Jim Gibbons

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, mining is one of the most important and needed industries in the United States. However, the Bureau of Land Management's decision to enforce a final rule on reclamation bonding of hardrock mineral operations is having a negative impact on large and small miners alike as well as their suppliers, contractors and the economy. Mr. Speaker, the good news is that I have introduced legislation that will transfer the authority of the Bureau of Land Management to require bonds or other financial guarantees for the reclamation of mineral operations to State governments. Once again the current Federal rule is a mandate of action on the States and does not give them the option of solving local problems at local levels. My bill will allow States to work in cooperation with miners, contractors and suppliers to develop a strategy that will protect our public lands while supporting an industry that every American is dependent upon. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1917, the Hardrock Mining Protection Act of 1997. We must protect the future of mining and the thousands of jobs it produces for American families.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. Wake up America. The headline news from a June 20th New York Times article reads: ``Doubt Cast on Prime Site as Nuclear Waste Dump.'' The article states that ``researchers have found that rain water, which could dissolve nuclear waste, has seeped from the top of the mountain to 800 feet into its innards, where high-level waste would be stored, in just 40 years, much faster than scientists had predicted.'' The scientists had originally believed that it would take hundreds of thousands of years to travel the same distance. The article goes on to say that the find ``raises the possibility that radiation would be spread into the environment much sooner then they anticipated.'' Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1270 will destroy the environment and endanger lives. Do not waste your votes. I urge my colleagues to oppose this very bad bill.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, in the preamble to the Constitution, the people of the United States declared that one of the purposes of having a constitution was to ``promote the general welfare, and to secure the blessings and liberty to ourselves and our posterity.'' Mr. Speaker, one of the best ways to promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our children would be to pass the Republican tax relief plan. Letting people who earn between $20,000 and $75,000 a year keep more of what they earn means that their standard of living goes up. It means that these people can better provide for their families, better save for their children's education, and better save for their own retirement. The Constitution speaks of providing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, and reducing death taxes means the family farms can stay in the family, the family business can remain in the hands of those who helped build it. I urge my colleagues to support the tax relief bill when it comes before the House.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to urge my colleagues to join me in support of House Joint Resolution 79, to disapprove the extension of most-favored-nation status to China. The Chinese have enjoyed most-favored-nation status for more than 17 years, yet they continue to turn a blind eye to unspeakable human rights violations; they continue to proliferate weapons of mass destruction to countries such as Pakistan and Iran and other countries which support terrorism. They continue to blatantly violate our existing trade agreements. Still, there are those who would argue that the way to solve these problems is to extend MFN status and to maintain the status quo. Mr. Speaker, we have tried leading by example and the Chinese Government has made it abundantly clear that they are not willing to change. Mr. Speaker, Americans should not be forced to accept the cavalier conduct of the People's Republic of China. I rise to urge my colleagues to vote yes on House Joint Resolution 79.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today the House will consider a bill that simply says that the Federal Government is too large, too intrusive, and too expensive, and that the hardworking men and women of this country should be able to keep more of their money, the money they earn. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill. But, Mr. Speaker, this is an easy vote. It is easy to endorse the idea of smaller government. It is easy to say that we pay too much in taxes every year. The real challenge will come later this week and this month when we vote on the reconciliation bill. This is the opportunity to deliver to the American people the truth, the truth about the status of the Federal Government, the truth they so richly deserve. I urge every Member that pledges his or her desire for smaller government and lower taxes to follow through when the reconciliation bills come to the floor.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I am told in Texas they have a saying that means ``All talk but no action.'' In classic Texan, they say, ``Big hat, no cattle.'' To me that means there is not much behind the rhetoric. Mr. Speaker, I am from the great State of Nevada, but I am pretty sure that the people of Texas are talking about the Democrats when they talk about taxes. Sure, they are all for them, they say, but when it comes to giving the middle-class families some real tax relief, all of a sudden the middle-class tax cuts get magically transformed into tax cuts for the wealthy. Middle-class taxpayers in my district are starting to scratch their heads when they hear that some people in Washington think they should not get tax relief because suddenly they are the rich. I think I understand what so many of them start questioning, whether some of the people who claim to be for middle-class tax cuts are really sincere. Big hat, no cattle. I think Texans are onto something here.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, recently the White House announced the dates for the President's Forum on Lake Tahoe. At this conference, both the economic and environmental challenges that face the Lake Tahoe Basin and its surrounding communities will hopefully be addressed. Among these concerns are the need for alternative forms of transportation and to address the fading clarity of the water, which is decreasing at an alarming rate of over 1 foot per year. This forum represents an important first step in the fight to preserve the Lake Tahoe Basin. Equally as important, this forum represents the ability and the willingness of environmental and private property interests to work together toward a common goal. Through the two community forums and three workshops prior to the event, people from all levels of government as well as local residents will have a voice in this forum. Because of this cooperation, both private property owners and Government representatives will have constructive input. The Lake Tahoe Basin has become a place for everyone to enjoy and share. From the idea that all people should share this beautiful work of nature has come the realization that we are all responsible for its well-being. Mr. Speaker, Lake Tahoe is a national treasure that must be preserved, and this forum will help us reach this goal.