Jim Gibbons

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) for allowing me the time in which to speak. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 549. It was just 10 years ago that our Nation was on the brink of its largest military engagement since Vietnam, with 600,000 men and women joined in an allied force facing the world's sixth largest army in the Iraqi forces. President Bush declared then that it was our intention to halt Iraqi aggression and said that he would draw a line in the sand. Unfortunately, however, in this world of ours, words alone could not thwart the will of one such individual, Saddam Hussein. In order to defend that line and to defend the rule of law, President Bush called forth our Nation's military forces. Our Nation's full-time defenders of freedom, our active duty troops, were bolstered and enhanced by the modern version of the historic Minutemen, that is, our National Guard and Reserve forces. 106,000 of these citizen soldiers left their families, left their homes and left their civilian jobs to join the total force in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. As a Nevada Air National Guardsman, it was my duty and my honor to serve with my neighbors under the strong leadership of Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney and General Colin Powell in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm. All told, Mr. Speaker, a total of 267,000 Guardsmen and Reservists were ordered to active duty at home and abroad. The only reason that there was such seamless integration of this total force was the recognition of the importance of our citizen soldiers to the success of the whole operation. Ten years ago, congressional, executive, and local support for the Guard and Reserve forces produced a professional force, a force that gained a quick and overwhelming victory in the Persian Gulf. Such support must be maintained to ensure our ability to do so again if ever called. Finally, Mr. Speaker, in this time of so-called surgical strikes and precision warfare, we must remember that there was nothing surgical and nothing precise for the 57 members of the National Guard and Reserve who lost their lives during Desert Storm. These men and women made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their Nation, to their States, and to their fellow citizens. Let us recognize their heroism and the strength they represent, the strength of our citizens, our soldiers, our Minutemen. As President Bush so eloquently said, these are Americans at their finest.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, as a former Air Force pilot and veteran, I have a special sensitivity and permanent appreciation for the needs and concerns of our Nation's military. It seems obvious to me and to the men and women who serve in our military forces that I have spoken with that the Clinton-Gore administration has put our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines in danger by continually asking the military to do more and more with less and less. Over the past 8 years, President Clinton has requested drastic cuts in military spending and yet continues to send our troops all over the world. As Commander in Chief, President Clinton has deployed U.S. forces 34 times, while cutting troop strength by 40 percent. During the previous 40 years throughout the Cold War and prior to the Clinton administration, our military forces were only deployed 10 times. Madam Speaker, our military should not become the world's policeman. I am proud that this Republican Congress realizes the importance of maintaining a strong national defense and that our military serves the United States first and the rest of the world second.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague and friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), for his leadership and support on this very important piece of legislation.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks, and to include extraneous materials, on H. Res. 562.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 562) providing for the concurrence by the House, with amendments, in the Senate amendment to H.R. 1167.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation that we have been working on for 4 years. H.R. 1167, the proposed Tribal Self- Governance Amendments of 2000, creates a new title in the 1975 Indian Self-Determination Act, a statute which allows Indian tribes to contract for or take over the administration and operation of certain Federal programs which provide services to Indian tribes. Subsequent amendments created title III in the 1975 act to provide for a self-governance demonstration project within the Indian Health Service which allows for large scale tribal self-governance compliance and funding agreements on a demonstration basis. H.R. 1167 makes this demonstration contracting program permanent for certain programs contracted within the IHS if this legislation is enacted into law. Indian and Alaskan native tribes will be able to contract for the operation, control and redesign of various IHS activities on a permanent basis. In short, what was a demonstration project would become a permanent IHS self-governance program. Tribes which have already contracted for IHS services under existing law will continue under the provisions of their contracts while an additional 50 new tribes would be selected each year to enter into contracts. H.R. 1167 also allows for a feasibility study regarding the execution of tribal self-governance compacts and funding agreements of Indian- related programs outside the IHS but within the Department of Health and Human Services on a demonstration project basis. H.R. 1167 is an important piece of legislation which is a result of extensive negotiations between the Committee on Resources, the Committee on Indian Affairs in the other body, the Indian Health Service, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and a special task force representing the many Indian tribes around the Nation. After negotiations and some minor changes, we have all reached agreement. It is my understanding that H. Res. 562, as it is now being considered by us today, incorporates H.R. 1167 as it has been agreed to by everybody working on the bill, including administration officials and tribal representatives. I support this legislation as we have amended it and urge my colleagues to pass it today and send it back to the other body so that the other body will again have the opportunity to pass it in its final form and send it to the President. