Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico. And I would just point out that every time, and I am guilty of that, too, when we vote for a highway bill, a defense bill, a water bill that comes before us, we are voting for the ability of the Federal Government to conduct condemnation. This is not the case in this legislation. It is specifically prohibited in two sections of this bill. I yield to the sponsor, my good friend from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), the author and sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1239, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), seeks to further the commitment made by Congress with the passage of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 by reconfiguring the authorization of funds to carry out the act. Mr. Speaker, the Underground Railroad was a historic protest movement against slavery which helped escaped slaves find freedom in Northern States and Canada prior to the Civil War. The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 established the Underground Network to Freedom Program administered by the National Park Service. Today the program carries out important activities in more than 27 States and the District of Columbia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my friend and colleague from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for his work on this legislation. He has been a real leader in this bipartisan effort to enhance the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. We support passage of H.R. 1239, as amended, and urge its adoption by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. McMorris Rodgers. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1239, and yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to commend the sponsor, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), as well as the chairman of the subcommittee Mr. Grijalva, for explaining this bill. We appreciate the work that has been done to improve the bill, and look forward to see the program succeed. I urge Members' support. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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. 1239) to amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to provide additional staff and oversight of funds to carry out the Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Congressman Jim Saxton, for introducing H.R. 465, the Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2007. H.R. 465 would authorize the Asian Elephant Conservation Act through fiscal year 2012. This law authorizes grants to be issued for the survival of the Asian elephant in the wild. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the status of the Asian elephant remains tenuous. Fewer than 4,000 Asian elephants are found throughout the forests and savannas of South Asia. Approximately 16,000 of these animals are held in captivity. The captive elephants are used to assist people in timber harvest, forest clearing and agriculture. In the wild, populations remain under heavy stress from several factors, especially habitat loss and deforestation. Since the first grant was awarded in 1997, more than $10.3 million in matching contributions or in-kind support have been generated by leveraging the $7.8 million contribution made available by the Congress. Funding supports cooperative conservation projects that protects Asian elephants and their habitat by providing scientific research, law enforcement and education. I support this noncontroversial bill, and again commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), the author of the original Asian Elephant Conservation Act, for his unwavering commitment to international wildlife conservation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 50) to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2400 would direct the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish an integrated Federal ocean and coastal mapping plan for the Great Lakes and coastal waters and the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the Continental Shelf. The legislation responds to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy's recommendation that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration consolidate and coordinate the Federal Government's mapping activities. A National Research Council study made a similar recommendation. To accomplish this end, H.R. 2400 would coordinate the efforts of all Federal agencies involved in mapping our oceans and coasts. Consistent protocols would be developed across all Federal agencies to collect data and develop maps, instead of various agencies using their own criteria. In addition, the legislation would require Federal agencies to coordinate their efforts. Ultimately, those entities dependent on maps for navigation, national security, scientific research, energy development and location of cultural resources, such as shipwrecks, would all greatly benefit. H.R. 2400 will increase the efficiency of our mapping efforts, reduce redundancy and allow data used by one agency to be used again and again by others for multiple purposes. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and encourage Members to vote for this noncontroversial legislation. Mr. Speaker, I will include for the Record the exchange of letters regarding the Committee on Science and Technology's jurisdictional interest in this legislation. House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology, Washington, DC, July 20, 2007. Hon. Nick J. Rahall, II, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I write with regard to H.R. 2400, the Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act, which was referred to both the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Science and Technology on May 21, 2007. As you know, I support passage of the bill, and I do not intend to object to its consideration on the House floor. I am therefore willing to waive further consideration of the bill by the Committee on Science and Technology at this time. I want to make clear, however, that this waiver does not in any way serve as a jurisdictional precedent as to our two committees. Also, I ask that you support my request for appointment of conferees from the Committee on Science and Technology if a conference is held on this matter. I request that you send to me a letter confirming our agreement and that, as part of the consideration of the bill on the House floor, you insert our two letters in the Congressional Record. Sincerely, Bart Gordon, Chairman.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1285, introduced by Representative Doc Hastings of Washington, conveys 1.5 acres of land in the Mt. Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest to facilitate the construction of a new fire and rescue station. Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue is in need of a new fire station as the current station has numerous deficiencies. The fire station is important to the community and often responds to fires on Federal lands. Mr. Speaker, it is our understanding that there are ongoing discussions in Washington State to address some lingering issues related to this conveyance, and we support those efforts. With that understanding, we have no objection to H.R. 1285, and support its adoption by 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 and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 761, sponsored by Representative Fortenberry of Nebraska, would transfer to a nonprofit foundation an existing visitor center for the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail in Nebraska. The legislation turns the site over to the nonprofit entity which currently manages the facility in partnership with the National Park Service. This measure includes a reversionary clause and other safeguards to protect the Federal investment in the center. We have no objection to H.R. 761 and support its passage by 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 and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the legislation, my colleague from the Natural Resources Committee, Representative John Sarbanes.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1388 would designate the Star-Spangled Banner Trail in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia as a National Historic Trail to commemorate the events of the Chesapeake campaign during the War of 1812. The bill was introduced by my colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Sarbanes of Maryland, who is a valued member of our National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee. The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail designated by H.R. 1388 would follow the historic routes used by British and American troops during the war. The National Park Service supports this designation, as do an impressive array of State and local governments and numerous private organizations. Mr. Speaker, as the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, this historic trail will help Americans retrace some of the crucial events of a war that fashioned our Nation's character. Mr. Sarbanes has done great work on this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. GRIJALVA

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 pass the bill (H.R. 1503) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project, as amended.