Jim Gibbons

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 15, H.R. 154 and H.R. 449, the bills just passed.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 154) to provide for the collection of fees for the making of motion pictures, television productions, and sound tracks in National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System units, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 154 was introduced by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley). The gentleman from Colorado is to be commended for the hard work on this bill and his commitment to see this piece of legislation come to fruition. H.R. 154 is a bipartisan bill which repeals the existing regulatory prohibition on collecting fees for commercial film productions on lands administered by the Department of the Interior, including units of the National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge Areas. H.R. 154 authorizes the Secretary to establish a fee schedule using a number of relevant factors, such as the number of people on-site and the duration of the filming activities. The bill would not affect newsreel or television news activities. Proceeds from these location fees would remain in the unit where the filming occurs as per the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program established under current public law. This is a good bill which is long overdue. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 154. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to speak against the Clinton administration's recent proposal to dump a large portion of the International Monetary Fund's gold reserve on the open market, just to wipe off the books some of the debt of nations under the Heavily- Indebted Poor Countries initiative, or HIPC. Since Congress must initially approve such a transaction, I rise to state my clear opposition to such a sale. This proposal is wrong and misguided for at least the following reasons. First, the IMF gold sales could harm, yes, harm, the very nations it is intended to help. Gold mining is a viable and productive part of the economies of well over half of the 41 countries included in the HIPC initiative. In 10 of those countries, gold mining accounts for between 5 and 40 percent of the exports, and in most of the other identified and indebted countries that currently do not mine gold, there are advanced plans for significant gold development. It would be unfortunate and, yes, ironic if potential investment in gold mining were deterred by the adverse impact of IMF gold sales on the gold price and the economies of this industry. Secondly, the sale of IMF gold reserves would further depress the gold price in America. The gold price is at its lowest place in 20 years. Mere discussion of a possible IMF gold sale has already depressed the price of gold by more than 3\1/2\ percent in the last 2 weeks, and outright sale would have a devastating impact on gold prices. Finally, such goal sales would substantially harm the U.S. gold mining industry. Gold is a viable U.S. export commodity that substantially benefits our balance of trade. The gold industry provides thousands of high-paying jobs in this country. In Nevada alone more than a thousand miners have been laid off due to the already depressed gold prices. A further decline would be a serious blow to rural communities in many States, including Nevada, and across this country, since many of them heavily rely on the stable price and production of this commodity. While I understand the motives of those who support the HIPC initiative, I do not believe that the sale of IMF gold reserves is the best way to be helpful. Gold plays a special and significant role in the economies of this country and those around the globe as well, and this Congress should not take affirmative actions to adversely impact its value. Accordingly, I oppose any initiative to sell the IMF gold reserve, and strongly urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 15) to designate a portion of the Otay Mountain region of California as wilderness.

