restoring the water quality of Lake Tahoe. Such projects may include erosion control projects, hazardous fuel treatments, cleanup of groundwater contamination, traffic management, and acquisition of environmental sensitive lands. All projects will involve partnerships with appropriate State and local officials. The Forest Service supports this bill, with the understanding that funds for these projects must be new appropriations and will not come from existing Forest Service funding. The bill, as amended, ensures that any land acquisition under this bill will be funded only by the Land and Water Conservation Fund or the Santini-Burton Act. I urge support for the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) whose district includes that portion of Lake Tahoe. It was his vision, hard work, and leadership on this issue that is going to reward us with a preservation of the water quality of Lake Tahoe. I want to thank him for his efforts in this regard. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, last year on November 13th, the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing in Elko, Nevada to study the events surrounding the closure of the South Canyon Road by the Forest Service. After a thunderstorm washed out parts of the road in the Spring of 1995, the agency prohibited the community of Jarbidge from repairing it--going so far as to initiate criminal action against the county. At this hearing, we learned that it wasn't just parts of the road that washed away in that storm but also the Federal Government's failure to use common sense. The South Canyon Road has been used by local residents since the late 1800s--to now keep the citizens of Elko County from maintaining and using what is clearly theirs is a violation of the statute commonly referred to as RS 2477. This is an issue of national significance, demonstrating ongoing attempts by the Federal Government, particularly under this Administration, to usurp the legal rights of States and Counties. So for this reason, the subcommittee has done extensive research into the fundamental questions concerning the South Canyon Road, specifically: who has ownership of the road and who has jurisdiction over the road? Subcommittee Chairman Chenoweth-Hage has compiled her research into this, her final report on the November 13th hearing. I would now respectfully ask that it be submitted into the Record of this 106th Congress. Chairman's Final Report--Hearing on the Jarbidge Road, Elko County, Nevada, Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health Preface By invitation of Congressman Jim Gibbons of Nevada, the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an oversight hearing in Elko Nevada on November 13, 1999, on a dispute between Elko County and the United States Forest Service (USFS). The County of Elko claimed ownership of a road known as the Jarbidge South Canyon Road by virtue of their assertion of rights under a statute commonly referred to as RS 2477. The USFS asserted they do not recognize the county's ownership rights and claimed jurisdiction over the road under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the proclamation creating the Humboldt National Forest, the Wilderness Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act. This issue came to a head when the USFS directed its contractor to destroy approximately a one-fourth mile section of the Road, thus preventing its use by parties claiming private rights of use which could be accessed only by the Road. Also, access to the Jarbidge Wilderness Area was closed off by the action of the

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, this Republican-led Congress has made great efforts in restoring fiscal accountability and responsibility to our budget process. Now paying off the debt puts people before politics and leaves us more resources to take care of those programs that really matter, especially for our older Americans. Republicans want to use 90 percent of next year's surplus to pay off the national debt while locking away 100 percent of the social security and Medicare surpluses. By running surpluses in social security and Medicare, we make certain that funds are available to reform these programs so that when baby boomers retire, they have the resources to take care of their retirement needs. Mr. Speaker, the growing economy has handed us an enormous opportunity to lock away every penny of the social security and Medicare trust funds and to pay off the national debt. We have grabbed those opportunities to strengthen retirement security for every generation of Americans, and the Clinton-Gore administration would have us let those opportunities slip away. We cannot let them slip away. Even last year when Republicans said we wanted to stop the 30-year raid on social security, President Clinton said it could not be done. But we proved it could be done, and now every dime paid into social security is walled off where it cannot be spent on bigger government programs.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2425 will enable the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed Canal Pipeline Project in Oregon, and for other purposes. The Federal cost share of the costs of the project shall not exceed 50 percent of the total. The legislation authorizes $2,500,000 for this project. I urge an aye vote. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2425) to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed Canal Pipeline Project, Oregon, and for other purposes.