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I have been in this well many times to discuss the facts surrounding the nuclear waste debate. I have largely concentrated on the issues of transporting nuclear waste across this Nation's highways and rail system. Over and over I have stressed that there are very real safety issues that must be addressed and resolved before we as legislators mandate a life-threatening policy on the American people who live in our districts. To further illustrate my point, Mr. Speaker, I would like to share a recent mishap. On May 22 of this year an unexpected pressure buildup forced the top off a large metal shipping container at the U.S. DOE's Fernauld site near Cincinnati, OH. The container held five 55-gallon drums of radioactive waste. This happened to a container that was a stationary container, not in the transport arena. If these caps are this unsafe, how can we pass a bill that would endanger the lives of every citizen in this country? I urge Members not to waste their vote on H.R. 1270.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on the eve of Flag Day, in strong support of House Joint Resolution 54, a constitutional amendment to prohibit the desecration of the American flag. More than 1 million men and women have sacrificed their lives defending this country and the freedom that it represents. It would be a great dishonor for us now to turn our backs on those who gave so much to protect the American flag and what it symbolizes. We must now fight for them in protecting the sacred symbol of this Nation. Mr. Speaker, as a veteran of both Vietnam and the Desert Storm wars, I proudly support this legislation and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I have a question about this legislation which I wish to direct to its principal sponsor, the distinguished gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], and chairman of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and esteemed chairman for his clarification, and with the assurance he has provided, I will be pleased to join him in support of this measure.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I note that the legislation states that Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should be invited to become full members of NATO at the earliest possible date upon complete satisfaction of all relevant criteria. The legislation also provides that these four countries are to be designated as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act effective 180 days after the date of enactment. Are these provisions intended to suggest that Congress believes that Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should be kept out of the first round of NATO enlargement this year and, instead, invited to join NATO at a later date in a second or third round of enlargement?

Mr. GIBBONS. Why then does the legislation postpone for 180 days the effective date of the designation of these countries under the NATO Participation Act?

Mr. GIBBONS. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, this morning I want to dispel a myth and share with my colleagues the truth about a lawsuit against the Department of Energy regarding nuclear waste. Many falsely claim that it forced DOD to accept this garbage by January 31, 1998. However, the Department of Energy advised its contract holders that it anticipated that it will be unable to begin acceptance of spent nuclear fuel for disposal by January 31, 1998. The Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management contends that the delay in disposing of the contract holders' spent fuel is an unavoidable delay and, according to DOE, is not liable for failure to perform under the terms of the contract. The contract states that neither the Government nor the contract holder shall be liable for damages caused by failure to perform its obligations, if such failure arises out of causes beyond control and without fault or negligence of the party. Now that the truth has been told, there is no legal obligation by DOE to accept nuclear waste by January 31, 1998. We should not let false information or tactics scare us. Vote ``no'' on 1270.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, in January of this year northern Nevada was ravaged by torrential rainstorms and devastating floods. In response to this and other natural disasters, the House and Senate passed legislation providing vital disaster recovery aid, including over 25 million for Nevada alone. But Mr. Speaker, President Clinton vetoed this legislation yesterday. Why? Because it contains bipartisan provisions that will keep Government from shutting down as it did in 1995. Unfortunately, the President has put politics ahead of people. I am extremely disappointed, Mr. Speaker, that the President has mistakenly chosen partisan politics in a time of such obvious and genuine need for the people of Nevada and the rest of America. I urge my colleagues to quickly override this veto.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on National Security will meet soon to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1998 for military activities of the Department of Defense. When voting on the defense authorization bill in the coming weeks, we must consider our Reserve component forces and the shortfalls in their funding. What will happen to our Reserve component readiness, compatibility and equipment interoperability with the Active Force if we continue to shortchange these forces? We must remember that as the American defense budget continues to dwindle, we will be relying more on these dedicated men and women who choose to serve in the Guard and Reserve. If we continue to ask these troops to do more with less, more operations and contingencies with less equipment, less training and fewer troops, we will see significant problems with recruiting, retaining the same caliber people that we choose to serve in this All Volunteer Force. Our Armed Forces, Mr. Speaker, are more than just Active Forces. They are a total force component comprised of Active, Reserve and Guard members.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, think about what $2.3 billion would buy today. If the American people knew what Congress was planning to do with this large sum of money, they would be appalled. Does anyone here honestly think the American people would choose to spend this money to transport nuclear waste through their States, their communities, their towns and their backyards? I do not think so. Yet this is exactly what H.R. 1270, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 will do. Today, schools need more teachers, communities need more police, veterans need a cost-of-living adjustment, and the hard-working men and women of this country need a tax break. Why then, Mr. Speaker, do some in this body contend that the $2.3 billion should be used to subsidize nuclear powerplants? It is an unfair, unfunded mandate. H.R. 1270 seeks to create an interim storage facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, to temporarily store nuclear waste. Why endanger Americans when it is infinitely safer and seven times cheaper to keep this waste on site?