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters for inclusion in the Record. House of Representatives, Committee on Resources, Washington, DC, June 5, 2000. Hon. Tom Bliley Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: On November 17, 1999, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1167, a bill to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide for further self-governance by Indian tribes. This noncontroversial bill had been referred solely to the Committee on Resources. On April 4, 2000, the Senate amended the bill and returned it to the House. Section 12 of the Senate amendments establishes the office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. I believe this provision affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce, as demonstrated by the referral of H.R. 403, which accomplishes the same end, to the Committee on Resources and additionally to the Committee on Commerce. I propose to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 1167 with an amendment which would strip out Section 12. I ask your cooperation in allowing this to occur when we return after the Memorial Day district work period. My understanding is that the Senate would then take up the amended version of H.R. 1167 and send it to the President for signature. Of course, by allowing this to occur, the Committee on Commerce does not waive its jurisdiction over Section 12 or any other similar matter. If the Senate insists on its amendments and requests a conference, I would support the Committee on Commerce's request to be named to the conference. Finally, this action should not be seen as precedent for any other Senate amendments to Committee on Resources bills which affect the Committee on Commerce's jurisdiction. I would be pleased to place this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the Floor to document this agreement. I appreciate your cooperation in moving this bill, which is very important to the Native American community. Sincerely, Don Young, Chairman.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2773.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2773) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Wekiva River and its tributaries of Rock Springs Run and Black Water Creek in the State of Florida as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system, as amended.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2773 adds the Wekiva River and many of its tributaries to the wild and scenic rivers system. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) is to be commended for his bill, which is the product of extensive public involvement and has the endorsement of a variety of State, local, and Federal governments. H.R. 2773 sets apart over 40 miles of Florida rivers as wild and scenic and in doing so extends existing riparian and water protection zones. In 1996, Mr. Speaker, Congress passed a law which directed the Secretary of the Interior to study the inclusion of these segments as wild and scenic rivers. The study has been completed and concluded that the river segments contained in this bill are eligible for inclusion into the wild and scenic rivers system. Administration of the river segments will be done by the Secretary of the Interior in cooperation with the State of Florida and Lake, Orange, and Seminole Counties. H.R. 2773 also establishes the Wekiva River System Advisory Committee, which will assist in the development of a comprehensive management plan. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2773, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, Social Security is a solemn promise from the United States to its citizens, a promise that this Republican-led Congress is dedicated to keeping. For more than 30 years, the Social Security Trust Fund was used as a slush fund for government spending by the Democrats and their leadership. However, this Republican Congress stopped this dangerous practice by implementing a fiscally responsible budget; and we passed the Social Security Lockbox Act, which protects the Social Security Trust Fund permanently. This Republican-led Congress is dedicated to ensuring that all Americans can rely on Social Security, now and in the future. I call upon the administration to follow our lead and help assure all Americans, young and old, that Social Security will be there for them when they retire. I yield back the administration's irresponsible tax-and-spend policies that only jeopardize the future of Social Security.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, Napoleon Bonaparte once said ``if you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing.'' Promise everything, deliver nothing. That also happens to be the mantra of our Democratic leadership on the other side. We all know, however, how Napoleon's plans turned out. Thankfully, this Republican-led Congress realized the importance of promises it made to the American people, and this Republican Congress is keeping those promises. We passed a responsible, affordable, and voluntary Medicare prescription drug plan. We passed a Commerce, Justice, State Department Appropriations Act, which provides the resources necessary to fight crime and enforce our laws. We passed a Defense appropriations bill which boosts funding for critical military readiness and gives our servicemen and women a much- deserved pay raise. Instead of just touting useless rhetoric and making empty promises, this Republican Congress has and will continue to take action in addressing the problems facing the American people.