Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, in closing, the NPS, the National Park Service, gave the subcommittee testimony, and they said, through technical and financial assistance, the National Park Service has assisted Gateways to develop hundreds of partnerships across the watershed to help people understand and appreciate the Chesapeake Bay. It has been mentioned, nevertheless, that the Bush administration testified that it opposed this financial assistance or the grants program. When I asked the Park Service witness at that 2007 hearing about that contradiction, he said that the Park Service would love to continue the grants program, but it was a financial decision made by OMB, by the Bush administration. This is a good program. It is all linked together. A permanent authorization would secure this program for the future. It is a vital environmental link to the Mid-Atlantic which must be saved. With that, I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, in an effort to reintroduce germaneness to the debate on the amendment, let me recognize Mr. Sarbanes for 3 minutes.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, the National Park Service has found that this is a very, very successful program in large part because the Federal commitment leverages funding and support from State, local and nonprofit partners who care deeply about the health of the Chesapeake Bay. There is a broad agreement that making the Federal commitment to this program permanent will send a strong signal to the program's partners and make the program even more effective in the long run. I would point out that both the Save America's Treasures and Preserve America programs have permanent authorizations. Conversely, amending the bill to make the authorization time-limited would cause funding partners to question the level of Federal commitment and could cause private contributions to drop off. The purpose of granting this program a permanent authorization is to avoid having to return to Congress every 5 years to get new legislation for what is, by all measures, a successful program. I should add that, despite my friend's arguments about a permanent authorization, this program will continue to receive annual oversight through the appropriations process. Regarding the existing cap on annual funding for the program, such a cap may have been appropriate when the program was first authorized in 1998. However, as more and more people become aware of the importance of the bay, the challenges it faces, Congress should provide more funding for the grant program. Proponents would like to be able to seek increased funding through the appropriations process and not have to get new authorization legislation each time they seek more funding. This is an important and successful program. It deserves a permanent authorization. I urge Members to vote against the Bishop amendment and for H.R. 965 to permanently authorize this very excellent program. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment offered by my friend, Representative Bishop.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this point, let me yield as much time as he may consume to the sponsor of the legislation, Mr. Sarbanes.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. No, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. GRIJALVA. If I may inquire of Mr. Hastings if he has any additional speakers.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I flew back 4 hours to deal with this very important piece of legislation, but also to listen to our President last night, which I thought was worth the trip. I now yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Kratovil), a cosponsor of the legislation.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the following exchange of letters between the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure concerning H.R. 3123. House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, September 8, 2009. Hon. Nick Rahall, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Rahall: I write to you regarding H.R. 3123, a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to remedy problems caused by a collapsed drainage tunnel in Leadville, Colorado. H.R. 3123 contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential referral of the bill. However, I agree to waive consideration of this bill with the mutual understanding that my decision to forego a sequential referral of the bill does not waive, reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure over H.R. 3123. Further, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation on provisions of the bill that are within the Committee's jurisdiction. I ask for your commitment to support any request by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the appointment of conferees on H.R. 3123 or similar legislation. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House Floor. I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass this important legislation. Sincerely, James L. Oberstar, M.C. Chairman.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3123, introduced by our colleague Representative Lamborn, will direct the Bureau of Reclamation to remedy problems caused by collapses in the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel. Due to structural deterioration, contaminated water has backed up in the tunnel, posing a public health and environmental threat. I ask my colleagues to support the bill's passage.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3123) to direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to remedy problems caused by a collapsed drainage tunnel in Leadville, Colorado, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, let me also congratulate the gentlelady from Florida for the resolution.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, in 1945 a group of black men, led by Lawson E. Thomas, courageously protested the banning of African Americans from the public beaches of south Florida. As a result, Virginia Key Beach Park was established as a ``Colored Beach'' under the segregation laws that persisted throughout the civil rights movement. The park was transferred to the city of Miami in 1979, which attempted to close it three years later, citing a lack of operating funds. Since then, dedicated community leaders have fought to not only keep the park open, but also add it to the National Register of Historic Places and establish a trust to manage it. With this resolution, sponsored by Representative Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the House of Representatives recognizes the historic significance of the site and honors the African American struggle for equality represented there. I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 361) recognizing the historical significance of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park of Miami, Florida, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, the Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and for 120 years has served as the Nation's preeminent resource documenting, preserving and educating others on Native Hawaiian culture. The museum's collection of 24 million objects is the largest Hawaiian and Pacific Island collection in the world. Over 2,000 of these objects and images are on display in the newly renovated Hawaiian Hall. H. Res. 541, introduced by our distinguished colleague from Hawaii, Representative Neil Abercrombie, would express the appreciation of the House of Representatives to the Bishop Museum for 120 years of service to the people of Hawaii and the United States. We commend Representative Abercrombie for his tireless efforts on behalf of his constituents and the preservation of Hawaiian history and culture. We support passage of House Resolution 541 and urge its adoption in the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 541) recognizing and honoring the restoration and renovation of the Bishop Museum's historic Hawaiian Hall, the Nation's premier showcase for Hawaiian culture and history, on the occasion of the Museum's 120th anniversary.