Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Well, just let me finish then because there's only one more, and I do want to say that. For the Nation's economic security and balance of trade. So once that category is defined and somebody wants to refine some element--I don't know, pick a name; there are all these new names; I can't pronounce them anyway--and they find out that there's a new industry that wants a certain element, if an entrepreneur wants to mine for that, they make the permit and it's decided by the Federal agency. Very simple. And if it fits this category, he gets the permit. That's the beauty of it.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of the time. I just want to say that we have somewhat exhausted this; but the difference between this gentleman's amendment and the broad categories I say is that he--he--or I should say the Secretary of the Interior-- picks that. The Secretary picks it. Under the underlying bill, yes, the Secretary picks it; but if it meets these broad categories, then, of course, he has to pick that mineral. That makes perfectly good sense because it responds to the marketplace. Mr. Chairman, I urge rejection of this amendment. 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 (S. 130) to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to the Powell Recreation District in the State of Wyoming.

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, S. 130 directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Powell Recreation District approximately 322 acres of land located in Park County, Wyoming. The Powell Recreation District will continue to use the land for a public recreational shooting complex, as it has since 1980. The bill will have no cost to the taxpayer since the Powell Recreation District is required to pay for any administrative costs associated with the conveyance. This is a noncontroversial bill, Mr. Speaker, and I urge its adoption. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 157) to provide for certain improvements to the Denali National Park and Preserve in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

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, S. 157 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for a natural gas pipeline and a microhydroelectric project within the boundary of Denali National Park in Alaska. Additionally, S. 157 authorizes a land exchange between Denali National Park and Doyon Tourism, Inc., to facilitate the water project and renames a nearby ranger station in honor of Walter Harper. One hundred years ago, Harper became the first man to reach the summit of Mt. McKinley. Congressman Don Young, our colleague from Alaska, has sponsored a companion measure to this bill in the House, but to allow this bill to become public law more quickly, I urge adoption of this Senate bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 304) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the State of Mississippi 2 parcels of surplus land within the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway, and for other purposes.

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 insert extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 304 directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey 67 acres of Natchez, Mississippi, to the State of Mississippi and to adjust the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway. This property was originally donated to the National Park Service by the State to construct the parkway, but was ultimately unneeded. Rather than lease the property back to Mississippi, this would transfer the title back to the original owner. This is a commonsense measure, and I urge its adoption. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I urge adoption and yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 256) to amend Public Law 93-435 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands, providing parity with Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

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, S. 256 would amend the 1974 law to convey certain submerged lands in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Under this bill, the territory would have the administrative authority over lands covered by tidal waters out to 3 nautical miles, giving it parity with the other United States territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Comparable control of the seabed has been also granted to coastal States under the Submerged Lands Act. On May 15, the House passed similar legislation by a voice vote. S. 256 also contains an amendment to delay in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands an annual minimum wage increase of 50 cents. Under the new formula in this bill, a 50-cent minimum wage bump would still occur in 2014, with annual increases starting in 2016, until the Federal minimum wage is reached. The territory has asked for a deferral on this because its economy cannot currently sustain the minimum wage increases that are current law at this time. I want to thank Chairman Kline of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and his able staff for their assistance in scheduling this bill for consideration today as the minimum wage matter is under that committee's jurisdiction. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I would advise my friend from the Northern Marianas that I have no more requests for time, and I am prepared to yield back if the gentleman is prepared to yield back.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I thank the gentleman for his compliment, and I urge adoption of the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 459) to modify the boundary of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in the State of South Dakota, and for other purposes.

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.