Mr. GIBBONS

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

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Senate 439 would amend the National Forest and Public Lands of Nevada Enhancement Act to adjust a boundary of the Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada, thereby transferring the jurisdiction of the land from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior. This legislation has local support, as well as support from the administration. Senate 439 was favorably reported by the full committee on June 7, 2000, by voice vote. Senate 439, as amended, also includes the Wildland Fire Firefighters Pay Equity Act of 1999, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo). One of the problems faced during the catastrophic fire season of 2000 was a shortage of properly trained fire fighting crews. This language will go far to address this particular problem by allowing fire fighters to earn the standard time-and-a-half overtime rate for time spent fighting fires, regardless of their pay base. Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 439) to amend the National Forest and Public Lands of Nevada Enhancement Act of 1988 to adjust the boundary of the Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada, as amended.

Mr. GIBBONS

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

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply troubled today to learn that Vice President Gore may have broken the law and jeopardized United States national security. Mr. Speaker, U.S. weapons proliferation law requires that the Congress be notified of the terms of the letter of agreement which Mr. Gore signed with Russian Prime Minister Chernomyrdin regarding Russia's nuclear cooperation with Iran, a known terrorist nation. What is worse is that, as a direct result of the secret agreement between Mr. Gore and the Prime Minister of Russia, Russia evaded U.S. sanctions against weapons proliferation. Even the Secretary of State admitted that without this signed agreement, ``Russia's conventional arms sales to Iran would have been subject to sanctions based on various provisions of our laws.'' Mr. Speaker, it is appalling to me and to the American people that this type of deception and deceit has become so commonplace in this administration. The flagrant deceit and illegal agreement made by the Vice President may have put our national security in deep jeopardy.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, last year on November 13th, the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing in Elko, Nevada to study the events surrounding the closure of the South Canyon Road by the Forest Service. After a thunderstorm washed out parts of the road in the Spring of 1995, the agency prohibited the community of Jarbidge from repairing it--going so far as to initiate criminal action against the county. At this hearing, we learned that it wasn't just parts of the road that washed away in that storm but also the Federal Government's failure to use common sense. The South Canyon Road has been used by local residents since the late 1800s--to now keep the citizens of Elko County from maintaining and using what is clearly theirs is a violation of the statute commonly referred to as RS 2477. This is an issue of national significance, demonstrating ongoing attempts by the Federal Government, particularly under this Administration, to usurp the legal rights of States and Counties. So for this reason, the subcommittee had done extensive research into the fundamental questions concerning the South Canyon Road, specifically: who has ownership of the road and who has jurisdiction over the road? Subcommittee Chairman Chenoweth-Hage has compiled her research into this, her final report on the November 13th hearing. I would now respectfully ask that it be submitted into the Record of this 106th Congress.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. The Clinton-Gore administration is illegally threatening vital national security interests of the American public. This time the illegality involved a letter written by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to Vice President Gore about a secret, illegal nuclear arms deal with an unidentified terrorist nation ``that was not to be conveyed to third parties, including the United States Congress.'' Yes, sadly, Vice President Gore kept his promise to the Russian Prime Minister instead of his promise to the American public. He did not tell Congress about the letter or about Moscow's continued sale of nuclear equipment to Iran, a blatant violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Act. Instead of being open and honest with Congress about this high level national security threat, Gore simply filed the letter away and kept silent. Mr. Speaker, America deserves an administration that will work with Congress to protect the national security interest of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back Mr. Gore's flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our security, and our country.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 1695) to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal public lands in the Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, to Clark County, Nevada, for the development of an airport facility, and for other purposes.

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation under consideration.