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America lost a true friend, and we were all saddened to hear of the tragic news that we had lost a colleague and friend in the United States Senate. Senator Paul Coverdell was a true leader of the Senate, his beloved State of Georgia and to this Nation. As an ardent supporter of freedom and the American dream, the distinguished Senator from Georgia believed that freedom was best preserved and nurtured by a well-educated citizenry. As a result, throughout his career, Senator Coverdell fought for education reform which ensured that every child in America received a quality education in a safe environment. Personally, I am honored to have had the recent opportunity to work with the Senator in passing a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Reagans, a family which he held in high regard. Senator Coverdell's tenacity and dedication to that effort, as well as to any project he led, were two of his most honorable attributes. My deepest sympathies go out to Senator Coverdell's family, colleagues, and his staff during this most difficult time. Senator Coverdell and his genuine love for our great Nation will be missed by colleague and friend alike.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest responsibilities our government has to the American people is to protect the national security interests of our great Nation. Unfortunately, over the past year evidence has shown that the Clinton-Gore administration has maintained a lax, even negligent, national security policy with regard to China. Get this, the administration has now permitted defense contractors and computer companies to hire hundreds of Chinese technicians to work on highly sensitive and classified military-related technologies. Not only to me, but to the American people and to top officials in the Pentagon, it is obvious why China is sending to the U.S. their most highly educated and motivated professionals. China is continuing its efforts to obtain U.S. military secrets and technology by any means, legal or illegal. This breakdown of American national security is beyond belief and must stop. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the administration's careless disregard for a country's most sensitive and classified technology which continues to jeopardize the U.S. national security every day.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, Americans are paying more for gas now than at any other time in our history. Families like David and Jenny Davis of Reno, Nevada are being forced to eliminate their vacation plans and change their daily schedules, like eliminating after-school programs for their children, just to save money on gas; and all of this when our country's dependency on foreign oil is at an all-time high. Yet, for 8 years, the Clinton-Gore administration has refused to address and reduce our dependence on foreign oil or to prevent foreign oil price-fixing schemes. Instead, the administration continues to support oil-producing countries, even though they blatantly banned together to raise oil prices. Now American families are paying for the administration's actions or inactions. Our hard-working families should not have to sacrifice their livelihoods just because the administration refuses or fails to stand up to foreign oil pricing nations. I yield back the administration's national policy which continues to cost Americans precious money every time they go to the gas pump.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in strong support of the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. As an original cosponsor, I urge all my colleagues to support this very important bill. After listening to my colleague from Massachusetts, I hope we can all come back to reality for just a minute. Everyone, including Republicans and Democrats, would agree the Internet is a great educational tool and a valuable source of information and communication. However, American families must be protected from the dangers associated with unrestricted and unregulated gaming. In States like Nevada, the gaming industry is well regulated and its activities are tightly monitored. However, allowing gambling to be conducted on the Internet would open the floodgates for corruption, abuse, and fraud. Not only could unscrupulous operators bilk millions of unsuspecting customers, but our children could easily obtain their parents' credit cards, turn their bedrooms into casinos, and with these sites unknowingly squander their families' hard-earned money. The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act provides the necessary tools for law enforcement officials to crack down on these fly-by-night Internet gambling sites. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill which will protect our children, our homes, and our technology from fraudulent, unscrupulous, and unregulated Internet gaming and gambling site operators.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to talk about an injustice that exists in our current Tax Code. Mr. Speaker, I am referring to the marriage penalty tax. This insensitive provision actually increases taxes by up to $1,400 on working Americans like Ron and Judy Kingman out in rural Nevada, taxes on them simply because they chose to get married. How unfair can it be? Mr. Speaker, over 25 million American couples are currently subjected to this tax. We can do better and we will do better. These couples should be able to use that tax overpayment toward a downpayment on a home, child care expenses, or investment for their own retirement. This money does not belong to the IRS, it belongs to our families and they deserve to get it back. This week we have the opportunity to ease the marriage tax burden for married couples in this country. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to join in our Republican efforts to end the marriage tax penalty. Let us do the right thing. Let us reform this tax. Let us eliminate the marriage tax penalty.