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, recently the National Gambling and Impact Policy Commission was formed. I am here today to speak about one of the positive impacts the gaming industry has had on our society. An article recently published in the Las Vegas Sun illustrates gaming's positive involvement in the important issue of welfare reform. Two of gaming's corporate citizens have been producing thousands of jobs for welfare recipients. These companies have been giving American families the confidence of being able to make ends meet without depending on public assistance. A recent Arthur Andersen study of gaming establishments in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois disclosed that gaming has had a dramatic role in decreasing public assistance in these areas. According to the study, casino companies and the industries that support them paid $21 billion in wages to more than 700,000 men and women in 1995. The average casino wage was $26,000 compared to $20,000 in other amusement and recreation sectors, $16,000 in the hotel-motel industry, $22,000 in the motion picture industry. This means that the men and women working in the small casinos to the large mega resorts and riverboats receive better wages and higher-paying jobs in exchange for their hard work. This is not just a Nevada issue, Mr. Speaker, this is a national issue. I urge Members' support.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. GIBBONS. 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. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, top 10 reasons not to vote for H.R. 1270, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997: Number 10, nuclear waste will be transported next to your constituents, their homes and their schools; No. 9, transportation of radioactive waste past private property results in its devaluation; No. 8, shipping containers are designed to withstand a cash of only 30 miles per hour; No. 7, the President will veto this bill; No. 6, the Senate will sustain the bill; No. 5, local officials are neither trained or equipped to cope with a nuclear disaster; No. 4, 33 faults and 30 earthquakes, Yucca mountain is not safe period; No. 3, H.R. 1270 would result in the transfer of liability for radioactive waste to the U.S. taxpayer; No. 2, it will cost the American taxpayers an additional $2.3 billion to transport this waste rather than keeping it onsite; and finally, Mr. Speaker, No. 1, a single radioactive accident in this country would cost the American taxpayers nearly $20 billion and take over 450 days to clean it up. Mr. Speaker, it is very important that my colleagues learn the facts surrounding H.R. 1270 and then vote against it.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, America awoke this morning to the first balanced budget agreement in nearly two generations. Today I rise to commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, both Democrats and Republicans, for the passage of the balanced budget agreement. This budget truly is good news for the American people. This bipartisan approach demonstrates to the American people that we in Congress are willing to put aside petty partisan politics to pass this historic balanced budget. Although this agreement may not be perfect, passage of this budget will mean smaller government, lower spending, lower taxes, a solvent Medicare system, and a balanced budget, all in one plan. The people in my district in Nevada will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money to save, invest, and send their kids to college, or spend any way they see fit. Seniors, families, and future generations will all benefit from this budget agreement. The only loser is big Government and the status quo.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to address an issue that affects all of our military Reserve and National Guard members who are Federal employees. The 1998 defense authorization bill proposes to take away the right of these citizen soldiers to earn their 15 days of paid military leave each year. Up to this point this has been a highly successful military leave policy for civil servants who serve in the Reserve and Guard. Why destroy that policy? Rather, this U.S. Government should set the example by supporting the Reserve and Guard forces. These brave men and women make up 40 percent of this Nation's armed services. Removing such incentives will significantly jeopardize the recruitment and retention of these fine service members, and reduce the number of personnel who will volunteer for operations. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, if we do not stop this proposal it will seriously jeopardize the safety of America, and the ultimate strength of our military forces and their ability to protect us.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the environment and safety of America is in danger. Two bills have been introduced to Congress, S. 104 and H.R. 1270, that would establish an interim storage facility at Yucca Mountain, NV. Several problems become very evident when the legislation is examined. First, moving 80,000 tons of waste from 109 reactor sites will traverse 43 States. Second, in the last 20 years there have been more than 621 earthquakes within a 50-mile radius of Yucca Mountain. Third, the Congressional Budget Office estimates a central interim storage facility will cost taxpayers $2.3 billion from 1997 to the year 2002, seven times more than on-site storage. Finally, the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, a bipartisan organization created by Congress, concluded that ``There is no compelling technical or safety reason to move spent fuel to a central facility.'' This issue is not just a Nevada safety issue. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote no on interim storage.