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.) Madam Speaker, first I would like to thank the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller), as well as the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), for their help and guidance on this very important piece of legislation for the State of Nevada. I would also like to thank the House Members and our colleagues for their previous vote of 420 to 1 in support of H.R. 1695 for Nevada and its future. The Las Vegas metropolitan area is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country, growing by over 60,000 people in 1998. McCarran Airport, which currently serves the Las Vegas area, has seen its passenger traffic grow by over 64 percent in the last 10 years. Because the Bureau of Land Management owns over 90 percent of the land in Clark County, any new airport to serve southern Nevada must be located on land purchased from the Federal government. Realizing that McCarran Airport would reach its full capacity in 2008, the Clark County Aviation Department completed an extensive review of options available for meeting the growing needs of air traffic in southern Nevada. Because of the restricted airspace of Las Vegas due to military uses, and the existing full precision instrument landing requirements of McCarran Airport, the committee concluded that the Ivanpah Airport site is the only viable option that can accommodate the growing air traffic needs of the region. H.R. 1695, the Ivanpah Valley Public Land Transfer Act, is of vital importance to the future health of the tourism economy of southern Nevada. Therefore, it authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey lands in the Ivanpah Valley to Clark County, Nevada for a second airport. The legislation also requires that the land be returned to the Department of the Interior should the airport development prove to be infeasible after abiding by all Federal, State, and local environmental rules and regulations. Passage of H.R. 1695, with the inclusion of Senate amendments, will allow Clark County to proceed with the NEPA analysis and the proposed development of a new airport. There are those who feared that commercial jets will fly over the Mojave Preserve. To address this very concern, the Federal Aviation Administration will undertake an airspace study to develop an airspace management plan that prohibits flights over the Mohave Preserve in California unless there is a safety reason for doing so. Clark County will also be required to pay fair market value for the land, and the airport will be publicly owned and operated. The revenues collected by the government for sale will be available for use by the BLM for acquiring inholdings in the Mojave Preserve and to protect archeological sites in Clark County. H.R. 1695 is supported by the entire bipartisan Nevada congressional delegation, and has been endorsed by business and labor interests from Nevada. The House supports this bill with inclusion of the Senate amendment, and we would be grateful for a concurring vote by this body. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, let me say that I agree with my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt), on the improvements to this bill. I suggest that this much needed piece of legislation will greatly improve the State of Nevada's economy, and help all of us with that. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I also want to thank him for allowing me the opportunity to speak on this worthwhile bill. I would like to give great credit to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), the chairman of the committee, for his introduction of HCR-419, which is a bill that mirrors this bill and was introduced on the House side and became a very important part of our consideration in the deliberations of this bill. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of S. 1402, as amended, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it as well. I wanted to highlight just a few of the benefit provisions of the bill, however, first I would like to also recognize one of our former colleagues, a great friend of America, a great friend of all veterans, the former representative from Mississippi, G. V. Sonny Montgomery, one of the distinguished gentlemen who was responsible for the GI Bill. And, of course, the bill carries his name, and rightfully so. It is a great honor for me to have the privilege to have made friends with Sonny Montgomery, and I treasure his work with veterans over all these years. Madam Speaker, effective on November 1, this bill increases the Montgomery GI Bill benefit from $552 per month to $650 per month, thus helping 309,000 veterans and students immediately. Since October of 1997, Congress has increased the Montgomery GI Bill by 48 percent from $439 to $650 per month, and we still have more to go. With the new buy-up provisions in this bill, current and future service members can contribute up to an additional $600 and increase their monthly benefit over 4 years of schooling from $650 per month to $800 per month. Second, effective November 1, the bill increases educational benefits for 48,000 survivors and dependents from $485 to $588 per month, with guaranteed COLAs in years ahead. Third, the bill is welcome news for about 137,000 active duty service members who either previously turned down an opportunity to convert from the post-Vietnam era veterans' educational assistance program, known as VEAP, to the Montgomery GI Bill or had a zero balance in their VEAP account. For a $2700 buy-in, these individuals will receive full Montgomery GI Bill benefits that will be valued at $23,400 with passage of today's legislation. Fourth, the bill will help about 25,000 service members who are discharged from military service each year who need a civilian license or certification to practice their vocation or profession. Now they will be able to use their Montgomery GI Bill benefits to pay for such examinations, which average about $150 each. The subcommittee has been very active on this issue, and I am pleased we were able to include this provision in our final package. Fifth, the bill provides special monthly compensation for women veterans who lose a breast as a result of service-connected disability. Sixth, the bill makes eligible for burial in VA national cemeteries, and for a burial plot allowance in other cemeteries, certain Philippine commonwealth army veterans of World War II. Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to pay tribute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The gentleman from Arizona enlisted in the Navy at the age of 16 in 1943, and as a teenager and Navy corpsman, participated with the Marines in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and the liberation of the Philippines. The gentleman from Arizona has served on this committee for more than 17 years, and in the last 6 years was teamed first with Sonny Montgomery then with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) to provide the bipartisan leadership needed to get things done. He has now completed his 6-year term as chairman using the simple credo of doing right by America's sons and daughters who have protected our priceless freedoms. We do not see Bob on the talk shows or doing media interviews, nor do we hear him trumpeting his legislative accomplishments. I suspect, Madam Speaker, that is because he would say, ``That's our duty.'' The gentleman from Arizona is an individual who provided selfless leadership, the kind of leadership that seems so common to his generation, a generation that repeatedly demonstrates that they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I want the gentleman to know that he has my thanks and friendship, my admiration and deep respect, as well as all America's respect, especially our veterans in this country.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, this Wednesday, scientists will present a research paper on Alloy 22, the material the Department of Energy has proposed to be used for the disposal canister for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The DOE has based the safety of storing high-level waste at Yucca Mountain almost solely on the performance of these waste canisters, since the existing conditions at Yucca Mountain are so poor. However, this latest research shows that the safety of the canister itself proves to be just as poor. In fact, scientists induced significant corrosion on the Alloy 22 within only 15 days, raising serious questions whether the material would survive even the first 1,000 years in Yucca Mountain, let alone the 10,000 years needed for safe storage. It seems that yet again that science is proving that storing high- level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain would be a disastrous and deadly decision. I yield back this administration's nuclear storage plan, which is obviously based on trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Madam Speaker, I include the following advisory for the Record: Office of the Governor, Agency for Nuclear Projects, Carson City, NV, advisory Scientists working for the State of Nevada will present the results of preliminary research on Alloy 22, the material the Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed to be used for the disposal canister for spent nuclear fuel and high level waste in the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The presentation will be made to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste at their 122nd meeting Wednesday, October 18, 2000 at Two White Flint North, Room 2B3 11545, Rockville Pike, Maryland. The Department of Energy has assigned more than 95% of the performance of Yucca Mountain to the waste packages because the existing conditions at the Yucca Mountain Site are so poor. In preliminary tests, scientists working for the State of Nevada have, within 15 days, induced significant corrosion on the Alloy 22 which raises questions whether the material will survive even the first 1,000 years in the Yucca Mountain environment. The Department of Energy has conceded that Yucca Mountain itself cannot contain the wastes and that if the metal containers fail rapidly in the Mountain's environment, DOE will be back to square one in their attempts to make Yucca Mountain work as a repository for high level waste and spent nuclear fuel. If you would like additional information concerning the Advisory Committee meeting or the Alloy 22 research, please contact the State of Nevada Governor's Agency for Nuclear Projects at the above phone number or address.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), my friend and colleague, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I want to thank him for his leadership, as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member, for his contributions and leadership to this very important issue. