Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Let me thank the gentleman from Utah for allowing me to try to clarify this point. The Island Explorer transit system at Acadia is entirely voluntary and, I might add, very, very popular. I can categorically assure the gentleman that there are no plans to ban autos from Acadia. Visitors who want to drive the park's loop roads are welcome to do so, but many have found that riding the bus is much more convenient. So there is a categorical assurance that the intention of this legislation is not now or will be to ban automobiles from Acadia.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield as much time as he may consume to Representative Michaud, the sponsor of this legislation.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2251) to extend the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission, to provide improved visitor services at the park, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3332) to provide for the establishment of a memorial within Kalaupapa National Historical Park located on the island of Molokai, in the State of Hawaii, to honor and perpetuate the memory of those individuals who were forcibly relocated to the Kalaupapa Peninsula from 1866 to 1969, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3332 would provide for the establishment of a memorial within the boundaries of the Kalaupapa National Historic Park on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. It will serve as a remembrance of thousands of Hansen's disease patients who were forcibly separated from family and friends and interned at this site. Beginning in 1866, when the Hawaii Islands were still an independent kingdom, and continuing through 1969, residents of the islands who were infected with Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, were isolated from the rest of society at the settlement. In all, 8,000 Hansen's patients were forcibly relocated to the settlement where they struggled to create new lives. The majority succumbed to the disease while living there. Today, less than 20 percent of the graves and headstones of these former patients can be found in the peninsula. The remaining 80 percent are forgotten on the landscape. A nonprofit organization made up of family and friends of former patients will be responsible for funding and constructing the memorial which will contain the names of all 8,000 patients who were forced to call this settlement their home. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend our colleague, Congresswoman Hirono of Hawaii, and her cosponsor, Congressman Abercrombie, also of Hawaii, for their efforts to ensure that all families of former residents have a fitting commemoration of their deceased loved ones. Mr. Speaker, we enthusiastically support H.R. 3332 and urge its passage today as a tribute to the present and past Hansen's patients. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlelady from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) for as much time as she may consume.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this time let me yield to my good friend from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) such time as he may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 209) expressing the sense of Congress that the Museum of the American Quilter's Society, located in Paducah, Kentucky, should be designated as the ``National Quilt Museum of the United States''.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. House Concurrent Resolution 209 would express the sense of Congress that the Museum of the American Quilter's Society in Paducah, Kentucky, should be designated the ``National Quilt Museum of the United States.'' The concurrent resolution was introduced by our colleague, Representative Ed Whitfield of Kentucky. Since its establishment in 1991, the Museum of the American Quilting Society has collected and displayed quilts made by quilters from 44 of the 50 States. Today, with a permanent collection of more than 180 quilts and three galleries totaling 13,400 square feet of exhibit space, the facility is the largest museum in the world dedicated to the artistry of quilting and illustrates the significance of quilts and quilting to this Nation. A friends' group comprised of members from all 50 States has provided the museum with a broad national fundraising support and advocates since its inception 17 years ago. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 209 would grant recognition of the House to this museum and the art form it seeks to preserve. A museum of this size, scope, and significance appears worthy of designation as the National Quilt Museum of the United States. We have no objection to House Concurrent Resolution 209 and urge its passage. 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 concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record an exchange of letters on this particular piece of legislation. Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, January 4, 2008. Hon. Nick J. Rahall II, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Nick: On October 10, 2007, the Committee on Natural Resources ordered H.R. 29 to be reported. As you know, this measure contains certain provisions that are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services, and thus, was sequentially referred to the Committee on Armed Services by the Parliamentarian for the House. Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 29 and the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive further consideration of H.R. 29. I do so with the understanding that by waiving further consideration of the bill, the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional claims over similar measures. In the event of a conference with the Senate on this bill, the Committee on Armed Services reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees. I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy of the response in your Committee's report on H.R. 29 and the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Very truly yours, Ike Skelton, Chairman.