Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 465) to reauthorize the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, 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, let me begin by commending Congressman Don Young, the ranking Republican on the Committee on Natural Resources, for introducing H.R. 50, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007. This bill would authorize two important international wildlife conservation laws, the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act. Mr. Speaker, illegal poaching, habitat loss and other factors have pushed African elephants, rhinoceroses and tigers dangerously close to extinction. H.R. 50 authorizes funding through fiscal year 2012 for scientific research, management, law enforcement and public education activities used to conserve and protect these keystone wildlife species and their habitat. Congress has provided $26.9 million, which has been leveraged through matching funds and in-kind contributions to generate more than $96.1 million for international species conservation. This has been an excellent investment for the Federal Government. We support this noncontroversial bill, and urge all Members on both sides to vote for this important conservation bill. 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 bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2400) to 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 state waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the Continental Shelf of the United States, and for other purposes, 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, the purpose of H.R. 495, as introduced by our colleague from Oregon (Mr. Walden), is to update the management of Oregon water resources and to authorize various water projects in the State of Oregon. The bill authorizes the extension of participation of the Bureau of Reclamation in the Deschutes River Conservancy and the Wallowa Lake Dam Rehabilitation, Little Butte/Bear Creek Subbasins Water Resource Study, and the North Unit Irrigation District. These projects will enhance the water resources in a number of areas in the State of Oregon. Almost identical legislation passed the House in the 109th Congress. Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this noncontroversial bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 495) to update the management of Oregon water resources, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would first like to recognize Representative George Miller's hard work and dedication to this legislation, and for his leadership in California water policy. This legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in seven important water supply projects as part of the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program. The projects authorized by the enactment of H.R. 1526, as amended, will eventually produce 37,600 acre feet of recycled water annually. The water will be critical as California communities work to protect their water supply from future droughts. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman George Miller for his hard work on the legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1526, as amended. 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 legislation.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1526) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H.R. 716, as amended, is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design and construction of the Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse Plan. The water recycling facilities authorized by this legislation will result in significant improvements in water quality and water supply reliability in the Santa Rosa area. I commend the sponsor of this legislation, Ms. Woolsey, for her commitment in this important project. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey).

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 move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 716) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse Plan, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, which I introduced on March 13 of this year, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Avra/Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project. The extremely arid climate of Tucson, Arizona, and that metropolitan area requires careful and innovative planning of both water supply and wastewater treatment systems. The proposed Avra Valley Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Site would spread treated wastewater on mesquite riparian forest in Black Wash, creating valuable riparian habitats for migrating birds, while recharging groundwater for the greater Tucson area. I want to thank the chairwoman of the subcommittee on Water and Power, Mrs. Napolitano, and the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, Mr. Rahall, for their assistance in advancing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 1503, as amended. 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, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1285) to provide for the conveyance of a parcel of National Forest System land in Kittitas County, Washington, to facilitate the construction of a new fire and rescue station, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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. 761) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center Foundation, Inc. certain Federal land associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Nebraska, to be used as a historical interpretive site along the trail, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1388) to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Star-Spangled Banner Trail in the States of Maryland and Virginia and the District of Columbia as a National Historic Trail, as amended.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, this is a very aupicious time for affordable housing advocates. For the first time in far too long, we have significant progress on this critical issue with this new majority in this people's House. Chairman Frank and Chairwoman Waters have been true leaders on this issue, and I would like to recognize their efforts. Today, we also gather to recall a past leader, who 20 years ago brought about a major increment of progress. I speak, of course, of Stewart B. McKinney and Bruce Vento, and the law that bears their name. There are really very few, extremely few, cases of an elected official committing themselves to accompaniment of those in need the way Congressman McKinney did. Indeed, the late Congressman lost his life as a result of his commitment. And while we commemorate his work and recall the circumstances of his passing, we should not lose sight of the many thousands who died in a similar way, and those who are still on the streets today, and at risk. Many Americans have passed out of this world in lonely alleys, on top of grates, isolated from friends and family, and then been buried in unmarked plots. Indeed, as noted in the resolution commemorating McKinney-Vento, the condition of homelessness on average causes the loss of 30 years in life expectancy. The McKinney-Vento programs have been critical in addressing this great American tragedy, and it is worth reflecting on this progress and recognizing this achievement of dedicated leadership. Across the board, McKinney-Vento has addressed the core issue of housing and deeply intertwined issues of health care access, education, job training, and reaching out to homeless youth and getting them back in school, this law has made a difference. This is an important precedent to keep in mind as we move forward with a new agenda. After all, this was an emergency response, and while necessary and just, it was not claimed that this would put an end to homelessness, and certainly the Federal response to homelessness should not be limited to these programs. So I look forward to working with advocates like you in this session and continually as we strive to address this problem and better this society. What we are doing, really, is increasing the decency of this country, our level of morality, our concern for our fellow man. When we conquer homelessness, which is fundamentally a problem of social isolation and abandonment, we are truly rebuilding the moral foundation of this great Nation.