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of H.R. 4864, as amended, the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The members of the Subcommittee on Benefits have worked for the past 7 months on crafting legislation to address the Morton versus West decision by the Court of Appeals for veterans claims. H.R. 4864, as amended, meets that challenge. This and previous court decisions have construed VA's authority to develop claims that are not what is legally referred to as well grounded, and the results have created a significant barrier to veterans who need assistance in obtaining information and evidence in order to receive benefits from the VA. Among other things, H.R. 4864, as amended, requires the Secretary to furnish all necessary forms and instructions to file a claim when a request is made and requires the Secretary to make reasonable efforts to assist in the development of information and medical and lay evidence necessary to establish eligibility of a claimant for benefits. This bill eliminates the ``well grounded'' requirements. With regard to compensation claims, this bill requires the Secretary to obtain the claimant's service medical records and other relevant records pertaining to the claimant's active military service, if the claimant provides sufficient information to locate them, and requires the Secretary to provide a medical examination or obtain a medical opinion when such an exam or opinion is necessary to make a decision on that claim. As the chairman has indicated, we have been working with the VA officials and members of veterans service organizations to develop a bill that addresses the concerns of all interested parties, and I believe we have succeeded in this bill. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member once again for their leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4864 as amended.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4656, which will sell 8.7 acres of land at fair market value for the use as an elementary school in Incline Village, Nevada. This bill which was debated Tuesday night will be voted on today and will give every Member on both sides of the aisle an opportunity to keep their promises to support education and school construction for our children. The present elementary school there has more than 40 students in each classroom because there is simply nowhere else for them to go. But H.R. 4656 will solve this education problem. The land will be sold, and I say sold, not given away, to the school district for construction of a school to provide over 400 students with a quality education. Mr. Speaker, this administration is demanding 800 percent, that is more than 8 times, the limited-use value as a school site. This administration's greed is an unconscionable effort to deny these children an education. Obtaining top dollar for the land seems to be more important to them than the education of our children. I urge everyone to vote for H.R. 4656.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this conference report. I would first like to commend the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Goss) for his stewardship through the process. I would also like to recognize the gentleman from California (Mr. Dixon), the ranking member, for his contributions to the committee's efforts as well. Mr. Speaker, this conference report provides very important investments for the intelligence community, including enhancements in many areas that are of specific interest to the military. I wish we could do more, especially given the ever-increasing requirements that are being placed on intelligence to protect our troops who have been sent all over the world for every sort of mission. One of the most important issues facing the intelligence community is the modernization of the National Security Agency. This agency, which supplies signal intelligence to all levels of government, from the most senior policymaker to the pilot in the cockpit, is in many ways the linchpin of our warning capability. But today, this agency is about to be overtaken by technology and by potential adversaries who are increasingly sophisticated. The NSA, in response, is undergoing a unique transition, the success of which will affect the overall capabilities of the intelligence community for the next several decades. The Director of Central Intelligence has made the modernization of NSA his number one priority. The good news is that the NSA director, Lieutenant General Mike Hayden, is committed to leading his agency to overcome the modernization challenge. Those challenges are great. They involve overhauling every aspect of the NSA, from technical collection capabilities, to acquisition programs and personnel structure. General Hayden must be successful. But in order to make the needed changes, he needs certain tools. Perhaps the most critical tool is the ability to move the right people into key positions in the Agency to affect change. Because of the unique and serious situation at NSA, I am pleased that this conference report gives the NSA director that ability through the NSA Voluntary Separation Act. This provision permits the establishment of an early retirement and voluntary separation program for all NSA employees, including the most senior levels of management. With this authority, it is anticipated that the director will be able to accomplish the personnel changes and management changes necessary to see the process of NSA modernization through to completion. General Hayden has our support in these efforts. I urge all my colleagues to support this conference report.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, last month the General Accounting Office study reported that a dozen of the largest Federal agencies squandered nearly $21 billion in 1999; $21 billion, Mr. Speaker. If the Federal government was a corporation, the CEO would have been fired by now. But instead, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, some of the Democrats, continue to fight for bigger government and increased spending plans of the Clinton-Gore administration, an administration which has never reprimanded its own bureaucratic agencies for their sloppy bookkeeping. It is obvious that the bookkeeping of our Federal agencies is in complete disarray. The Department of Education could not even complete its last audit. They ought to learn some basic third-grade math skills. Mr. Speaker, this irresponsible and wasteful government spending must come to a stop. It is time that the Clinton-Gore administration stop the sloppy math and join this Republican-led Congress to devote 90 percent of the surplus for debt reductions to protect social security and Medicare. That way, at least our budget surplus will not be squandered, too.