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 29) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct facilities to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, military, and other uses from the Santa Margarita River, California, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 29 was introduced by our colleague, Representative Darrell Issa, and would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct facilities to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, military, and other uses from the Santa Margarita River in California and for other purposes. Similar legislation introduced by Congressman Issa passed the House in the two previous Congresses. Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this noncontroversial bill, and I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 29. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 868) recognizing the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Muir Woods National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume. House Resolution 868, introduced by our colleague from California, Representative Lynn Woolsey, recognizes the beauty and the significance of Muir Woods National Monument on its 100th anniversary. Muir Woods National Monument preserves one of the last remaining ancient redwood forests on the Pacific Coast and in the world. The coast redwood is the tallest species of tree in the world and one of the oldest. The mature trees of the Cathedral and Bohemian groves in Muir Woods reach heights of 250 feet and average between 600 and 800 years in age, with the oldest believed to be at least 1,100 years old. In 1905, Congressman William Kent, who later went on to introduce the bill that would establish the National Park Service, purchased the land where Muir Woods stands, recognizing the beauty, value, and significance of an uncut, old-growth redwood forest. Eventually, Congressman Kent donated 295 acres to the Federal Government. On January 9, 1908, using the Antiquities Act, President Roosevelt declared Kent's donated land a national monument, proclaiming that the groves of the redwoods were of ``extraordinary scientific interest and importance because of the unique character of the forests and the character, age, and size of the trees.'' President Roosevelt wanted to name the new monument for Congressman Kent, but Kent insisted that it be named after the venerable conservationist John Muir, who sought to protect some of America's most iconic landscapes for their inherent national beauty. These ancient trees now offer a silent, yet powerful, testimony to Muir's ideals. Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate my colleague Representative Woolsey, for her commitment and leadership on this matter. We strongly support passage of House Resolution 868 and urge its adoption by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of our time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Forest Landscape Restoration Act. This Act establishes the ``Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program'' to develop, select, and fund landscape-scale forest restoration projects on Federal lands. This would include 10 collaborative forest restoration projects annually on a landscape-scale of at least 50,000 acres of Federal lands. While there is more discussion to be had on the particulars, I think that the framework of this measure addresses some fundamental and critical concepts. First and foremost, this bill at its core focuses on restoring the ecological integrity of our Federal lands. Restoration proposals must address a number of key ecological restoration components, including improving fish and wildlife habitat, improving water quality, maintaining and decommissioning roads, and addressing invasive species problems. Second, this bill is built around a collaborative process. Collaboration is not only required for the development of restoration proposals, but continues through implementation, playing a key role in project execution, monitoring and reporting. By requiring that forest restoration follows a collaborative process, we are ensuring that people work together on the future of our Nation's public lands. Third, this bill will also reduce the threat of wildland fire and control escalating fire management costs. Restoration proposals must address forest thinning to reduce hazardous fuels, and also analyze the anticipated reductions in wildfire management costs. Lastly, this bill encourages the use of forest restoration byproducts to foster local economic development. Byproducts from forest restoration can be used in a variety of ways, such as for woody biomass energy, pellets for home heating, value-added products, and more. This bill encourages biomass utilization and development of small businesses in rural public land communities. Furthermore, in order for a forest restoration project to be eligible, the landscape must be accessible by existing or proposed wood-processing infrastructure. I am introducing this bill as a companion measure to a Senate bill introduced by Senator Bingaman. I introduce this measure today as a means to work with my colleagues in the other body and move this process along. I certainly realize that forest legislation in particular takes considerable work to craft. I therefore introduce this measure today not as a final product, but as the first step forward in a process. I look forward to gathering information and hearing more about this important topic as we work together on this measure. Madam Speaker, the American people treasure their public lands and care deeply about their future. Our Federal lands are in need of ecological restoration, which would help us accomplish the goals of restoring the ecological integrity of our Federal lands, reducing the threat of wildland fire, fostering community collaboration and involvement, and creating jobs in rural communities.