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

Mr. GIBBONS

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

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, April 1, April Fool's Day, is less than a week away, literally just around the corner. But the jokes, yes, the jokes are already here. The nuclear power lobbyists are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Members of Congress. They want us to believe that if we support H.R. 45, the nuclear waste problems at 72 nuclear power plants will just disappear, puff, gone. Well, I am not sure how many of my colleagues believe in fairy tales. But that is exactly what it is, a fairy tale of monumental proportions. The truth is that there are 72 nuclear waste sites around the country and if H.R. 45 is passed, we would have a total of, let us see, 73, not less but more. And it would take 30 to 40 years and a thousand mobile Chernobyls going through your neighborhood to take this waste to the site. Let us not get caught up in the April Fool's joke or succumb to the attitude of ``Don't worry, be happy.'' Remember something my mother told me. When the circus is in town, beware of the clown. H.R. 45 is nothing more than a fairy tale, and I am sure my colleagues heard it before. Do not believe it again.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the Fallon Naval Air Station ``Top Gun'' school in Nevada recently had some important visitors. No, they were not the U.S. Navy cadets. It was not our colleague the gentleman from California (Ace Duke Cunningham). It was not the United States Air Force trying to gain an advantage. Mr. Speaker, it was the Chinese. Even after knowing their latest espionage tactics, our Government granted about 20 communist Chinese an open-door visit to the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Fallon Naval Air Station. Providing the Chinese communists with classified information about our military equipment, aircraft, tactics and operations is just sheer lunacy. Why were they allowed to visit that facility? Who knows? This facility has trained 90 percent of our naval warfare pilots. Fallon Naval Air Station is not just a field in Nevada. It is a vital training link for our naval aviators worldwide. If the American taxpayers could not be afforded the same high-level tour, why would this administration grant the communist Chinese a carte blanche visit? Mr. Speaker, top gun Chinese are not the type of American exports I would expect from the United States Navy.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, three out of four Americans, 75 percent, believe the United States already possesses the ability to defend itself from a missile attack. I think it is only fair to inform them that we cannot. Here in America we may have little or no warning of a ballistic missile attack that is launched just offshore by some terrorist or rogue nation. Speaking of rogue nations, North Korea, Iraq and Iran have all improved and accelerated their ballistic missile programs to threaten the U.S. and its allies. China already has numerous long-range missiles aimed at U.S. cities, all using stolen U.S. technology. There is no doubt that the threat is real. What is in doubt is whether Congress has the commitment to deploy a national missile defense system to engage and counter this threat. Our path is clear, we must be committed and we must do our duty to defend America. I urge my colleagues to support this effort. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4, and let us provide the safety for our Nation, for our communities, for our homes, for our families and giving America the capability to defend ourselves from a ballistic missile attack.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about the state of our Nation's military, because the readiness of our military is in perilous danger. This Nation cannot continue to turn a blind eye to underfunding of our armed forces while asking our military men and women at the same time to keep doing more and doing more with less and less. A recently released accident report of the 12 airmen who lost their lives in a tragic accident of their rescue helicopters last September in Nevada is a reminder of the perilous readiness environment that our armed forces are required to operate in. It is up to this administration and this Congress to provide our service men and women with the right tools, the right training and the resources to accomplish their mission, and nothing less. For my part as a veteran, I honor these men and their families and the 66th Rescue Squadron for their great service to this country. I believe we must honor their legacy by ensuring our military men and women have the resources to do their jobs. Support our servicemen. Support our servicewomen by providing full funding to our military.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Republican solution to add $1.9 billion to the administration's proposal to save and improve the health care of our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, few things are more sacred and solemn than the promises we have made to our Nation's veterans because we would not enjoy the peace, the prosperity and the freedoms we have today without their sacrifices. Unfortunately, though, that promise does not mean much to some because they would like to pass a budget that literally is a slap in the face to every veteran we have. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago we elevated the VA to a Cabinet level department for a very good reason. We wanted the VA to have the President's ear. But is the President listening? We need to protect the future of VA health care, we need to protect the future of our veterans. Unfortunately, however, the administration's proposed budget fails to do this. I encourage all Members to support our Nation's veterans, back the Committee on Veterans' Affairs' budget recommendation and keep the promises we have made to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to this country.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the question of the day is can this Nation afford the cleanup cost of a nuclear waste accident under H.R. 45, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999. Well, a 1985 Department of Energy contractor report concluded that a severe accident involving a rail cask would result in the release of radioactive materials sufficient to contaminate a 42-square-mile area. If it occurred in a rural area, the estimated cost of cleanup would range from $176 million to $19.4 billion and would require up to 460 days to complete. Cleanup after a similar accident in a typical urban area would be considerably more expensive and time consuming, perhaps around $9.5 billion just to raze and rebuild the most heavily contaminated single square mile. Mr. Speaker, guess who picks up the tab for these expensive and deadly accidents? That is right. It will be the American taxpayer. Realize these figures cannot include the intangible cost of human life or the disastrous effects it could have on our children, our communities, and our homes. Before nuclear waste is shipped through my colleagues' districts, think about the consequence, and oppose H.R. 45. It is a bill we cannot afford to live with.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 45 is the nuclear waste lottery. We bet our homes, our property, the safety of our family, and then if one of these nuclear carnivals passes by our property, bingo, we get big bucks. This is a lawyer's dream. Thousands of innocent people will get a large payment of taxpayer money because the transportation of this deadly radioactive waste will devalue and endanger their property. Mr. Speaker, let me explain. Recently the New Mexico State Supreme Court ruled that Mr. John Komis of Santa Fe will be awarded more than $884,000 in damages resulting from the devaluation of his property simply due to the transportation of nuclear waste past his property. If H.R. 45 were to pass, almost 80,000 tons of nuclear garbage will be shipped across our Nation's highways, destroying property values across this country like a string of dominos falling in its path, and who will pay for this devaluation of private property? The American taxpayer will foot the bill to support a radical, extremely costly policy mandated by H.R. 45. Mr. Speaker, this is a risk America cannot afford.