Wayne Gilchrest

Mr. GILCHREST

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise in support of America's continued trade with Vietnam. In the 1870s, the French moved into Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, isolated that country, demeaned the people and took away their dignity. That lasted until 1940. The Japanese moved in, isolated Vietnam from the rest of the world, demeaned the population, and took away their dignity. In 1945, the French moved back in and did the same thing. So for well over a century the Vietnamese were isolated from the rest of the world, could not exchange information, had no trade, had no expertise or skill to understand the nature of a nation having its own sovereignty, knew nothing about World War II which we fought to have a nation determine its own destiny, and there has been trouble in the 1950s and in the 1960s and the 1970s, and then the United States finally decided that in order to help the Vietnamese gain some dignity, to have a sense of the international community, they needed the skills, the expertise, and, yes, the hope, and so what we have been doing over the last so many years is expanding the horizon for the Vietnamese people so they have what it takes to change their government from the inside while we make strong attempts to change their government from the outside, especially through the requirements of the trading agreements. Take the trading agreements away, take Americans away from the landscape of Vietnam, and the Vietnamese people go back to that isolation. They go back to the demeaning effects of what communism can do when no one reaches in to wrestle that juggernaut. So what this debate is about is we understand, we know the nature of the government of Vietnam, and I have been back to Vietnam after I served there in the 1960s, and, yes, I have sat at a table with the same people that fought against me in the same region at the same time and they said, ``We are communist,'' and I said, ``You would be better off giving your people some sense of freedom, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom to bargain,'' et cetera. So we know the government and we are working with the government to pull them out of that mindset because communism does not work, but we cannot give up on the people as well. And the way we get into the country to deal with the Vietnamese people to give them hope, to give them dignity, to give them the skills that are necessary to rise up out of the problems that exist there is through the requirements in trade.

Mr. GILCHREST

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

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 395) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as amended.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 395. The gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), and Resident Commissioner Anibal Acevedo-Vila worked together to compose this nonpartisan and status-neutral resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. H. Con. Res. 395 celebrates the 50th anniversary of this important historical event in our Nation's history by listing some highlights Puerto Rico's local constitution went through in becoming adopted. The resolution is noncontroversial, and I ask Members to join me in its support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I do want to say that the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo- Vila) asked us to propose this resolution for the 50th anniversary of the constitution of Puerto Rico with the full intent of giving the people of Puerto Rico a great deal of dignity. It is about that that we are discussing this issue here this afternoon. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on the resolution.

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

Mr. GILCHREST

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4807) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the property in Cecil County, Maryland, known as Garrett Island for inclusion in the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge, as amended.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to present this legislation to the House of Representatives to expand the boundaries of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which is located in my Congressional District in Maryland. Garrett Island, which consists of approximately 198 acres, was the site of Maryland's second settlement in the 1600s. It is the only rocky island in the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay system, and it is a vital link between the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. It also provides habitat to 44 different bird species, including eagles, common loons, tundra swans, and 14 kinds of ducks. I have visited Garrett Island a number of times, and there is no question that its rich history, geographic location and wildlife resource values make it an excellent candidate for inclusion within the National Wildlife Refuge system. As a Nation, we can ill afford to allow unique places like Garrett Island to be lost forever. While I was disappointed to hear the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's initial reaction to the idea was that it opposed its inclusion, I am pleased they will be visiting the island next month to evaluate its trust resources. I am confident that once a comprehensive review has been concluded, as promised by the end of the summer, the service will join me in enthusiastically urging the protection of Garrett Island. The Cecil Land Trust has done everything they can to protect the important property, contributing $150,000 toward the purchase of the island. And based on our hearing, Federal acquisition costs would be less than $400,000, and little, if any, maintenance or personnel will be required for the future of this inclusion. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation had it right when they wrote that steps must be taken to ensure protection of this largely unspoiled historical and geological gem. I would urge my colleagues to vote aye on H.R. 4807. This is an important and necessary inclusion in our National Wildlife Refuge system, which will celebrate its hundredth birthday next year. This is exactly the type of place that Teddy Roosevelt had in mind when the unique system of public lands was created. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to mention just one other item. There is a family in Cecil County, the Kilbys, that live and work on a dairy farm, and they have been strong supporters of the concept of Garrett Island being included in the National Wildlife Refuge system. There are broad and varied opportunities for this island to be included, and so I urge not only my colleagues to vote aye on this legislation, but I also urge the Interior Department, when they are visiting the island, to recognize those varied opportunities. The United States often sends biologists, zoologists, ornithologists, you name it, to vast areas of the world to study ecosystems. We have in our back yard, here in Maryland, a magnificent Chesapeake Bay watershed ecosystem, and this island can be one of those facilities that will be included in what could be known as an island corridor in the Chesapeake Bay so that people from the University of Maryland or the Baltimore Zoo or the Baltimore Aquarium, or other universities and community colleges and even high schools do not have to travel to Brazil or Southeast Asia or regions of Africa to show their interns or their students the kinds of ecosystems that make communities drive. They can send them to the island corridor, Garrett Island being the jewel of that concept. So I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation. I also want to thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for her support and the staff for their work on this legislation.