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, currently when a couple goes to the altar and says, ``I do,'' they are saying I do to beginning a life together or starting a family and, unfortunately, to paying higher taxes. How romantic, having a honeymoon at the IRS office. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the House passed the Marriage Penalty Tax Relief Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. This week will again have the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to marriage and the hope of the American family. It is simply unfair to penalize hard-working Americans like Brenda and Pete Williams in Nevada, with higher taxes only because they have made the wonderful decision to proclaim their love and get married. Eliminating the marriage penalty tax will enable millions of middle- class families to save for their children's education, for a new home, and for their own retirement. Mr. Speaker, it is time to help people like Brenda and Pete Williams and eliminate the marriage penalty tax and help these families come one step closer to realizing their American dream.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to thank my colleagues and friends, both the chairman of the Subcommittee on Postal Service, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) for their hard work on, and continued dedication in bringing this important bill to the floor of the House of Representatives today. Mr. Speaker, on April 4, I introduced H.R. 4169 to designate the post office located at 2000 Vassar Street in Reno, Nevada as the Barbara G. Vucanovich Post Office Building. As the current congressman, Mr. Speaker, representing the Second Congressional District of Nevada, I have the distinct honor and, may I say, great challenge of following Barbara Vucanovich in Congress. Mrs. Vucanovich retired from Congress after serving 14 years as the representative of one of the most diverse and vast congressional districts in this country. As Nevada's very first female representative in Congress, she focused on a variety of issues important to Nevadans, including Federal wilderness and national park policy, as we have heard earlier, public land use and nuclear waste policy issues that affected the State of Nevada. In 1997, Mrs. Vucanovich retired as a senior Member of Congress, having served on the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, the Committee on House Administration and the chairman of the very powerful Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction. The designation of the U.S. post office in Mrs. Vucanovich's hometown of Reno, Nevada would be a wonderful tribute to her tireless work and unfailing dedication to the citizens of the great State of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, echoing the remarks of Nevada's Governor Kenny Guinn, ``I can think of few individuals who have devoted their lives to the people of Nevada in the manner that Barbara Vucanovich has over her many years of public service. She has served her community as a volunteer, government worker, and elected official. She has always fought hard for the people she represented.'' Mrs. Vucanovich's dedicated service to her Nation is well-known throughout the halls of Congress. Mrs. Vucanovich's long history in this body as represented by the many colleagues on both sides of the aisle who still today call Barbara their friend. Many of my colleagues here today served alongside of Barbara Vucanovich and still remember with great fondness her distinguished career and outstanding achievements here in this body. Mr. Speaker, it has been my pleasure to lead this effort to recognize my predecessor, former Congresswoman Barbara Vucanovich, for her distinguished service in Congress and longstanding commitment to the citizens of the State of Nevada, as well as to our Nation as a whole. I would like to encourage all of my colleagues to join with me today to honor former Congressman Vucanovich and pass H.R. 4169. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), my colleague and friend, for yielding me the time.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased today to rise in support of S. 986, the Griffith Project Prepayment and Conveyance Act. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) for yielding me the time with which to speak and to thank the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) for their leadership and assistance with this bill and also to thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for his courtesies and assistance in this bill as well. The Griffith Project, formerly known as the Southern Nevada Project, was first authorized in 1965, and directed to Secretary of Interior to construct, operate and maintain the project in order to deliver water to Clark County, Nevada. With the phenomenal growth of the Las Vegas Valley over the past several decades, and the associated need for additional water, the Griffith Project has become but a small part of the overall system used to deliver water to the Las Vegas metropolitan area. With the strong support of the State and local government to increase and improve the water delivery and treatment system for the Las Vegas Valley, it is projected that the federally funded share of the overall system will decrease to approximately 6 percent when completed. The time has come, Madam Speaker, for the title of the Griffith Project to be transferred to the local ownership, and this is the goal of S. 986. S. 986 will convey to the Southern Nevada Water Authority all right, title and interest of the United States in and to the Griffith Project. This conveyance is subject to the payment by the Southern Nevada Water Authority of the net present value of the remaining repayment obligation. This repayment obligation will be determined under financial terms and conditions that are similar to other title transfer laws which have been enacted on other projects. The repayment obligation will also be governed by the guidance from the Department of Interior and the office of Management and Budget. This