Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5205 is a bill introduced by former Natural Resources Committee member Mark Amodei of Nevada and is cosponsored by his three colleagues from Nevada: Mr. Heck, Mr. Horsford, and Ms. Titus. H.R. 5205 combines seven bills addressing Federal land issues in northern Nevada. This compilation prescribes the preferred or best use of these lands or addresses or resolves longstanding issues within the affected Federal areas. It is the product of tireless negotiations with the stakeholders and the Nevada congressional delegation to reflect a broad compromise of ideas and solutions, and it provides a balanced or complementary approach to the proposed wilderness in the bill by advancing measures to create jobs and solve long-awaited problems for these northern Nevada communities. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, Mr. Amodei, for his tireless work in bringing this bill to the floor today. For him, I know this has been a labor of love, and the State of Nevada should be proud of his accomplishments today. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend I have another speaker, but I don't see him on the floor. Pending his arrival, I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei), the author of this legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I advise my friend I have no more requests for time. If the gentleman is prepared to yield back, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2569) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Missisquoi River and the Trout River in the State of Vermont, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as amended.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. 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. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2569 designates in the State of Vermont two segments of the upper Missisquoi River and the entire main stem of its tributary, the Trout River, as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. In 2009, Congress authorized an evaluation of these rivers; and, while the study endorses the designation proposed by H.R. 2569, it was very clear that the community does not want Federal management or ownership on or around the rivers; therefore, the river segments would be managed in accordance with the management plan prepared as a part of the study with the National Park Service being limited to coordinating administration and the management with the local community. The management plan repeatedly emphasized that actions should be carried out on a voluntary basis down to the property owner level. The Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment to reinforce that this designation be voluntary in nature by requiring that property may only be included into the boundaries with written consent of the owner; additionally, Federal land acquisition may occur only by donation or exchange with condemnation specifically prohibited. If this proposal is, indeed, locally supported or managed, there is no need for Federal coercion. H.R. 2569 also excludes several hydroelectric projects from the boundaries of the designation, and the committee-adopted amendment further limits the Secretary of the Interior's influence into the ongoing and future activities of these facilities. So I urge adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time and I am prepared to close now. I will have to close after those last remarks. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to thank my friend from Vermont for those nice words. But let me speak to this legislation, because the gentleman correctly mentioned--and this has always been a concern of those of us that have been somewhat critical of Wild and Scenic designations--that it does impact local communities and local private property rights. And this legislation here, in working with you, the gentleman recognizes that. I think, at least from your debate on the floor, your citizens, your constituents, recognize that also at the town meetings. That is a win- win from my standpoint. So I think this is good legislation. I hope the other body takes it up intact and we can pass it and sign it into law. I do want to thank my friend from Vermont for his kind words, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3222) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the 1657 signing of the Flushing Remonstrance in Queens, New York, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3222 authorizes a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of creating a National Park unit in Queens, New York, from those resources associated with the history of religious freedom and the signing of the Flushing Remonstrance. The Flushing Remonstrance was a 1657 petition to the director general of New Netherland in which several citizens requested an exemption to his ban on Quaker worship. It was recognized as a forerunner to the First Amendment to the Constitution and one of the earliest demands for freedom of religion in what became the United States. The study would evaluate and provide different Federal, local, and nongovernmental management proposals. The study is informational. Congress would still have to act on separate legislation to create such a designation. I urge passage, and with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I will reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), the cosponsor of the legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend from Arizona I have no more requests for time, so I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. 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. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford), a member of the working group.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), another member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar), another member of the Natural Resources Committee.