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

Mr. GILCHREST

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 408) honoring the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and its accredited member institutions for their continued service to animal welfare, conservation education, conservation research, and wildlife conservation programs.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, founded in 1924, the American Zoo Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums. AZA institutions draw over 135 million visitors annually and have more than 5 million zoo and aquarium members. These institutions teach more than 12 million people each year in living classrooms, dedicate an estimated $50 million annually to education programs, invest an estimated $50 million annually to scientific research, and support over 1,300 field conservation research projects in 80 countries. AZA member institutions are a critical component in the conservation of marine mammals in the wild through broad-based education research and standing recovery rehabilitation programs. Additionally, many AZA facilities and scientists collaborate with researchers from colleges, universities, and other scientific institutions to conduct studies important to species conservation and health. AZA facilities have developed species survival plans which are cooperative long-term breeding and conservation programs that provide many species with an insurance policy against extinction. Some of the species covered by these plans include all the great apes, Africa and Asian elephants, Siberian and Sumatran tigers, and black, white Sumatran and greater one-horned rhinos. These cooperative conservation programs support both field and institutional research to ensure that these animals are carefully managed and maintain a healthy self-sustaining population that is genetically diverse and demographically stable. AZA institutions across the United States have maintained high curatorial and veterinarian standards for zoos and aquariums in addition to supporting programs that protect, conserve, and restore wild animal populations. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 408 commends the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for all the great work they have done, and I urge Members to support passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands and the staff on both sides of the aisle for supporting this legislation in recognizing all of those people, whether it is a tiny zoo in Cecil County, Maryland, or Salisbury, Maryland, or the magnificent aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, to zoos and aquariums all across this country by trying to understand, and doing a pretty good job of it, of understanding the nature of the magnificence of where people fit into the natural environment on this blue planet. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Virgin Islands is a beautiful place in the Caribbean; that is its own AZA.

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

Mr. GILCHREST

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4807, H. Con. Res. 408, and H. Con.Res. 395, the legislation just debated.

Mr. GILCHREST

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Village of Allen's 300th birthday. This Maryland community is located in the First Congressional District, which I have the distinct honor of representing. Established in 1702, I recognize this village for its longevity, and through that longevity, for influencing the unique flavor of Maryland's Eastern Shore. Allen sits in Wicomico County, along Wicomico Creek. Central to its establishment was the Grist Mill, which was originally built and operated by the Brereton family. The mill was fully operational until 1919 when, after 217 years, it finally closed. The mill dam formed Passerdyke Pond, still a local landmark, and it was the spillway, or trap, that gave the settlement its first name. Trap eventually became Upper Trappe, then it was changed to Allen in 1882, named after a prominent resident at the time who was a storekeeper and served as postmaster. With the mill and its location on the lower Eastern Shore, Allen developed into a considerable market during the 18th and 19th centuries. A post office helped give it status, along with the several general stores that have operated throughout its history and the introduction of the canning industry. And like most settlements on the Delmarva Penninsula, agriculture drove the local economy, and Allen residents have found fame over the years with strawberries, apple and peach orchards, tomatoes, and especially string beans. The Asbury Methodist Church is another important Allen institution. Founded in 1829, the church helped Allen become one of the earliest free African American communities in the Somerset area of Delamarva. Or course, it is people, not buildings, that really form a community, and the people of Allen have been clearly successful in that regard. Without local family heroes--the Breretons, the Allens, the Pollitts, the Messicks, the Huffingtons, the Twilleys, the Polks, the Duttons, the Fileds, and the Malones, to name but a few--Allen surely couldn't have survived its 300 years. The people of Allen not only helped to develop a thriving village, but also shared their talents with greater Maryland. From within Allen's boundaries have grown community and regional leaders, sports heroes, and successful business entrepreneurs; Allen's people have served Maryland for centuries. In fact, Allen's citizens began establishing and building a community before the birth of the United States. Allen is a true American village. It represents community, tradition, heritage and permanence. Peppered with historic buildings, Allen's pride in its history is evident, a history I honor today. Allen, however, is much more than its history; it is a thriving residential village with strong leadership and an active community. Contributing to the strength of Allen's community spirit are the Lion's Club, a Volunteer Fire Company, the Historical Society and the Asbury and Friendship United Methodist Churches. These organizations preserve history while moving Allen forward into its third century. Allen is certainly one of Maryland's hidden treasures, so please join me in recognizing and celebrating the history of Maryland's charming Village of Allen in this, its 300th year.