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Chairman, the Act of August 25th, 1916, more commonly referred to as the National Park Service Organic Act, states that, ``there is hereby created in the Department of the Interior a service to be called the National Park Service, which shall be under the charge of a director, who shall be appointed by the President.'' Since 1916, the National Park Service created by the Organic Act has grown to include 22,000 people, conserving and interpreting 391 units in a National Park System that will welcome more than 270 million visitors this year. Our National Parks are a source of enormous pride for millions of Americans and examples for the world regarding the conservation of places and resources which make a Nation and a people unique. And of course, Madam Chairman, much of the credit for the tremendous success of the National Park idea is due to the professionalism, commitment and expertise of the men and women working for the NPS. As the centennial of the Organic Act approaches, there is consensus-- among policy-makers and the American people--that this 100th anniversary must be viewed as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to building a stronger, more diverse, better trained and better equipped National Park Service. In February, the Bush Administration proposed legislation to increase funding for the NPS over the next decade in recognition of this milestone. Two of my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee--full committee Ranking Member Don Young and subcommittee Ranking Member Rob Bishop--have introduced that legislation, by request, as H.R. 2959. Today, with the support of Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, I am honored to introduce H.R. 3094, legislation we believe will best commemorate this 100th anniversary while also preparing the National Parks and the National Park Service for another 100 years. H.R. 3094 authorizes mandatory spending expected to total $100 million a year for ten years. The bill creates a process whereby the Executive Branch will coordinate annual proposals for how best to spend this new funding and the Congress, through the Interior Appropriations bill, will allocate the funds. In contrast to the Administration's proposal, H.R. 3094 identifies six specific program areas within which this increased funding is to be spent. These areas include education in the parks, diversity programs, an environmental leadership initiative, professional development, resource protection an construction. This mix of funding priorities-- investing in natural resources, bricks and mortar and human capital-- will insure our parks and park employees can meet the challenge of the next 100 years successfully. Also in contrast to the legislation proposed by the Administration, H.R. 3094 provides this new spending without requiring private matching funds. While we recognize the critical role private giving has played in creating and sustaining the National Park System, we remain concerned regarding the ever-increasing reliance on private funds. H.R. 3094 encourages private giving but makes absolutely certain that NPS spending priorities are determined by the Congress and the Administration without regard to which projects might, or might not, be most attractive to private donors. And finally, Madam Chairman, H.R. 3094 differs from the Administration's proposal in that all of the spending in our bill is paid for--meaning this bill addresses the stringent PAYGO requirements instituted by the Democratic majority. The Administration's failure to identify a source for the mandatory expenditures in H.R. 2959 makes that proposal simply unrealistic. Madam Chairman, the American people treasure their national parks and care deeply about their future. The funding levels we provide for the National Park Service, at this critical milestone in its history, should reflect that. The initiatives funded through this legislation-- especially those which will use our national parks as classrooms for young people--will create new generations of stewards to safeguard our national parks for the next 100 years.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I am glad to rise in support of House Resolution 426, recognizing 2007 as the Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in Colombia. Internal displacement is a massive problem in Colombia. As noted in this resolution, the number of displaced over the past 20 years is roughly equivalent to eight percent of the Colombian population. If we applied this ration to the population of the United Sates, this would equal twenty-four million displaced persons roughly the population of the State of Texas. Unfortunately, this tragically large number continues to grow by about 200,000 every year. The civil conflict, of course, is at the root of the problem, but this explanation is worth a closer look. There is a guerrilla war being waged by the group calling itself the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in conflict with the Colombian government and their paramilitary allies and surrogates, and combat has displaced many Colombians. Also, resorting to violence as a means of resolving conflicts over land and other resources has become commonplace and exacerbates the problem. Afro-Colombians, whose rights to communal land holdings were not properly recognized until 1991, have been hit particularly hard by deliberate displacement aimed at securing valuable or strategic land areas, principally by paramilitaries and the Colombian state. The FARC has also been known to engage in this reprehensible practice. Often the land at issue is stolen from its residents because it is favorable to agriculture, has sub-surface resources, or is needed for the completion of large construction projects. Due to economically motivated displacement and other factors, including their general political marginalization in Colombian society, Afro-Colombians are disproportionately over-represented in the displaced population, as noted in the resolution. Because of their marginal position, Afro-Colombians, therefore, find it even more difficult than other Colombians to access the resources and assistance they need to rebuild their lives. In this dismal context, a return to their land, to their proper home, may be a deeply held hope, but it is difficult to imagine. The plight of the displaced deserves our immediate attention. Not only have we involved ourselves in the Colombian civil conflict and armed the Colombian state--a government which our own State Department has stated cooperates with the pararmilitaries, but this nation's appetite for cocaine has inflamed the situation by generating income for all sides in the conflict. I wholeheartedly support this resolution and hope for an overwhelming vote in favor of its adoption. I call on my colleagues to support this resolution and to pay sustained attention to the plight of the displaced throughout this year and beyond, as we work to redirect our policies toward building a just peace for the people of Colombia.