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, Republicans and my colleagues on the left know that the biggest and best investment we can make as a nation is in the proper education of our children. But one of the greatest debates that is taking place in Washington right now concerns the future of our children's education and how scarce Federal education dollars can most effectively and efficiently be spent to improve that education. I ask, should the money of hardworking parents be left in the pockets of Washington bureaucrats, and should every important decision be left to the red tape bureaucrats in Washington to develop the plan to educate our children in our schools across America? Of course not. We all know the answer. Local control wins out over Washington bureaucracy. As a parent, I know. I want the best education possible for my children. And I envision a national goal on education, a goal that offers every child in America the best education possible. The Republican plan puts our teachers, our parents and our school boards in the education driver's seat. Mr. Speaker, the ed flex bill gets us closer, closer to letting our parents, teachers, schools and communities accomplish this goal by reaching a higher standard of learning.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, let us talk baseball, for once. America's favorite pastime is upon us here in Washington, D.C. and the rich nuclear utility industry is striking out. Today, they are simply a backstop against common sense. It seems that Secretary Richardson has pitched a proposal to store nuclear waste safely on site until a permanent storage area can be determined to be suitable. A great idea. To no one's surprise, the nuclear industry has balked at the plan, because it would be paid for, get this, with their money, heaven forbid, and would avoid the potentially dangerous task of shipping nuclear waste across America. Here was a chance for all America to hit a home run, but once again, it seems the nuclear industry is holding out for a bigger contract just so they can get paid and put money in their fat pockets. Mr. Speaker, the nuclear industry fat cats are trying to build an expensive, taxpayer-paid lobbyist expansion team. Remember, the ballfield is in your district, the team is your constituents, and it is your responsibility to oppose H.R. 45 so we can win one for all America.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the Clinton administration's poor handling of known nuclear espionage efforts by China might prove to be an interesting and new story line for a Tom Clancy novel, but in my mind it has become potentially the ``Apocalypse Now,'' part two. I find it troubling that it took 18 months for this administration to take necessary action after reports of espionage and security breaches came to light, and I am outraged that background check waivers continued to be granted for suspect foreign visitors in light of the reported espionage. Can we realistically expect to maintain our technological expertise when supercomputers and satellite innovations are offered up without proper restrictions? Mr. Speaker, our military is already in trouble due to the financial shortfalls and cuts this administration has placed on it. Now other countries have classified information and U.S. nuclear technology, all of which could directly impact our national security. Mr. Speaker, I yield back this administration's national security policy before it becomes apocalypse now.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I read with interest an article in yesterday's Washington Post which some Members of this Congress are upset and demanding legislation to stop other States from shipping garbage into their States. There is some real irony here. My colleagues will understand my surprise when I read this because these alarmist complainers are some of the very same Members of Congress who want to ship their trash, including nuclear waste, all across this country and into my State. Mr. Speaker, let me get this straight. They want to stop shipping garbage to their State, but they want to ship their deadly toxic waste into mine. A transportation accident, including banana peels and used paper towels, is certainly not going to be the same as one of the consequences of an accident with nuclear waste. I yield back this hypocrisy of trash, and I encourage Members to support common sense, fairness and safety, and oppose H.R. 45.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about our administration's foreign policy and the men and women in our Nation's military service. I have three words to describe the administration's strategy for deployment of U.S. troops to police Kosovo, and they are: No exit strategy. Can we honestly ask the men and women of our Armed Services to stand up and once again become the world's police of foreign policy decisions? Should we not justify to the American people the need for intervention based on some realistic, identified and threatened vital national interest? I should think so. However, when a defective strategy results in a multi-year deployment, billions of dollars in cost to the American taxpayer and the risk in lives of every American soldier over there, it is time for us to say no. It is time that our foreign policy marches to a new cadence, one that protects our vital national interests and the lives of our hard-working, dedicated men and women in our nation's military. On behalf of our Nation's interests and the lives of our service men and women, I yield back this dangerous foreign policy and the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 45, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999, opens the door to the dangerous transportation of high-level nuclear waste and yet fails to address the concerns of the safety of millions of Americans. By mandating the construction of an interim storage facility in Nevada, H.R. 45 would require the shipment of the most toxic substance known to man to go through 43 States. Fifty million Americans within a half mile of the transportation routes could be exposed to the deadly hazards of 77,000 tons of nuclear waste moving through their neighborhoods for the next 30 years. H.R. 45 does nothing to address the weakness in the design of the waste caskets. It does nothing to fund the training of emergency personnel who would be required to respond to any accidents. H.R. 45 is the ``speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil'' effort by the nuclear power industry to pull the wool over the eyes of Americans. We must protect our constituents, their health and their safety and oppose H.R. 45.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, General George Patton once said, ``There is no limit to what you can accomplish, if you don't care who gets the credit.'' This quote is very fitting for the 5,000 men and women of Task Force Aguila, who left their homes and loved ones during the holidays last year to provide humanitarian relief to the victims of Hurricane Mitch. As members of the Task Force prepare to end their mission, I feel it is important to take note of the following. Mr. Speaker, there are many accomplishments of our U.S. military in Central America that are not known by my colleagues here or, for that matter, most Americans; like the over 15,000 sick and injured people that were treated and cared for, the delivery of almost 2,000 tons of food and other humanitarian aid, millions of gallons of water purified, and the miles and miles of roads repaired and washed out bridges rebuilt. All of these will be lasting reminders of the goodwill and ambassadorship provided by every airman, soldier and Marine as part of our U.S. diplomacy there. I rise today to express my thanks and give national recognition to our Armed Forces for a job well done.