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, we all have responsibilities in life. Unfortunately, the Clinton-Gore administration is once again irresponsibly blocking the road to prosperity for American people. Our seniors should not be forced to choose between food and medicine, and under our debt relief plan they will not have to make this tough choice. This Republican-led Congress wants to put 100 percent of Social Security and Medicare surpluses in a lockbox, and create another lockbox strictly for debt reduction to protect all our senior citizens. We want to guarantee that the surplus created by the tax dollars of the hardworking people of America be used for debt reduction and not big government spending. Our fiscal discipline will ensure that as we continue to pay off the debt, we will have more money to save for Social Security and Medicare. And this means more security and a better quality of life for our seniors. Let us keep the Washington bureaucrats out of our surpluses, out of our pockets, and out of our medicine cabinets. Let us build true prosperity and security for every American, young and old alike.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and friend from Utah (Mr. Hansen) for allowing me the time to speak here today. Before, Mr. Speaker, I approach and answer the questions and issues of my colleague from American Samoa, I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for his leadership on this important bill which seeks to provide the children of Incline Village, Nevada with the sound footing for a quality education. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4656 authorizes the U.S. Forest Service to convey 8.7 acres of land in Washoe County, Nevada at fair market value for the limited use as an elementary school. It also requires the proceeds from the sale to be used to purchase environmentally sensitive land in the Lake Tahoe Basin in the future. H.R. 4656 is the product of a great deal of hard work, and I believe it strikes a balance that will benefit all parties involved. The present Incline Village elementary school, constructed in 1964, can no longer meet the needs of an increasing student population. The overcrowding problems have become so severe that the school must now place up to 40 children in one classroom because there is simply not enough space to accommodate them all. The school district has considered every possible remedy to this problem, including looking at other land within the basin, and the best solution is H.R. 4656. Expanding beyond the school's current design is physically impossible, as is rezoning the district to bus school children to another school district since the road to the next closest school is closed half the year due to snow. The only solution is a new school and the only suitable land to provide the students of Incline Village with a proper facility is the land to be conveyed in this bill. Purchased by the U.S. Government under the Burton-Santini Act, this land currently has no market value since under Burton-Santini it cannot be developed without an act of Congress. Certainly the commercial use of the land would garner a much more attractive profit for the Federal Government, but the environmental sensitivity of the land would undoubtedly be threatened. However, under H.R. 4656, the intent of the Burton-Santini Act to protect the land's environmental sensitivity would be maintained. The school will not jeopardize the sensitivity of the seasonal stream that runs through the land. The school district will install water filtration systems and incorporate the sensitive elements of the site into existing education programs on water quality for the students. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, the use restrictions of my bill will succeed in protecting the environment and ensuring that the Federal Government receives compensation for the land. The land will not be conveyed for free but at an affordable price for the school district. This bill is truly a win-win for everyone involved. Finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill is not really about the land conveyance. This is about educating children. All children deserve safe and quality school facilities. The passage of H.R. 4656 will extend this opportunity to the students of Incline Village. Mr. Speaker, let me also add that if this bill is not passed, there may actually be that child who has to stand up because there will not be room for his or her desk in the school district because there are 400 students now expected to be in this school. If you combine those students, most of which are ESL, more than 50 percent of the student population is ESL students, they will be pushed into an ever decreasing smaller and smaller environment. This bill, if it is not passed, there will not be that new school for them and no place for these students to learn. We all realize, I hope, how important it is to the future of our children and to the future of our Nation to have well-educated children. It is my hope that no one in this Chamber will deny the young children of Incline Village, Nevada the opportunity to learn how to read, how to write or how to add and subtract in a suitable facility that can promote education, not inhibit it. Mr. Speaker, we are asking only for 8.7 acres purchased at fair market value with a school restriction by the Washoe County school district for the purpose of an elementary school. The purpose of this bill is to provide the children in this area with an adequate, suitable place to get an education.