Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the distinguished majority leader.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston). (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. The issue, of course, we are discussing is the rule for the two suspension bills that we, unfortunately, had majority vote earlier this week but, unfortunately, did not have the two-thirds. But we may have, counting myself, two speakers between now and the time we close.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 258 is a closed rule providing for the consideration of two measures, S. 222, the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, and S. 273, the Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange Act. The rule provides that S. 222 shall be debatable in the House for 40 minutes, equally divided between the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Resources. The rule also waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and provides one motion to recommit, with or without instruction. The rule further provides that S. 273 shall be debatable in the House for 40 minutes, equally divided between the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Resources. Finally, the rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, both of the bills covered by this rule were considered by the House under suspension of the rules on June 3. Neither bill was adopted, having failed to receive the required two-thirds of the votes cast, but each bill was supported by a clear majority in the House. The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act approves a settlement of the water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe in Apache County, Arizona. The bill resolves all of the claims of the Zuni Tribe to water rights in the Little Colorado River basin and elsewhere in Arizona. The bill also provides resources to restore riparian wetlands to the Zuni Heaven Reservation that are of great religious and cultural significance to the tribe and its members. The Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange Act provides for the acquisition of land owned by the State of Wyoming within the boundaries of the Grand Teton National Park. These lands, rich in wildlife habitat, will be exchanged for other Federal lands or assets of equal value. In turn, the State will be able to acquire lands that have greater potential to generate revenue for public schools, ensuring that the State of Wyoming meets its constitutional mandate to maximize revenues from its school trust lands. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we are forced to take up the valuable time of the House to consider for a second time this week two measures that have been previously approved by a solid majority in this House. The measures have been fully debated. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and pass the underlying bills without further delay. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 258 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As I pointed out earlier, this is a rule on two suspensions that were unfortunately defeated earlier this week that deal with serious matters in the southwestern part of the United States, at least one of them does. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) to speak on one of these matters.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time; and, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1954 and would like to commend the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, for his leadership on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased that the committee's bill includes the principal provisions of my legislation, the Armed Forces Citizenship Act. I introduced my bill during the recent war in Iraq in order to make it possible for legal immigrants serving in America's Armed Forces to become U.S. citizens after 1 year in uniform rather than the 3 to 5 years required for naturalization under current law. Mr. Speaker, these patriotic men and women have willingly volunteered to carry out one of the most solemn duties any nation can ask of its citizens, the defense of freedom. In doing so, I believe that they have truly earned the opportunity to become citizens of the country that they serve to protect. After all, is there any better way to demonstrate our fitness for citizenship than to make that kind of commitment to what our Nation stands for? Are not these precisely, Mr. Speaker, the kinds of individuals that we should want as United States citizens? By enacting this legislation, America can do the right thing for some very brave men and women who are doing the right thing for America. As my colleagues know, some of our troops who died in Iraq wearing the uniform of the United States gave their lives before they were truly entitled to call themselves Americans. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, that is just plain wrong, and it is an injustice; and I am pleased that Congress is moving quickly to correct that injustice. So, Mr. Speaker, let us recognize their love of this country by voting today to enable legal immigrants serving America's Armed Forces to become citizens before, not after, they begin risking their lives to save ours.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time without intervention of any point of order to consider a motion to take the bill, H.R. 1298, from the Speaker's table with the Senate amendment thereto, and to concur in the Senate amendment; that the motion be debatable for 60 minutes equally divided between the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), or their designees; the Senate amendment be considered as read; and the previous question be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption without intervening motion.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is a fair rule and this issue, as has been repeated several times, this issue from a policy standpoint has been debated for a long time. It is time for us to take action in this body. So I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon). (Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) have any further speakers?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), who has been a leader on this issue.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).