Mr. GILCHREST

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, today the House is considering H.R. 3389, the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 which we introduced last fall. The bill before us is a bipartisan substitute worked out between the Committee on Resources and the Committee on Science. It reauthorizes the sea grant program for 5 years within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and makes some minor improvements to the program. It also reauthorizes the Coastal Ocean Program, but does not consolidate the two programs. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Chairman, in 1964, the concept was created to understand the relationship between the oceans, the environment, and the economy, and the best way to deal with those issues that would benefit all of us. In 1966, the idea was put into a statute called the National Sea Grant College Program. What sea grants do essentially are five very important things. One of the aspects is research so we understand the marine ecosystems from around the world and human impacts to that ecosystem and the benefits that humans can derive from the marine ecosystem if we understand how nature works. Number two is an education component which deals with colleges and universities from around the country. This impacts about 300 institutions and disseminates and educates a lot of young people to have a sense of understanding toward the marine ecosystems and their impact on people. The third component are advisory agents, and these are mostly those young people that are educated through the sea grant program in the Nation's universities to go directly to communities to help those coastal communities understand how their economy can improve while the environment improves. So it has been an extremely successful operation over the last almost 40 years now. The fourth component affects the U.S. Congress in a very, very positive way, and many Members of Congress, especially on this particular committee, as was spoken by the gentleman from Wisconsin, has the advantage of sea grant fellows, and these sea grant fellows offer the kind of data, information, science and understanding into these very complex issues so that we as Members of Congress can weave our way through the very complex dynamic maze of the mechanics of nature. The third thing that this particular reauthorization does is to once again emphasize the very important aspect of this Congress into developing ways that the economy of this country and the environmental aspects of legislation can and must be compatible, and this legislation goes a long way into doing that. The fourth thing this legislation does is to understand the very nature and difficulty with environmental degradation and loss of dollars to the economy of invasive species, what invasive species need to be addressed first, what invasive species are the most problems with this country and how invasive species arrive on our shores. Also, the research deals with marine biotechnology and agriculture. The fifth thing, we ensure that there are dollars for 30 institutions and over 300 programs around the country. We have worked in a very bipartisan fashion, and I want to thank my colleagues on the Democratic side for their cooperation. I want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their cooperation. I also want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) on the Committee on Science for their collaboration into this effort. Our amendment strengthens the act by calling for an increase in collaboration between the ocean research funding entities and the National Research College Program to limit duplication of efforts and enhance related research. This legislation increases authorization levels that have remained painfully stagnant over the past decade almost. The amendment also ensures that the quality research and management within the sea grant college system is rewarded through a competitive, merit-based disbursement of funds, and finally, because of the great importance of the coastal and ocean resources of the territories and freely associated States within the Pacific Ocean, the act calls for a reporting of their efforts in developing the infrastructure and expertise necessary to become sea grant institutions. I want to thank the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for their cooperation through this process, and also once again the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) for his cooperation, and to the patience of the staff on both sides of the aisle with Members of Congress. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith).

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to reiterate what the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) has said and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) has said concerning the issue of the National Sea Grant Program falling under the umbrella of the National Science Foundation, both very reputable scientific organizations, and the administration's hope to improve the type of research in the science by connecting the National Sea Grant Program to the National Science Foundation and the peer review that is so respected that comes out of the National Science Foundation. But what the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) made a comment on in reference to the land grant programs and the agricultural extension agents is also true with the Sea Grant Program so that whenever there is a strange disease with a particular species called striped bass or a problem between the economics or the ecosystem approach to protecting crabs or dealing with a very difficult situation with a toxic microorganism known as physteria, the quick reaction time of the Sea Grant Program is second to none. We respect the administration's proposal and we will continue to work with them on this issue, and we have in this legislation, to tie those two organizations more closely together. We feel that the independence of the National Sea Grant Program has affected this country in a very positive way. I want to also thank the gentleman from Guam for his collaboration on the bipartisan work on this and also to work with him, perhaps even after the votes today, to talk about some of the issues dealing with Magnuson, because this is an outstanding piece of legislation that we have here this morning. We want to make sure that the Magnuson bill that we deal with next Tuesday is equally a bipartisan approach to protecting the Nation's fisheries. In closing, Mr. Chairman, a friend of mine that I have not seen since May 14, 1967, as colleagues in the Marine Corps fighting for democracy in Vietnam, Mr. Gary Downs, is present this afternoon in the House of Representatives. He has worked, as a young man, for freedom for this country and as many years have passed, he has worked to continue that tradition and also to enhance the quality of life for all Americans through his environmental work. I thank Mr. Downs for being here today, and his family.

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Announcement by the Chairman

Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the remainder of the amendment in the nature of a substitute be printed in the Record and open to amendment at any point.

Mr. GILCHREST. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.