Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

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. 376) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of including the battlefields and related sites of the First and Second Battles of Newtonia, Missouri, during the Civil War as part of Wilson's Creek National Battlefield or designating the battlefields and related sites as a separate unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1047, introduced by my colleague from Missouri, Representative Clay, directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum located in St. Louis, Missouri, as a unit of the National Park System. Construction of the memorial and military museum began in 1935. The site was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1936. On Memorial Day, 1938, the building officially opened to the public. The Soldiers' Memorial Building is a stately structure which, in addition to serving as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the service of their country, also contains exhibit rooms that house a collection of military items. The building has been found eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It is operated by the City of St. Louis and made available to the public free of charge. I want to commend my colleague from Missouri, Representative Clay, for his efforts to preserve this memorial and museum, which was built to honor those who gave their lives to this country. Mr. Speaker, the House approved identical legislation in the 109th Congress. We strongly support H.R. 1047 and urge 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 within 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. 1047) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum located in St. Louis, Missouri, as a unit of the National Park System.

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. 299, introduced by my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan), provides for a minor boundary adjustment to the Lowell National Historic Park. Lowell National Historic Park was established in 1978 to commemorate the City of Lowell's prominent role in the American Industrial Revolution. H.R. 299 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire five small tracts of land totaling less than 1 acre. These tracts are necessary to complete development of the canalway, a linear park and walkway along Lowell's 5.6-mile historic power canal system. These parcels provide the access points needed for the development, maintenance, and surveillance necessary to complete the historic canalway. While the total boundary adjustment is less than 1 acre, it would allow public access to at least 2 miles of this historic canalway. I want to commend my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) for his efforts on behalf of Lowell National Historic Park. He has worked diligently to advance many partnership efforts such as this one, which would bring together Federal, State, and local resources to preserve and interpret the park. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 299 is supported by the administration, the City of Lowell, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Identical legislation was approved by the House last Congress, and we urge our colleagues to support this measure 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 bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 299) to adjust the boundary of Lowell National Historical Park, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), the sponsor of H.R. 247, is at the moment traveling back to Washington, but he has a statement that will be submitted into the Record.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 247 was introduced by my colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, the gentleman from Oregon, Representative Peter DeFazio. This legislation designates an existing Forest Service trail in the Willamette National Forest in Oregon as a national recreation trail in honor of Jim Weaver, a former Member of the House of Representatives. This trail will be designated as the Jim Weaver Loop Trail. It forms a 19.6-mile loop around Waldo Lake. Congressman Weaver served in this body from the 94th Congress through the 99th Congress and was a former subcommittee chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources. He was a strong advocate of conservation and public lands. The establishment of this trail around one of Oregon's largest and most beautiful lakes is a fitting tribute to our former colleague. Under this bill, an interpretive sign will be installed at the trail head to indicate the name of the trail and provide information on the life and career of our former colleague, Congressman Weaver. This bill before us today is identical to a measure that was reported favorably by the Natural Resources Committee last year. Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 247 and urge 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 within 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. 247) to designate a Forest Service trail at Waldo Lake in the Willamette National Forest in the State of Oregon as a national recreation trail in honor of Jim Weaver, a former Member of the House of Representatives.

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 yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The 106th Congress authorized the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor disabled veterans. The law specified that the memorial is to be established pursuant to the Commemorative Works Act. A memorial site located near the Rayburn House Office Building was identified, but the project is yet to advance due to security and traffic concerns raised by the Architect of the Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Police. The foundation is in the process of negotiating a solution to that problem. However, the Commemorative Works Act specifies that the legislative authority for any memorial expires 7 years after the date of enactment, October of this year for this proposal. H.R. 995, sponsored by our colleague from Illinois, Representative Phil Hare, amends the original authorization to extend authority to establish the memorial to October 24, 2015. This extension will allow additional time to ensure an appropriate commemoration to our Nation's disabled veterans to whom we owe a tremendous obligation. While Representative Hare is a new Member of this House, he is well acquainted with the sacrifices made by our Nation's veterans, both from his service in the Army Reserves and his more than 20 years as district director for our former colleague and advocate for veterans, Mr. Lane Evans. We congratulate Representative Hare for his work on behalf of this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I might add that, given the ongoing and recent scandal regarding the care and support of our current disabled veterans, this legislation, H.R. 995, is timely and appropriate to honor and remind us of the sacrifice of all veterans and those that are disabled as a consequence of their service to this country. This is an obligation that is owed to them. This memorial would be a fitting reminder that we have an ongoing obligation and responsibility to their care and comfort. Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 995 and urge 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 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. 995) to amend Public Law 106-348 to extend the authorization for establishing a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Mr. GRIJALVA

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

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today I rise, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of H.R. 903, introduced by my colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, the gentleman from Colorado, Representative Mark Udall. This legislation would require the Forest Service to review lands in or adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and report to Congress on the present ownership of the lands, and which undeveloped lands may be at risk of development, as well as apprising Congress of appropriate actions that could be taken to preserve the open and undeveloped character of these lands. Rapid population growth in the northern Front Range area of Colorado is spreading west from Denver, pushing homes and shopping centers up the valleys and along the highways. This development then spreads out along the ridges and mountaintops that make up this backdrop. New homes and businesses in the wildland urban interface also create new liabilities for first responders and a more complicated management framework for forest managers. The result of these changes is the potential loss of many of the very qualities that attract new residents and contribute to the quality of life of the region. H.R. 903 is designed to help provide a better understanding of what steps might be done to lessen the risk. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend and congratulate my colleague, Mr. Udall, for his commitment and leadership on this matter. A hearing was held on a nearly identical measure last Congress, and the bill was approved by the Natural Resources Committee and passed the House by voice vote last September. Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 903 and urge 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 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. 903) to provide for a study of options for protecting the open space characteristics of certain lands in and adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, and for other purposes.