conveyance will simplify the overall operation of the system for the Southern Nevada Water Authority by removing some of the duplicative efforts required by having dual owners. For example, a pump station in the Griffith Project portion of the system requires repairs or maintenance, then Project employees must notify the Bureau of Reclamation that a repair is needed. Madam Speaker, then they must describe the exact nature of the work to be performed, obtain permission for a crew to perform the work and schedule the work to be done at such a time when the Bureau of Reclamation employees can be present just to watch or oversee the repair or maintenance being performed by the Project employees. When the Project work is completed, the Bureau of Reclamation then sends a local bill to the water authority for the time spent by its personnel simply watching the work being done by the Project employees. Madam Speaker, we should note that this could be as simple as replacing just a valve handle, even though there are no leaks or any technical problems with the system. Truly, Madam Speaker, this is a tremendous waste of Bureau of Reclamation time and an unnecessary and expensive cost burden for the people of Las Vegas. In summary, this is a rather straightforward bill which will result in a much simplified and improved operation of the water supply and treatment facility for the Las Vegas Valley. Madam Speaker, I, along with the senior Senator from Nevada, have worked with the Bureau of Reclamation to resolve their concerns, and we believe this is the right approach for Southern Nevada. I do understand the right of way issues that remain and will work with the administration and those concerned with that right of way issue to resolve those problems, and I would ask my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill and pass S. 986.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, every American with a car cannot help but notice how gas prices are skyrocketing out of control. Before summer began, the Clinton-Gore administration released a report showing that Americans could be paying as much as $1.80 a gallon for gas by this summer. But, lo and behold, the Clinton Administration is no better at predicting gas prices than they are at protecting our Nation's most classified nuclear secrets. In many Midwest and Western States, prices so far are higher than $1.80; how about $2.35 a gallon and rising? Vice President Gore, now touting his risky scheme to cut gas taxes, seems to forget that in 1993 he cast the tie- breaking vote to increase gas taxes, adding to the tax burden of seniors and working families in this country. When it comes to keeping gas prices reasonable, the Clinton-Gore administration has failed the American people; and now, unfortunately, the American people are paying at the pump for this administration's mistake.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, let us come back to reality for a minute. For months now, our seniors have been asking, even begging, for relief from the high cost of prescription drugs that they have to take. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in this well and announce that this Republican Congress heard and answered the calls of those senior citizens. Yesterday, the Republicans passed the Bipartisan Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit plan that will benefit every Medicare senior. Our bipartisan plan provides for a voluntary, affordable, and available prescription drug benefit to all Medicare beneficiaries in need. We have created a much-needed entitlement for every Medicare beneficiary, which, at the same time, allows seniors to choose the plan they want, and yet keeps Washington out of their medicine cabinets. While the Democrats took a walk on our seniors yesterday, Republicans are lowering drug prices and providing real prescription drug relief and benefits and yet fighting for our seniors at the same time.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, recently gasoline prices have increased at rates not seen since the 1970s. While the Clinton-Gore administration vows that it will not tolerate companies who fix prices here at home, it remains reluctant to get tough on foreign countries that simultaneously receive U.S. aid and engage in oil price fixing that affects every American. Although it is almost too late, it is time that the administration begin working for the American people. Mr. Speaker, many Americans are seeing their family vacation plans evaporate as prices rise. I call upon the administration to adopt a national policy with other oil-consuming nations to take steps towards reducing, suspending, or even eliminating assistance or arms sales to exporters engaged in price fixing. The hard-working American families deserve more than just a vacation. They deserve national leadership that is concerned about their future rather than the hollow rhetoric and empty promises of the Clinton-Gore White House.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. It seems that the more we learn about the security and disasters at the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory, the worse it gets. The FBI now believes that the hard drives disappeared on March 28, more than a month before they were reported missing. Furthermore, the two nuclear emergency safety team members who discovered a security breach failed to tell their superiors that the hard drives were even missing and, knowing of the gravity of the situation, simply launched their own personal search. Mr. Speaker, it seems clear that the pledges of increased security made a year ago by the Department of Energy Secretary were only empty promises. So why should the American people believe Secretary Richardson now when he asserts that there is no evidence of espionage? I suggest, conversely, that there is also no evidence that there was not espionage involved. A change needs to occur and it needs to occur before all our national secrets are stolen, compromised or paraded out the door of our nuclear laboratories.